That had also been about the time I’d started to hear the rumors about me leaving Tanner for another guy.

Me:I’ve been there once. It was enough for me. People weren’t exactly friendly.

Tanner:I’ll be there. I’ll be friendly. I’ll save us a table. Or do you want me to pick you up?

I let out a frustrated breath. If there was one thing I knew about Tanner Remington, it was that he could be very stubborn when he wanted something.

Me:Why?

It made absolutely no sense that he suddenly wanted to hang out with me on a Saturday night.

Tanner:I think I owe you an apology, and I like to do my groveling in person.

A startled laugh escaped from my lips before I could stop it.

Tanner didn’t have a clue how to grovel, and apologies were rare for him.

He’d obviously thought about what I’d said this morning, and apparently, he’d believed me.

God, it still made me crazy that he’d actually believed that I’d leave him for another man.

Me:No apologies necessary. It was a long time ago.

Tanner:Which means the apology is long overdue. Meet me. Please. I’ll make sure everyone knows that there are no hard feelings between the two of us.

Okay, when he put it that way, the offer was…tempting.

Iwasreally tired of being treated like an outcast because everyone thought I’d hurt one of their billionaire golden boys.

Really, I couldn’t blame the people in this town. Crystal Fork protected their own, and Tanner Remington had done a lot for people in this town. All of the Remingtons did.

It irked me a little that I couldn’t just be accepted back into the town because I was a good person, but I’d grown up here. I knew how things worked here.

If Tanner accepted me, everyone else would do the same when they realized that I hadn’t crushed his heart.

I’d been gone for a long time, so right now, no one considered me one of their own.

My thumbs hovered over the text keyboard.

I shouldn’t.

I really, really shouldn’t.

But against my better judgement, I was going to meet him anyway.

It seemed that loneliness was an intense motivation to fix my situation.

Me:One drink. I can’t stay long.I’ll meet you at eight.

Tanner:Did you eat dinner?

I looked at the half eaten donut I’d set on the counter.

I decided to lie. My dinner plans were none of his business. I’d make a sandwich or something before I left.

Me:Yes.

Tanner:I’ll head out early so I can get a table. See you soon.