Page 86 of Wild Love

"On your terms. When you want to keep in contact. When you want to come home. And you only returned this time because you quit your last position. But you've never even told me why. You don't trust me."

"To be fair, I'm not sure I trust anyone."

"That's messed up."

My cheeks heated.

Marigold opened the door and slammed it shut. Her walking out said something. I'd screwed up. I was hurting the people I left behind. I hadn't thought about it like that before. I'd only considered it in selfish terms. People would do anything to get me to stay, and I wanted to be free. But what if these people loved me and wanted more, but I couldn't give it? Or didn't want to. What kind of a person did that make me?

20

ELI

Iwanted to give Scarlett time. I hoped she'd see things differently. But I wasn't so sure that would happen. In Scarlett's eyes, I'd betrayed her, and I couldn't blame her for feeling that way. I wasn't upfront with her.

I wanted to get to know her without her knowing I'd bought her a theater. But in the end, I wanted her to stay. The worst motivation in her book.

Should I let her go? Or try one more time to get her to see my side? I loved her and wanted to be with her, but I wouldn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do. That was true love. I had to let her go and hope she'd come back to me.

I just hated it.

I called Chance and asked him to meet me at the diner for breakfast.

He was already in uniform, talking to the hostess, when I arrived. He laughed, and I kind of wanted to smash something. How was he so happy when my life was imploding?

He saw me and straightened. "Rough night?"

"Something like that," I mumbled, not sure it was a good idea to seek advice from Scarlett's brother.

"Right this way," the hostess said as we followed her to the last booth. She handed us the menus and disappeared.

I wanted something greasy. I figured out my order, then set the menu aside.

Chance perused the menu while I drummed my fingers on the table impatiently. Finally, he put it aside. "What's your deal?"

"I fucked up."

Chance's eyes widened as the waitress poured coffee into our waiting mugs. She must have caught the irritation coming off me. "I'll give you a few minutes."

Once she walked away, Chance said, "Are we talking about my sister?"

I nodded. "I bought the theater."

"You're the one who bought it? Everyone was speculating that it was an out-of-towner who loved the theater."

"I bought it so that Scarlett would have a space to perform. I hoped she'd fall in love with directing and want to stay."

Chance laughed. "You can't get Scarlett to stay. That's not how she operates."

"I was hoping she'd realize it on her own. I also didn't want the theater turned into another restaurant and bar."

"We have enough of those in town. I'm guessing she found out about your little purchase, and she isn't happy."

"The realtor approached her with another buyer, hoping Scarlett would talk to me about selling."

Chance winced. "Ouch."

"Scarlett felt betrayed because I didn't run it by her first. But we weren't together then."

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