Page 8 of Rent Free

They had to be said face to face.

I’d tell her all the nice words that Mom wanted me to tell her. I’d give her that one single chance and if she didn’t say what I needed to hear, that would be it for me.

I’d write her off so fuckin’ fast, her head would spin… and hopefully take her in the opposite direction as me. Forever.

The drive to Canton took less than an hour. Traffic was bearable, and everyone stayed the hell out of my way.

When I arrived, Wendy’s parents let me in with a sad smile on their faces, then went out the door, closing it softly behind them.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the living room where Everest and his wife, Wendy, were talking softly.

I walked up to them, took a seat on the couch across from them, and announced, “I’m moving to Dallas.”

Unsurprised at my arrival, they jumped right into the conversation at hand.

Wendy shook her head. “You can’t stand Dallas.”

She was right.

I hated everything about Dallas.

Driving anywhere near it gave me hives.

But…

“I’m about to ruin Sage’s careful life.”

Everest’s lips twitched. “She’ll hate that.”

I shrugged carelessly. “I don’t even care.”

Two days later, I moved to Dallas, with a job as a hotel concierge, and free board if I took the night shifts.

One day after that, I also found a job at the bakery that Uncle Coke said Sage liked to frequent.

One day after that, I met the man who saved Sage’s life.

The one who hated me at first sight.

I love driving alone. I just played the same song 10 times.

—Atlas’s secret thoughts

ATLAS

I tossed the wad of tissues I’d just blown my nose in into the trashcan across the room and made it.

My nose itched, and I immediately wanted to reach for another tissue, but my boss was giving me the stink eye.

My brother eyed me, his smirk telling me that he found my predicament funny.

He would.

The asshole was the one to give me the fuckin’ cold in the first place.

My family shared everything.

Opinions.

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