Page 52 of Doc Rock
Mai wiped at her eyes and nodded to the phone, forgetting again that he couldn’tseeher. She managed to whisper,“Thanks, Donnie. I missed you, too.”
Chapter 20
Ford
Ford stood on the doorstep of Sie’s townhouse. Heknewhe shouldn’t bethere. His emotions were still all over the place, but once he had her address, he couldn’t stop himself.
He lifted his hand to press the doorbell, then dropped it again.
What the hell was he doing here?
What should he say to the woman who haunted him for sixteen years?
The wedding ring on his right hand glinted in the light. He snatched it off his finger and stuffed it into his pocket.
Reaching out again, he firmly pressed the doorbell.
As he stood waiting, a kookaburra began to call, jangling his already frayed nerves. He didn’t miss those stupid birds; they were too bloody loud. He turned to glare at the bird, certainit wasmocking him for being on the doorstep of the woman who left him.
“Ford.”A breathy voice exclaimed behind him.
Turning slowly, he faced Sie—and started, as for a moment he thought he was going toseehisSie, the girl with long black hair and raccoon eyeliner. Instead, hesawa woman, pushingher glasses back up her nose, blinking at him in surprise as she shoved her messy blonde curls out of her face.
She was sweating, her t-shirt clinging to her, and her shorts, which looked like ones she would only wear around the house, showed an expanse of smooth legs.
He didn’t speak, only stared at her. Taking in the one person he'dthought would love him forever, but instead vanished without a trace.
The time ticked by, the kookaburra took up its call again, and still, they gazed at each other.
Sweat trickled down Ford’s brow from the hot sun, but he didn’t move. If he moved, he would break whatever spell existed in this moment between them, and he would have to go back to hating her.
“Ford,”Sie said on a whispered breath.
Ford took a stumbling step backwards. He needed to leave. He shouldn’t have come here to torture himself. He should have just phoned her.
“Ford.”Sie stepped forward as he retreated.“What are you doing here?”
Shaking his head, he began to turn away from her, but froze when she touched his shoulder.
HOME.
The word resonated through his mind at thefeelof her hand. His gaze dropped to it—to the same hand he’d held a million times, the same hand he’d slipped a wedding band onto and vowed to never love anyone else.
His heart sank toseeher bare ring finger.But what did he expect?That she would still be wearing his ring after sixteen years.
Shaking his head to clear it, he stepped away from Sie. He couldn’t think when she touched him.
“I came to talk.”
“Okay.”Sie folded her arms defensively across her chest.
Ford stared at her helplessly. The truth was, he had no idea what he wanted to say.
“Afternoon, Mai,”a man called out.
Sie’s head swung left, and she answered,“Afternoon, Steve. How are you going?”
“Fine. Is everything okay here?”He gestured to Ford, who hadn’t been able to stop the glare that tugged at his eyebrows for the man talking to his woman.
