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thought he’d gone to sleep. Reluctantly, she slid out from under his arm and stood. It was time to leave, or she’d stay all night, sleep in his arms and wake to those eyes and that smile in the morning—it wasn’t like that between them anymore.
    Maddie tugged his shoes off and pulled a blanket up over him. “It wasn’t a promise I wanted to break,” she whispered.

Three
    I knew you didn’t come back to visit
me
.”
    Maddie wiped her eyes and turned to her father’s teasing tone. She’d just left MJ sleeping and was taking a few minutes to gather her thoughts, steady her mind.
    Her dad’s strides were slow due to his limp, coming toward her from the big house. “Hi, Daddy.”
    “Hi, Peach.” Everyone but MJ called her Peach. “I’m guessing you spent some time with MJ?”
    She sighed and crossed her arms. “He got drunk at Coach’s place and needed a ride home.”
    Her dad squeezed her shoulder. “He’s lucky he’s had you to depend on all these years.”
    She leaned into her dad, breathing in the familiar scent of his aftershave and relishing the reassurance of his arm around her shoulders. It had only been about eight months since he visited her in Michigan, but his face was more wrinkled than the last time she’d seen him, his gray hair thinner, but his frame was as solid as ever as he held her steady. “He’ll never forgive me.”
    She knew she’d always been the one person MJ depended upon. The one and only person he trusted. Until she left. She’d broken his trust, and he might never give her the chance to earn it back.
    “What’s to forgive? You’re both young. This rift is only temporary. You two will work it out.” He turned her around in his arms to face him. His eyes were as blue as hers behind his glasses. “Don’t you remember how you two fought when you were young? Always bickering and picking at each other. That’s what you do.” He gave her a little shake, smiling. “Do you trust me, Peach?”
    She felt the corners of her lips tilt up, and she nodded.
    “Good. You’ll get past this. Give it time.” He kissed her forehead and let her go.
    Her dad’s confidence never wavered, and it gave her hope that maybe he was right. Maybe she was just too close and too emotional to see her situation with MJ objectively.
    “How’d he take the news?” He tapped her ring under her shirt.
    “There is no news. I haven’t decided. That’s why I’m here, remember?” She tapped his forehead.
    He laughed. “I know why you’re here.”
    She shook her head, but didn’t ask him what he meant. She knew. He thought she was there for MJ. Maybe she was. Maybe she couldn’t make this decision without fixing things with him first.
    “Have you spoken to Talan since you’ve been here? I’m not blind, Peach. I know you were just crying. You can’t think clearly around MJ. That boy pushes your buttons like nobody else ever could.”
    Maybe it was the accusing look in his eye more than his question that had the guilt in her heart rearing its head.“No, I haven’t talked to Talan. We’re on a break, remember? That means I don’t talk to him until I figure out if I want to marry him.”
    He nodded slowly. “I think a break is an excellent idea. Why the rush?”
    Maddie took his hand in both of hers. “He said it felt like the right time, and it was, except I panicked. He’s incredible. I couldn’t ask for a better man to marry. Really.” It was the truth and Maddie hoped her dad could see the conviction in her eyes. “He loves me so much, Dad, and he makes me happy. He’ll take care of me.”
    Much to her chagrin, her dad frowned. “But do you love him? Will you take care of him? It goes both ways, Peach. I can tell you from experience it doesn’t work when your marriage is housed on a one-way street.”
    “Yes. Of course I do.” She did. She knew in her heart it was love she felt for Talan. A warm, kind, and caring love—not a love that would burn her to the ground and leave