been right about one thing. Just because she’d broken things off with Ross didn’t mean she had to run to Vaughan. Even if he was living in her house. Even if for years she’d wanted to hear the sincerity in his tone that night.
But it wasn’t enough. Kelly couldn’t begin to trust him enough at that point. He not only had a lot of proving himself to do, he also had to make some genuine apologies for what he’d done.
She had her own stuff to handle and she was way too busy to do this for him, even if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t. If Vaughan really wanted her back, he had to work for it. She could only let the hope remain that he’d actually open up and own what he did.
And, if he really wanted to be a more involved dad, she’d take him at his word. “Kensey needs to be up at seven. I’ll handle Maddie tonight. I’m going to sleep in her room.”
“Are you worried?” He shifted closer, concern on his face.
“No. But I’m her mom.” She shrugged. “I just want to be close if she needs me. As for Kensey, I suggest you get up at least half an hour before she does. You’ll need the time to wake up, get dressed and have coffee.” Their youngest was an absolute horror to get out of bed in the morning. “You need to be out the front door by five after eight or you’ll have to run.”
She stood and went to the door, opening it up. “Good night, Vaughan.”
“Wait, you’re kicking me out? I thought we were going to talk.”
“So did I. You can try again in the future. When you’re ready to really open up and talk.” She put the bottle of wine and her now-empty glass in his hands and pushed him into the hallway. “See you tomorrow.”
She closed the door, leaning against it to keep herself from opening it and inviting him back inside. A little roll between the sheets could work out a lot of energy. But it would be a supreme mistake.
She headed for the shower instead. A detachable showerhead was a girl’s best friend.
* * *
VAUGHAN LAY IN his bed, a yellow, lined legal pad at his right hand as he scribbled things here and there. The lyrical beginnings of a new song.
He found, even though he’d hoped she’d let him back into her life that night, that he wasn’t down that she’d kicked him out of her room.
That she’d snapped at him and kicked him out of her room had only underlined to him that she did care. She hadn’t tolerated him, or been barely interested in him. Not at all.
No longer remote, this Kelly was going to demand that he work for his redemption.
He could have said the words. But they taunted him. Just out of reach. Like if he said them, if he came out and said he’d betrayed her and violated her trust and his sense of honor and he’d ruined everything because he’d been a selfish asshole that she’d say, you’re right, get out.
And it would be over and done.
He had done those things. And yes, she’d made mistakes, too. But she’d come here to this suburban wonderland to build a life for their children. She’d given up nearly all modeling and put her focus on them.
And what she’d built was amazing. Their girls were lucky for it.
He rolled to his belly and began to write again.
KELLY FLIPPED THE SIGN on the door and unlocked it to admit Stacey.
“I brought you a smoothie. It’s got that powder you like.” Stacey’s lip curled. “I have to be in court soon, but you’re on my way and I really need to get all the details about yesterday.”
“I don’t even know where to start.” Kelly took the smoothie with her thanks.
“Biggest news, then. Go with that.”
They hadn’t been able to really have enough time the day before to get the whole story out. All Kelly had been able to say was the engagement had been broken so she took a moment to get her friend up to speed.
Stacey’s mouth dropped open. “I get that he’d be a little jealous. Vaughan is one of those people everyone likes to be around. But this?”
“Right? I know they don’t like one another. That’s normal, for God’s sake. He sounded like a stranger yesterday. The words he used made me believe he meant them. I just feel nothing for him now. He killed it all. I don’t hate him. My overwhelming reaction is relief I’m not marrying him.”
“Well, jeez. You know my opinion of the engagement, but I’m sorry it was painful for you both. And yes, you can’t respect a person who’d do that to those girls.”
“How could he have trusted me if I’d have gone along with it? He’s got kids, too. How could he have wanted me to do that to my children?”
“Because he wouldn’t have asked his ex to do such a thing.”
“And I wouldn’t have asked. The world is full of parents who walk away. Vaughan didn’t walk away from them when he left me.” Kelly rubbed her hands up and down her arms a moment.
“What did Vaughan say when you told him?”
“I didn’t tell him any details, really. He asked if he was the reason. I said Ross and I were the reason. That we’d had a disagreement about something important and weren’t going to get married after all.”
“Did he believe that weak-ass response?”
“It’s true! Even if Vaughan...”
“Even if you weren’t still in love with him, you mean?”
“I’m not an idiot. I can’t help loving him, but I know what he is. Or maybe what he was. But I can have feelings for him and still not fall for his crap. Anyway, the last thing I want is for Vaughan to think I did it for him.”
“And why is that?”
“He told me he still loved me and wanted another chance. And I need to have it be apart from the Ross situation. I can’t run from one man to another. It’s a bad lesson for my kids and it’s stupid.”
“You’re not running anywhere. He said all those things and you said what back?”
“He said lots of things.” Kelly shrugged. “None of them was enough. He’s dancing around what happened. I get it. He doesn’t want to admit it out loud. But there’s no way I could even consider letting him close enough to maybe work things out unless he does.
“Anyway, I’m too busy. Maybe I should give up on the idea of settling down with anyone. I can buy one of those boyfriend pillows instead. I have a vibrator. It’s not like I don’t know how to take care of business when there’re no penises around.”
Stacey nearly choked on her coffee.
“I
