Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

19. Wells

19

WELLS

I t’s silent as Vienna and I listen to Kim’s car pull out of the driveway and onto the street. I forgot what this feels like, my heart aching in my chest and the immediate sorrow of knowing I can’t kiss my daughter good night.

“She didn’t want to go,” Vienna says fiercely behind me. “You shouldn’t have made her go.” Her hands are fisted at her sides, her face flushed as she looks past me to the door.

“There’s a court order in place, and short of me going to the court and asking to change it, there’s not much I can do.”

“Then take her back to court!” she shouts as she points to the door. “That woman does not deserve that little girl, and I swear if she harms one hair on Haven’s head?—”

“Enough!” I bark but she doesn’t back down.

“No, I saw what situations like this do to a kid all the time when I was teaching. Some had better situations than others—parents who at least didn’t spew their toxic relationship onto their child. But that woman doesn’t give a shit about anything but herself.”

“Don’t you think I know that? She’s her fucking mother, Vienna—nothing about this is easy. It breaks my heart every time she bails on Haven and every time she shows up because I don’t know what my daughter is going to need when she gets home.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Vienna. You’ve been here for one pickup with my daughter. You don’t get to throw shade at me because you think you know better.”

Vienna presses her lips into a thin line as she stares at me before snatching her keys and purse off the counter and heading for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Vienna.”

“What I do, Wells,”—her expression is blank but her tone is firm—“is none of your business.” The door slams behind her, the sound echoing in the empty house long after she’s gone.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I’m hurting but she is too. Her anger and the harshness of her words weren’t directed at me, but at the situation, at the unfairness of it all.

But I hadn’t been listening, and now she is God knows where and I can’t even chase her down because I have to go in to work for the next several hours.

Fuck.

VIENNA

“Do you want to talk about it?” Reece says as she sets a cup of hot chocolate on the table in front of me.

“She’s awful,”—my eyes well with tears as I look at her—“and it broke my heart that Haven didn’t want to go, but Wells is right—it’s her mom.”

“But her mom’s an asshole,” Reece supplies before taking a sip from her own mug.

“Exactly.”

“So what do you want to do? We can do shots here until Isaac has to pick us up off the floor, or we can go out and I can tell people it’s your birthday so you get free drinks all night.”

“You’re so good to me.” I sigh as I rest my head on her shoulder and look around at Isaac’s house—their house now. Little pieces of Reece can be seen all over the room, from the colorful throw blanket on the couch to the stone coasters with the starfish printed in the bottom right-hand corner.

They’re making a life together, but what am I doing?

My phone buzzes but before I can reach for it, Reece grabs it and punches in the password.

“Huh,” she says without elaborating.

“And?”

“He’s sorry.”

Taking it from her, I read the messages on the screen.

WELLS: I shouldn’t have let you leave and I’m sorry

WELLS: It’s so fucking hard trying to do the right thing with Haven and it feels like no matter what I do, I’m failing her

WELLS: I’m working at the bar but I’m begging you—please be home when I get there—I’m tired of pretending I’m not fucking consumed by you.

Reece lets out a low whistle as she reads the last message over my shoulder. “He’s got it bad for you.”

“He’s just upset and?—”

“Nope. That man has real, honest-to-God messy feelings for you, and if you’re honest with yourself, you know you have them for him too.”

“But what about my flower shop? Can I give him and Haven and my business all the attention each deserves?”

“People run businesses all the time, and you’re an idiot if you think that man won’t be absolutely thrilled to celebrate your success with you.”

“Well, what about Haven? What will she think?”

“She’ll probably think it’s amazing to have someone so badass who loves her and her father in their lives.”

“Badass, huh?” I repeat, my lips twitching at her enthusiasm.

“Definitely,” she says with a single nod. “Now drink up because it’s about time to go get your man.”