Tessa Teevan - Incinerate

Part of me thought she’d come back the next day, but she didn’t. When I wasn’t at work, I was at the gym hoping to catch sight of her, but she never showed up—at least not when I was there. The past two nights have been pure torture, and I’ve barely been able to sleep without Charlie in my bed. It’s not just her touch that I miss, but her whole presence. My house feels so empty now. I have no idea how I survived living alone before her and I can’t imagine going on without her. I have to fix this. I have to show her that I’m ready to move on, that I don’t want to do it with anyone else but her.

As if someone switched on a light bulb in my brain, I know exactly what I need to do. After getting permission to head out early for the day, I make a few phone calls and hit the road, anxious to get to my destination.

A little while later, I’m pulling into the parking lot at Wellington Enterprises. Letting out a deep breath, I get out of the car and make my way inside, determined to get this over with, once and for all.

When I find Branson’s office, I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes as he’s currently staring down the dress of a woman who’s leaning over his desk. Clearing my throat, I make my presence known, causing her to jump up, straightening her clothes.

“I’ll get right on filing these reports, Mr. Wellington,” she tells him, not looking at me as she walks past before closing the door behind her.

“Knox. I’d say it’s a pleasure, but why bother lying? Let’s cut to the chase. What do you want?” he asks, practically sneering at the sight of me in my uniform.

“Branson, for once, can you stop playing the asshole role and just be yourself? I’m not here to fight with you, and I have no desire to argue. If you don’t want to talk to me after what I have to say, that’s fine, but at least just hear me out. I need to get this off my chest—finally.”

His hard exterior softens a little, and he nods, gesturing to the chair in front of him, but I prefer to stand.

“I’m letting it go. All of it. You, Megan, Mom, and Dad. I’m done. I’m finished being angry, being resentful. I’m tired of running away from my problems and not facing them. I know you probably don’t give a shit about my forgiveness, but you have it. I’ve been carrying the weight of this for far too long, and I’m letting it go. And damn does it feel good.” I mean it. The moment I stop talking, I feel like I just unloaded a ton of bricks off my shoulders.

“Why now? After all this time you’ve gone on hiding out, hating me from a distance, why are you all the sudden so forgiving?” he asks, looking at me. I can’t tell if he’s suspicious or just confused.

“I met a girl. A beautiful, intelligent, strong woman who taught me that all the pain from the past was worth it since it led me to her. Sure, it would’ve been nice for her to have shown up a few years ago, but now that she’s in my life, I wouldn’t change anything from the past.” His eyebrows rise, and he’s still watching me intently. “Well, I’d change one thing. I wouldn’t have spent the last eleven years separated from my family as the anger continued to rage inside me. I’d have realized that a high school relationship wasn’t worth tearing the family apart. And like I told Mom, I’m sorry for the role I played in that. I know you probably won’t believe this, but I hope we can brothers again one day. You just have to let it all go, too.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t blame him. I’m sure he’s trying to process it all. I didn’t really expect us to hug it out or anything, but hopefully one of these days we can be in the same room without wanting to kill each other.

I’m about to leave when he finally speaks up. “We’re getting a divorce, you know,” he says quietly.

Turning back towards him, I respond. “I’m sorry to hear that, Bran.” I mean it. Just because of how they ended up together doesn’t mean I’d ever wish for their marriage to end.

He nods. “She was cheating,” he scoffs, shaking his head. “You probably think I deserve that.”

“Leopards and spots. You know the saying. But no, I don’t think you deserve that. No one does. Pre-nup?” I can’t help but ask.

Giving me a small smile, he stands. “Oh yeah. She screwed herself when she screwed someone else. Thanks for stopping by, Knox.”

Knowing that’s my signal that this conversation is over, I say goodbye. “See you around the holidays,” I tell him, knowing Thanksgiving’s right around the corner.

I’m almost out of the room when I hear him call my name. Looking back, I see him watching me. “Don’t ever let her go, Knox.”

Smiling, I tell him the only thing I can. “I don’t plan on it.”

Leaving the building, I realize how light my heart feels and how good it was to finally do just what I said. Let it go. Hopping back onto the highway, I suddenly remember something Kale said this morning and shoot him a text. He follows through a few minutes later, giving me the number I asked him for.

Dialing it, a gruff voice answers. “Hello?”

“Hey, man, it’s Knox,” I say, knowing he’s probably surprised as hell that I’m calling him. “I fucked up again, and well, I need your help.”

After a couple of minutes messing with me, he finally agrees to my plan, and when we hang up, I feel more energized than I have in days. One more night apart and then I’m going to prove to Charlie that she’s it for me, by any means necessary.

Charlie

“IT’S ONE damn beer. I can’t watch football without my wings and beer,” Dad pouts. He’s already making my head hurt. I have no idea how I’ve been staying with him this week. He’s the worst patient, and I’ve found myself ready to smother him with my pillow a couple of times.

Okay, he’s not that bad, but you’d think that as a medical professional he’d take the advice of his own doctors. If it weren’t for Lucy still feeling sick, I’d have gone to her place. Instead, I’m here with poor Olivia, being driven crazy by an anxious man on bed rest.

“Dad, eventually you can have it in moderation, but not while you’re trying to change your lifestyle. You were in the hospital a week ago. I’m sure one beer won’t put you there, but please, for my sake of mind, go one damn game without it.”

His shoulders fall, but I know I have him. “Fine. But if you think I’m going to watch the Iron Bowl without making my wings and you bringing your choice of six-pack, then you can go ahead and consider yourself uninvited.”

Laughing, I lean down and give him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. And don’t worry, I have no plans of ruining all our traditions. Plus, you think I’d leave you here alone to watch the game with Olivia?”

He shudders, and I have to stifle a laugh as I see Olivia glaring at both of us. “I’m not sure I’m going to let her in the house that day,” he says jokingly.

“You’re fooling yourself if you think I’m leaving your side, Wade Davenport,” she warns him, and I look back and forth between the two of them, confused.

My eyes widen when the realization of what she means pops in my head. “Are you moving in, Olivia?” I ask, and my eyes moisten. I may be miserable right now, but knowing that Dad has her, that they’ve become serious, soothes my aching heart, if only a little bit.

“Don’t get all misty eyed on me. Livvie already told me she wasn’t leaving. I figured I might as well ask her if she wanted to move in to make it official.”

“Not that he really had a choice,” she chimes in. Looking at the two of them, I feel happy for the first time in a few days.

“I’m happy for you both,” I say. “But don’t expect me to play referee during the Bama-Auburn game. I’ll always be on Dad’s side for that one.”