Page 135 of Where We Stay

She takes a breath. “I want to see my daughter.”

“No,” I say immediately.

“Dean—”

My voice starts to rise, but I catch myself before I wake Aspen. “You don’t get to disappear, barely call and then show up on my porch expecting access to her.”

“I’m not demanding anything,” Courtney argues, folding her arms.

“You’re here, Courtney. Unannounced. At her home.” I take a step closer. “What exactly would you call that?”

Her shoulders drop. “I know I left.”

“You abandoned her,” I say flatly.

Courtney’s face crumples slightly. “I know.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t think you do.”

“If you let me explain—”

“Lower your voice,” I cut in. “She’s asleep in the car.”

Courtney immediately looks toward the truck. “Can I see her?”

“No.”

“Please, Dean,” she says, stepping toward me.

I move into her path. “You don’t get to make your return through a fucking car window while she’s asleep.”

Courtney stops and rubs a hand down her face. “I’m staying in Hartwell for a while.”

“Fuck.” A dry laugh escapes me. “Of course you are.”

She stares at me from the porch.

I loved this woman once. I know I did.

But whatever remains between us now isn’t love.

I don’t regret our life together. I could never regret anything that gave me Aspen.

But I resent Courtney for what she did to her.

To both of us.

“You’re not staying here,” I tell her.

“I know,” Courtney replies. “I rented the apartment above Coast Café on Main Street.”

“Good. Go there.”

“Dean, please. I came all this way—”

“And we’ll talk tomorrow,” I interrupt. “Somewhere Aspen isn’t sleeping ten feet away.”

Courtney hesitates before nodding. “Okay.”