Page 86 of Forever Only Once

Plus, there had been evidence of what Chris had done with the business, the building, and what had happened after, as well as the fact that Macon and Hazel had spoken up.

No one thought I had anything to do with the fire, other than the fact that I had really bad decision-making skills when it came to choosing business partners.

And that was that. Chris Cross Furniture was done, and though I had enough money to last me a good long while, I needed to figure out what to do.

I wanted to continue making furniture, but maybe it would just be as Cross Furniture.

Or maybe I would find something else to do with art.

I didn’t know, but I had some time to figure it out. In fact, all I had these days was time.

I couldn’t do much of anything but sit here and twiddle my thumbs, trying to figure out what the fuck I was going to do with my life.

And what the hell I was going to do about Hazel.

I loved her. I wanted to be with her. I’d given her space like she’d asked. I wouldn’t force myself into her vicinity like Thomas had, but I needed to see her. I had to hold her, to make sure she was there, whole, and the woman I had fallen for.

As soon as I was healed enough, I would go to her. We’d had enough space. We needed to talk this out. Even if it ended—and it just might if that’s what she wanted—I needed to have my say, as well.

I needed to tell her how I felt. And she needed to listen. If, in the end, I still had to walk away, I would.

But I didn’t want to.

All I wanted was her.

If I had her, maybe I could figure out what I needed to do. Who I needed to be.

The doorbell rang, and I winced before trying to get up until someone put their key in the lock, and I knew I wasn’t alone.

Prior walked in, dark shadows under his eyes. He sat down, shaking his head.

“Long day?” I asked.

“The longest. But I’m not going to bore you with all of that. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Oh?”

“We can talk about it.”

“Not right now. I’m trying to get through it. Anyway, I’m here to talk about you. What’s going on with you?”

I held up my arms and gestured around my empty home. “I have no job, no prospects, no woman, and I’m healing from a gunshot wound. I’m doing great.”

Prior winced. “Sorry, I just don’t know what to say. Like, how the fuck is this happening to our family?” he asked.

“Mom and Dad asked that almost every day the full week that they were here,” I said dryly.

Prior just shook his head and smiled. It was good to see him smile; he didn’t do much of that these days given his job.

Our parents had come to take care of Macon and me but had gone home after a week, even though they’d wanted to stay longer.

But with so many of us, they knew they could leave and come back. We could take care of ourselves. They’d said they would be back in a month to stay for another week.

While it had been good to see them, I was glad to have some time alone to think.

Even though that might not be the best thing for me right now.

“What are you going to do about Hazel?” Prior asked, and my eyes widened.