Page 21 of Trust Me With Forever

He nodded. “It’s not finished yet, but in a way, that’s good. You can tell me what needs to be changed and I’ll see it done.”

“Just like that?”

“Of course. You know more about teaching than me, so why wouldn’t I listen to you? And don’t worry about the costs. That section is partly a gift to the students of Starry Hills, and I want to give them the best.”

I should say thank you, make an excuse, and then head home.

However, I blurted, “You seem to love this town. So why did you stay away for so long? And don’t say because you were busy with your career. Growing up, you doted on Emmy. You laughed hard with West, and even Beck. And then you left and didn’t come back for over a decade. Why, Rafe? Why did you abandon everything that once mattered to you?”

Chapter Nine

Rafe

I’d waited for this question to come up. While I’d talked with my sister about our parents and why I’d stayed away, Emmy hadn’t shared those conversations with anyone but her husband.

Not that I’d revealed everything to my sister. But she knew enough.

However, as Abby’s gaze searched mine, the usual desire to run away to forget about the past didn’t appear. I wanted to walk toward her, hold her, and maybe even share a little of myself.

But that would bring us closer, and given my track record, I’d end up hurting her.

It was best to keep my distance. “You know what it’s like to lose your parents. If given the chance, wouldn’t you run away from the place that reminded you of them and never come back?”

“That’s a bullshit answer, if I’d ever heard one.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Starry Hills might remind you of your parents, but Emmy was here, too. Unless you’re saying that to avoid memories of your parents, you’d be willing to never see your sister again? Because I thought you loved her.”

“That’s not fair.”

“You promised to be honest with me, Rafe. So tell me: did you miss Emmy while you were away?”

“Of course I did.”

“Then why did you stay away so long? Yes, coming back would’ve been painful, but you could’ve managed it. Remember, I lost my parents too. I know how much it hurts to walk through their favorite spots, eat at their favorite restaurant in town, or even keep up holiday traditions.” She paused, searched my gaze as if debating something, and then added softly, “Some of my brothers ran away for a while, abandoning me and the family. But even if they didn’t come back for a long time, they still kept in contact. Something you never did with Emmy.”

“It was better that way.”

She frowned. “Why?”

I could tell her that I hurt anyone who cared about me.

But then she might decide to cut her losses and walk away. And greedy bastard that I was, I didn’t want her to run away from me.

Not wanting to think about why, I replied, “I was young and wanted to see the world. You can’t expect a teenager or guy in his early twenties to think about his little sister.”

She studied me for a few beats before asking, “How am I supposed to believe that you’ll help me, let alone trust you enough to live with you for a year, if you keep lying to me?” She twirled, picked up her purse, and looked over her shoulder. “Text me when you’re ready to be honest.”

With that, she dashed out of the room and soon the front door slammed shut.

I stared at where she’d been standing and ran a hand over my hair. Abby was no fool, and I’d known that. She—rightly so—wasn’t going to put up with my crap.

However, as I stood there trying to think of my next move, one thing she’d mentioned replayed inside my mind:Some of my brothers ran away for a while, abandoning me and the family.

So many people had abandoned Abby over the course of her life, even if they hadn’t all been intentional.

Her parents. Her brothers. And even the guy who’d supposedly loved her had used and discarded her.

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