Page 46 of Even if It Hurts

“Always,” she vowed, even thoughcarefulhad never been in her vocabulary. Before I could comment on that, she hurriedly asked, “So, what all happened after I snuck out?”

A stuttered breath left me when the question brought back flashes of the night with painful, startling force.

I’d been prepared for another argument with Jackson after how we’d left things this morning. I hadn’t expected him to be waiting for me when I’d gotten home...with both his parents and mine.

“Where have you been?”my mom had demanded as soon as I’d set foot inside, stilling me with the front door still in my grasp as I’d stared at the five of them sitting in the living room.

“Work,”I’d said a little uncertainly, even though I was sure of that. I just hadn’t been able to figure out if I’d forgotten plans with the McCoys.

“It’s well after eight,”she’d said as if I hadn’t known that.“You should’ve been back hours ago.”

“My hours aren’t?—”

“We’ve already talked with my aunt,”my dad had said over me, pointing for me to sit in the only empty chair as he did.“We’ve made it abundantly clear that she can’t interfere in our company or our children’s lives anymore.”

My stomach had dropped at the realization of what he was saying.“Wait, what?”

“You have responsibilities,”he’d gone on just as I’d caught sight of my sister standing in the corner, trying to relieve the slowly-building tension in the room with her eyerolls and mocking expressions.“You’re the future of this company, Lainey. You and Jackson are the future of our combined companies. What you’re doing—turning your back on this business even for a day—is selfish.”

My head had snapped in Jackson’s direction at that—at the words that had so closely echoed his from that morning.

“And what about your wedding?”my mom had chimed in.“Where did the plans for that go?”

“What plans?”I’d asked on a stunned laugh.“There’s never been an actual wedding, just the idea of it. Jackson’s never even asked me to marry him.”

“And you know why,”Jackson had shot back.“I would’ve asked years ago, we would already be married, if you weren’t so focused on living a life without me in it.”

“If you weren’t so determined to snub your duties to your family and ours,”his mom had added, all while his dad murmured agreements.

My chest had caved from the force of my next exhale. I’d looked at Wren just as she’d mouthedYikesbefore turning on Jackson’s parents again.“You make it sound like I’m a piece of property or one of your animals to be used as y’all deem fit. I am a person, and I absolutely deserve to live my life how I want to.”

“There are businesses and people counting on you, Lainey,”my dad had seethed.“Much more than are in this room, and more than you realize.”

“I know,”I’d cried.“I just left the people who are counting on me.”

“That isn’t who I meant,”he’d snapped,“and you won’t be going back to that ridiculous excuse of a job. We’ve already told Aunt Ada today was your last day.”

I’d reared back at the sure way he’d said the words as if my parents and Jackson’s had every intention of seeing to that.

But after a slow glance at the determined glares pointed at me, I’d whispered,“I’m not quitting my job.”

All at once, everyone had erupted.

My parents had yelled at me, telling me I didn’t have a choice while reminding me again about my responsibilities. Jackson had angrily gestured to me, as if to saysee, while telling my parents I wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. His parents had alternated between snapping at me for my carelessness and shouting at my parents to get me under control.

It’d continued like that for another couple hours before the McCoys had left. Jackson had tried to kiss me, as if I’d wanted him anywhere near me after that disaster. It’d been awkward and uncomfortable and had led to another lecture from my parents about how I was sabotaging my life and future.

I’d been in my room since, wide awake, even though I should’ve passed out from exhaustion long ago.

“It was more of the same,” I told Wren. “They just went around and around. Reminded me of all the plans they’d been making for the companies since Jackson and I were little kids. How I was ruining that by trying to walk away and how they weren’t gonna let me.”

“Headlines have changed,” Wren whispered wryly, “Irresponsible Lainey Pearson Single-Handedly Destroys Family Farm and McCoy Ranch.”

“You’re awful,” I murmured half-heartedly, even as a ghost of a smile tugged at my mouth before heavily falling into a frownwhen I asked, “Did Dad really tell Aunt Ada that today was my last day?”

She hummed in response. “They had her over for dinner, planning to tell you both. When you didn’t show, Dad ripped into Aunt Ada.”

Surprise and sorrow swept through me as I studied my sister’s expression that showed just how shocking it’d been.

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