Here With Me by Megan Nugen Isbell

Author:Megan Nugen Isbell [Megan Nugen Isbell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Mother & Daughter
Goodreads: 18748735
Published: 2013-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Nothing had changed with her mom all day and she reluctantly went home. She knew Ryan would be there promptly at seven and she was dreading the conversation she knew was coming.

The house was quiet when she walked in. Paige was still at the hospital and Mallory hoped she’d stay there all night.

She sat on the couch and flipped mindlessly through the channels as her eyes watched the clock tick closer to seven. Just as she predicted, headlights beamed through the front window as Ryan’s Jeep pulled into the driveway two minutes past the hour. She breathed in deeply as she waited for him.

“Come in,” she said, when the doorbell rang.

Ryan walked in, his face plastered in nerves. He was out of the black suit and had changed into loose jeans and a gray t-shirt. He looked like the old Ryan, the Ryan she loved.

“Hi,” he said, shutting the door and walking over to her. He sat down beside her on the couch. Even though he was only a few inches away, it felt like a million miles. She wanted to fall into his arms, but she couldn’t. “Any change with your mom?” he asked and she shook her head.

“No. She’s the same.”

They didn’t say anything and the silence became deafening.

“I know she’s going to be okay. This whole thing will work out,” he finally said and nervously took her hand.

“Even if she is alright, nothing will be the same,” she said softly.

“Of course things will be different, but she’ll be okay…” he said before she interrupted him.

“I’m not talking about that.”

“What are you talking about then?” he asked, letting go of her hand.

“I’m talking about us and how this can’t go on anymore.”

“Whoa,” he said, shaking his head as his face curled up in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry, Ryan,” she said softly.

“Are you ending things between us?”

Their eyes met and she nodded slowly.

“You’re not serious, Mal.”

“We let this go too far when deep down we both knew it couldn’t last.”

“We’ve had this discussion. I thought we were both okay with letting it work itself out. We both said we’d find a way if it’s meant to be.”

“That was before my mom got hurt.”

“So in the span of 24 hours your feelings for me have just turned off?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then how do you explain this?”

“Since I’ve been with you, I’ve been distracted. I’ve been too involved and because of that, my mom’s in the hospital.”

“Don’t start with that self-righteous crap, Mallory!” Ryan snapped.

“Excuse me?” she shot back.

“You’re not God. You didn’t make this happen, no matter how much you or your sister tries to convince yourself of that. What happened to your mother is terrible, but it wasn’t your fault. It was an accident. You’ve got to forgive yourself.”

“I can’t!” she shouted, standing up and walking to the other side of the room. “If I hadn’t been so wrapped up with you, she might not be as sick. We’ll never know that, but I’ve got to live with that.

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