Page 87 of Embracing Trust

My head flops back on the couch.

He continues, “It’s not what you think.”

I roll my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Julia. I love you.”

I scoff.

It’s quiet for a few moments and I listen intently until I hear his truck door close. I move to the window and peer out a tiny space in the curtains until I see him drive away.

I plop down on the couch, bury my face in a pillow, and let out a wail. I sit up and the tears are like hot water as they run down my face. I can barely swallow, my throat burns. I can’t stop the sobs as they sound out in my empty house.

How will I ever get over Ryan McCormick breaking my heart? Again. Except this time, he didn’t just break my already fragile heart, he crushed it into granules of sand and let them loose in the wind.

Chapter Thirty-seven

Ryan

I take off in a run and trip over the first porch step as I burst into the house. Julia stands in the kitchen doorway her back to me as her shoulders shake.

I reach the doorway to the kitchen and Aubree rubs her visibly pregnant stomach.

Aubree has a tight, devilish smile on her face as she talks to Julia. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

Heat flushes through my body and sets my skin on fire. My defenses turn on like I’m on the battlefields of Afghanistan. My voice roars through the kitchen. “What the hell?”

A few seconds go by as if we’re frozen in time.

Julia turns to me. Her face is pale, her eyes filled with tears that run down her cheeks. She sniffles and flies past me as she makes her way out the front door with a loud slam. I hurl the door open, practically knocking it off its hinges and, take off after her.

“Julia!” I shout as she scurries down the porch to her car.

“Come back. We need to talk.”

I get to her car just as she manages to slip in and close the door.

Julia!” I pound on the window.

“Just let her go, Ryan!” Aubree screeches from the porch.

Julia peels out of the driveway, and I get one last look at her before she takes off down my street.

“Dammit!” I shout and turn to the porch.

“Ryan, what in the world?” Mom asks as she clutches her chest.

I race up onto the porch and push past Mom as I rush up on Aubree. “You!” I shout. “You did this!”

“You weren’t going to do it. Someone had to.” Aubree’s voice is cool and calculated.

“Fuck. You.” I poke Aubree in the chest.

“Ryan!” Mom calls out to me as I run to my truck and take off after Julia.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I get to her house and see her car on the driveway. I slam on the brakes behind her car and run to the front door.

I pound on the door which causes the wreath of flowers to vibrate in protest. “Julia!”

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