Loving Mondays Read Online Free Page A

ward me away.   "No, you haven't," she said angrily, pressing her fingers to her swollen lips.   "You abandoned me, and if you think I'm going to let you waltz back in here like everything is okay and pick up where we left off, you've got another thing coming.   If you missed me you would have called, but you didn't.   You left me here with my world falling apart.   You threw me away, Cody. You threw us away.   You can't just kiss me and tell me that you missed me and undo the last four years."  
      Her eyes filled with tears and the sight was a sucker punch to the gut.
    "I know I can't," I lied.   That's exactly what I had wanted, but, as always, she could see straight through my bullshit.   "I wish I could take back every mistake I made.   I wish I could have been here with you when you needed me at your side, and I wish I had been able to help you and Gran, and to not be such a selfish asshole.   I know that I can't just say I'm sorry and fix everything, but Monday, I am sorry.   Sorrier than I can ever explain.   Just give me a chance to prove that to you before you give up on me completely.   I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm asking for it anyway."
    The tears slid down her face, sparkling like jewels and I leaned forward, brushing them away with my thumbs.
    "Please, Monday, just give me this chance to make things okay between us.   I don't want to lose you.   Show me how to fight for you, tell me what I need to do and I'll do it, just don't give up on us as easily as I did.   You're better than that.   You're better than me."
    "I can't show you how to fight for me, Cody," she said sadly, swinging her gaze to meet mine.   "Especially when I'm not even sure it's something that I want you to do."
    I was speechless as I watched her leave the room, fear smashing into my chest and rendering me incapable of breathing.  

CHAPTER FIVE

    Monday had avoided any contact with me after our kiss this morning like my bad judgment was catching, and so after agreeing to meet up in the afternoon to scatter Gran's ashes, I decided it was time I paid a visit to Luke.   I needed to talk to him, to apologize for assuming the worst, and to mend those fences.   Okay, I also wanted to pick his brain on how to win Monday back and see just how bleak things were looking in that department.  
    Unlike Monday, Luke didn't seem to have any reservations about welcoming me back into his life.   Monday had called him to let him know I was on my way, and he met me at the front porch, a hot cup of coffee in his hands and a smile on his face.   Like most people around these parts, Luke still lived on his family ranch, helping his father keep it running smoothly and training for the day that he would take over the property.   There were nearly as many memories lurking here as there were at at Gran’s.   He ushered me into the house and a familiar face greeted me.
    "Tanya!" I grinned, pulling her in close for a bear hug.   "Good lord, girl!   It's been forever.   What the hell have you been up to?"  
    Tanya swung her gleaming dark hair over her shoulder and beamed at Luke.   "Oh you know, this and that.   I'm studying Nursing up at the community college for now, and Luke's mom and I are busy planning the wedding, so that takes up large chunks of time.   You know how my mom is about these things."
    Luke groaned as he moved behind Tanya, pulling her back into his chest and pressing a kiss into her hair.   "Don't remind me.   I swear running off to Vegas looks better every day," he muttered, lifting his brows at me.
    "Don't even joke." Tanya twisted to give him a stern look.   "You'd break my momma's heart, and your momma's too.   They want a big wedding, and they're getting a big wedding.   Just give them their day and we'll save ourselves years of grumbling about how tacky it is to get married by Elvis around the dinner table."
    My eyes darted from Tanya to Luke and back to Tanya.
    "You guys are engaged?" I asked,