Page 107 of Building What's Meant to Be

“We’ll ask Christina. We’ll figure it out. It’s what you do for love,” Mae says.

“She won’t want to talk to me. I broke her trust.”

“Then you have to face Murder Doll—and what was the name of the ghost?” Mae whispers to Bess.

“Oh, brother.” I press my hand to my face and draw a raspy breath.

“That’s you.”

“Yes, that’s me. Never thought you’d be helping me out with this.” Then again, I guess today is a day to drop the lone wolf bit, especially if I want Tinsley back.

“Aiden, think about it like this, if you took the risk to keep her safe by doing what you thought was right to protect her, you’rewilling to take the risk to go to her, lay your heart at her feet even if it means she might kick it into the gutter—”

Mae shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s helping. What Bess means is you always said you were going to be the last man standing. That means you’ve seen all of us fall in love, but what happened before that?”

“Taylor thinking I was going to kill him if he so much as looked at you,” I say, recalling our bull session. The bro version of a heart-to-heart. “But he risked it anyway,” I say, seeing where this is going.

“And Cassian and I could’ve gone our separate ways, but we’re better together.” Bess flutters her lashes like she’s as in love as ever.

“So you’re saying that true love is worth risking my pride for even if she decides she doesn’t want me back?”

They both smile and nod like I just suggested we go get ice cream, which I could go for right now. I get why it helps the brokenhearted and desperate during times like this.

“Okay, I’ll go and do it, but Murder Doll has to disappear, forever, and...” I give them instructions if Tinsley returns to Butterbury with me and it involves flowers, chocolates from Sweethearts, and our closest friends.

Chapter Twenty-Three

TINSLEY

My vision blurs as I leave Butterbury. I don’t think I’ve remained in one place this long, at least not in recent memory. It’s like I grew roots, blossomed, and now, as I leave, I’m withering on the vine.

Brave sits next to me, on alert, as I reel through what transpired today.

My boyfriend and I officially broke up. Then he transformed back into Southern Agent as he took charge, made arrests, and closed the case. It was an impressive sight of commanding, efficient excellence to be sure, but it turns out I hardly knew the guy I loved.

At least, I think the case is closed. I’m not sure how that all works except what I’ve seen on television and we all know that’s rarely real. But I’m not sure I want the scoop. I’m more of a romantic comedy, relationship drama fan—thoughA Golden Deception in Texas, a western film, was excellent.

If my life were a movie, it would be calledAn Epic Deception in ButterburyorA Woman and her Dog: a ‘tail’ of loss. Actually, that sounds like a tear-jerker. I rest my head on Brave’s flank as I think about what to call my feature film.

I’d meant to take a vacation from men, so perhaps it should be calledTinsley’s Failed Man-cation.

Or not. The life I lived in Butterbury wasn’t one for cameras with a soundtrack. At times it was gritty, others sweet, and above all, it was mine. Free from caring what people would think.

Ironic, since it’s headquarters for HLTV’s Designed to Last.

But for once, finally, I could be myself. Above all, I wanted to be myself.

My life isn’t a movie or a dress rehearsal or anything but real. And right now it feels like I’m running from it. Possibly with my tail between my legs.

“What would you do, Brave?” I whisper.

The car my brother hired to bring me to Savannah whizzes past fields on one side and forest on the other. The sun plays peekaboo with the clouds. But I feel dreary like I’m going in the wrong direction even though I initially thought I wanted nothing more than to get out of Butterbury.

I mentally scroll through my recent memories starting with the last time I fled. The result: I landed in jail. On the upside, I met Aiden. On the downside, I fell in love with him and am now headed...nowhere.

Granted, I have a room at a hotel thanks to my brother, but then what?

I can’t go back to Los Angeles, New York, or Nashville. There’s nothing for me there. What about Miami, my original destination? Who was I trying to fool, I hardly knew the people I’d intended to visit. Then again, I hardly knew Aiden either.

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