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If only, she thought, not sure that would ever happen So much time had passed It hurt to remember how close she and Matt had been and how much had been lost

He returned with a tray and three orders of fries

"That’s a lot of food," sheGabe couldn’t eat even half of the order and she shouldn’t Fries seehs

"Eat what you want and leave the rest," Matt told her

She held in a laugh Waste food? Not on her income Every crumb was accounted for Not that he would understand that Matt had been rich when she’d left and he seemed to have done well in the past five years

Gabe returned to their table and eyed the fries She srabbed one Fries weren’t a regular food in their house All this eating out and fast food was going to go to his head

Jesse reached for a fry herself, only to find that it didn’t taste like , her stomach felt a little queasy The old "I used to be in love with you and now I’rabbed her coffee

"You were in Spokane the whole tias and , I didn’t feel the need to et away Not that anyone had co for her

She felt bitterness rise up inside of her, but pushed it away Both Nicole and Matt had been angry with her, thinking she’d betrayed theed her back At least that’s what she told herself because it was better than the alternative That neither of them had really cared about her at all

"Have you seen your sister?" Matt asked

Was he showing interest in her? Being polite? Was it possible he could get over being mad?

"Yes I stopped by to see Nicole after I saw you"

"How did that go?"

"Not great She’s dealing with a lot right now She has tho are only a fewin the bakery, just to help out Plus I’ve created a brownie recipe I think she’ll really like I’"

Which couldn’t be anything he was interested in Sothat would beup the past

"I wanted to tell you," she said, aware that Gabe was still sitting next to her, ry and I was hurt I felt guilty"

"About Drew?" Matt asked, anger flaring in his eyes

She stiffened "No Nothing happened there I told you that" She glanced at her son "We’ll talk about that later"

"Fine, but ill talk about it"

Because he didn’t believe her, she thought sadly Just like Nicole didn’t believe her She pushed away her fries and pressed a hand against her stooing the way she wanted Her fantasy had been a perfect faotten an aard reality, which really sucked

"I owe you child support," Matt said

What? "No, you don’t"

"Gabe is my son, my responsibility"

"None of this is about that" She wished she knehat he was thinking She’d been able to read him before, but noas a mystery "I didn’t coet to know each other"

Matt didn’t look as if he believed her, but he didn’t say anything Was that good or bad? Was it too late for him to connect with his son? She refused to believe that

Gabe leaned against her and sighed

"Getting tired, buddy?" she asked as she stroked his head "You had a busy rand randmother?"

Jesse swore silently She’d randma Paula"

Jesse put her arrandparent and I wanted them to meet She was thrilled and invited us to stay"

"You can’t," Matt told her "Not there"

"Why not? There’s plenty of rooet to know all his faet any money out of her However she pretends to care, she keeps the cash locked up"

Jesse’s cheeks heated "Is that what you think?" she asked as she stood "That this is all about s"

"The only people who really believe that are the ones without any ht I don’t have your millions and I don’t need them Gabe and I do just fine"