You're Still the One by Darcy Burke Read Free Book Online Page A

her. Five years was a long time, longer than they’d been together, and she’d likely changed just as much as he had. They really didn’t know each other at all anymore. “Does it matter to you if I’m here?”
    She seemed to hesitate before she answered. “Should it?”
    He laughed. “Look at us, trying to be so respectful of each other. We’ve known each other too long and too well not to be completely honest. You need to do what’s best for you. I’ll do the same. Deal?”
    She came forward and held her hand out for a shake. “Deal.”
    He shook her hand and felt . . . warmth.
    â€œSo we’re friends then?”
    â€œI think so.” But not typical friendship. More like Friends With History. If that was a thing. Yeah, it was definitely a thing.
    She exhaled then smiled. “Tell me about France. I was so happy to hear about your internship. I’m not the least bit surprised you parlayed that into something permanent.”
    â€œThanks, it’s been pretty spectacular.”
    â€œAnd the internship came at the perfect time. Because of Alex dying . . . ” Her voice trailed off, and she winced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to throw the conversation off a cliff again.”
    He shook his head. “It’s okay. Yeah, it was perfect timing.” He didn’t tell her Alex’s death had been the catalyst that had finally pushed him out of Ribbon Ridge. That had been such a bone of contention for them, why revisit that conflict? She believed that his family was more important to him than she was, but that hadn’t been true. She just hadn’t understood the bond they shared, not when her parents were so messed up.
    Maybe things with them had improved. He hoped so, for her sake. “How’s your dad?”
    â€œStill working at the ER. And with Joss, though they continue to live apart. It’s so weird.” Joss was the woman her father had started dating when Bex had been in community college. The woman who had prompted Bex to leave Bend and move halfway across the state to go to Oregon State. Hayden had met Joss—she was incredibly intense—so he understood Bex’s difficulties with her.
    â€œAnd things are still rosy between you and her?”
    Bex rolled her eyes. “Totally. She’s such an enabler, but whatever. I can’t fix my dad and his various issues. He’s her problem now.”
    Hayden doubted Bex could turn her back on him so completely. She’d been looking out for him since her parents had divorced. “Is he still self-medicating?”
    She shrugged. “I guess. Like I said, I stay out of it.”
    He took the hint. Bex had never liked talking about them too much. She preferred a laissez-faire approach, which was the exact opposite of what his family would do.
    â€œHow’s your mom?” he asked.
    Her lips curved up. “Still living the high life in Seattle. We e-mail periodically, see each other now and again. It’s blissfully low maintenance.”
    Yuck. Hayden couldn’t imagine having that kind of relationship with his family. They’d always been pretty close, even when they’d been sprawled all over the place. “How was Eugene? Tough place to be for a Beaver.”
    Eugene was home to the University of Oregon, and the state rivalry between the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers was epic. Hayden was the only Beaver in the family, while both Liam and Tori were Ducks and pretty much everyone else rooted for the Ducks. It was just another way he was the odd man out.
    She laughed. “Don’t I know it? Didn’t stop me from wearing my Beaver gear, especially during football season.”
    Hayden smiled. They’d gone to every home game together. So many happy memories were wrapped up in Bex. So many painful ones, too. “I missed going to the games last year while I was in France.” And he’d miss them for at