Yeah, I’m out.
To hell with love. It’s been no picnic. I need my flats and a clear dance floor. I need a martini that doesn’t taste like dish soap. I need to be able to order Chinese at three a.m. I’ve been delusional, this isn’t home. Home is New York. My future is there, and I’ll resume it there.
One agonizing step at a time.
I creep out of the front door, hearing the creek and wince, hoping I can get out undetected. Outside, I make my way to the rental car. I’m at the driver’s door when I realize there’s less than an inch between my bumper and Lance’s truck. I’m trapped. His headlights click on just before his door opens, taking me by surprise. I drop my suitcase, pissed by the ambush.
“Let me out. Right now.”
“Just let me talk to you.” His voice is jagged glass. It’s guilt or sympathy or both, and I want no part of it.
“Just getting home? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Don’t worry, message received.”
“Priss—”
“Don’t. You. Fucking. Dare. You haven’t called me that since the day I set foot on this ranch.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care. Move your truck.”
“Please hear me out.”
I slam my handle into my suitcase and click the fob to unlock the car. “This relationship has turned toxic. I’m no expert, but I think it’s safe to assume we can’t come back from this. And you seemed to have moved on anyway.”
“It was a year after our split. I haven’t touched her or another woman since New York. Haven’t wanted to since you. I don’t give a damn about her.”
“Well, she’s clearly still in love with you,” I say, tossing my case in the back seat and slamming the door. He steps forward, caging me to my driver’s door, and I refuse to look up. I can’t because I know it will take all my strength away.
“And I’m in love with you. You’re the only woman I have ever loved.”
He inches forward, and I jerk my chin.
“Doesn’t matter anymore. Just move your truck.”
“No.”
“Fine, I’ll wake Trevor and get him to do it.”
“Don’t go.” It’s the plea in his voice that brings my eyes to his.
“Lance, I can never forget what you said to me.”
“I won’t expect you to, but you gave me no reason to believe…you made me think we had no future. Will you just tell me…why, why didn’t you tell me?”
“You know I couldn’t. Move your truck. I know we’re shit at communication these days, but it’s clear now, what we were—we aren’t anymore.”
“If that were true, you would still be in New York.”
“Well, we’ve gotten good at making things bad, haven’t we?”
Lance lifts his hands and cradles the back of my head, his fingers searching until he finds the scar.
I jerk away from his touch. “I see you spoke to Troy.”
“Harper,” my name cracks across his lips, “I’m so fucking sorry. If I would have known…”
I turn away from him and open the driver’s door, and he shuts it in the next second.