The Pieces Left Behind (Magnolia Creek Book 1) by Ryan Marie

Author:Ryan Marie [Marie, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

CAMILLE

Why didn’t I listen all those years ago?

I could have saved us both so much heartache. I couldn’t see past my own anger long enough to just shut my mouth and open my ears.

I left him in the hands of a woman who raped him. And all this time I’ve been cursing his name trying to rid my heart of him. How can he stand to be touching me right now? He should be furious, not consoling me.

“Are you sure you want to hear more?” he asks, whispering in my ear.

“Only if you want to tell it.” I try to put some distance between us, wanting to give him some space, but he only pulls me closer until I’m cradled in his lap.

He nods once then kisses my temple. I close my eyes, remembering the way his lips felt against my hot skin. The way he used to soothe me and worship me. And my thoughts get lost on all the wasted time. I let my eyes roam Vaughan’s face and catalog every change that I’ve missed out on over the years.

There are lines on the corners of his eyes that only add to how handsome and rugged he is. The hair at his temples is bleached from all the time spent in the sun. His skin is a bit more weathered showing the signs of the hard work he does on the ranch. But his eyes…his eyes are the same seafoam green that they’ve always been. The boy I fell in love with when I was just fifteen years old is still here with me.

“I found out she was pregnant right before Christmas. It was just one more thing to add to the list of how deceitful she was. She purposely went without protection thinking she’d bag herself a future NFL player. She cared about nothing or no one but herself. I was sick to my stomach knowing that I’d be tied to her for the rest of my life.

“You were still refusing my calls and texts and my pleas with our friends went nowhere. When I heard the news that I was going to be a dad…I gave up. Figured the life I had dreamt of was over.”

I cup his jaw in my hands and rub my fingers over his stubble. This man who's been broken for so long is sitting here, flaying all his old wounds open just to heal me.

“Christmas came and went and by spring, Steph and her mom were planning a wedding that felt more like my funeral.”

“But I don’t understand. Why didn’t you fight her on it?”

“I did. Believe me, I did. But I had already lost you and I had so little left. When her parents started making threats that they’d take the baby away and I’d never see her, I folded. That baby was the only thing good in my life to live for. I knew I’d never be able to forgive Steph for what she did, but I couldn’t let that anger cloud my love for my child.

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