Read Always Enough for Free Online Page B

this again, why?”
    Not wanting to wake Allie, I laid her down in her pink bassinet and led Em out of the room. I was feeling exasperated and I didn’t want to yell. When we were safely in the hallway I turned and faced her.
    “They all leave, Em, all of them. I know you’re going to tell me to look at you and Finn, but you are an exception to the rule. Do you know how many men I saw walk in and out of mine and my mom’s lives?” I threw my hands up in the air. Just talking about this made me feel the need to pace. I shook my head and looked to her. “Too many to count.”
    “But why would that keep you from attempting a real relationship with someone? Obviously that doesn’t apply to everyone. And yes, I am going to tell you to look at Finn and me. We lost each other and found our way back. Not every man leaves, Harper.”
    I took a deep breath before I spoke again. “Open your eyes, Em. Over ninety percent of the people we went to high school with got married, but now they’re all divorced. I’d be willing to bet that if you asked the women, they’d tell you that they weren’t the ones that wanted it to end. Men can’t commit. And you know what? Neither will I.”
    Em was looking at me with pity in her eyes. She felt sorry for me. I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me.
    “Harper, sweetie, all of those people made mistakes at some point in their relationship and they either didn’t want to put in the work to fix the issues, or it was damaged beyond repair. That doesn’t have to be you, though.”
    It was coming. I knew it was. I was just waiting for it.
    “You have something special with Ky. He’s your … your person. How is it that you don’t see that?” She reached up and put her hand on my arm. “You need to give your relationship with him a chance, Harper. I have a feeling your reluctance to commit goes deeper than just seeing your mom go through men. Does any of this have to do with your dad?”
    Bingo! She knew me well enough to see past my bullshit and to ask the right questions. But how do I explain to her that my issues all root back to my dad?
    “Well … yeah, it does.” I shrugged my shoulders. “My dad left when I was just a kid and he was always in and out of my life. I don’t want that for myself, or any future kids I may have. All I ever wanted was my dad to be there for me, and he wasn’t. He was more interested in his buddies and whatever drug he was using to get high.”
    Em reached out and touched my cheek. “God, Harper, I knew your dad had used drugs, but I didn’t know he’d kept using them.”
    She was being so tender-hearted, and her touch felt like a mother’s touch. Even though she is my best friend, this isn’t what I wanted from her. I didn’t want pity.
    “Yeah well, such is the life of a user. He was never around when I needed him, and my mom was so messed up after she kicked him out that none of her relationships lasted. I think my dad was her one great love, and the pathetic fools that came after him never stood a chance.”
    “All of that was messed up, yes, but that doesn’t mean that has to be your life. You could be missing out on your forever.”
    I smiled at her, and her need for a happily ever after. “Even when I start to get close to someone, Em, I’ll always be waiting for that other shoe to drop. I can’t help it.”
    “Ky won’t do that to you. He’s faithful, and loyal. That man only has eyes for you, and I think you should tell him all of this. How else can he help you work through it if he doesn’t know why you won’t commit?”
    I felt a large lump forming in my throat. Kyler deserved the truth but I was afraid that my issues would be too much for him to handle, and he would prefer to be with someone who didn’t come with the baggage I did.
    “He convinced me to go to New York for the week, so he can prove to me that we have more than just a sexual relationship. What if he’s right, Em?” I leaned my back against the wall and