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He laughs and hangs his head. “Well, someone posted a picture of Evie trying on wedding dresses. I don’t even go online these days, but I went searching for that like some fucking masochist. It’s surreal to see her in a white gown all dressed up for someone else. I know her better than anyone. She’s not happy.”

I try my hand at a bit of his straightforward advice. “So why don’t you make her happy?”

Sawyer laughs and stands from the chair. “Now you sound like me.I want to make her happy.She’s the one person I know better than anyone. Not because I know all the facts about her life, like her favorite color, but because my soul understands hers. It’s such a fucking mind fuck.” He rolls his shoulders back. “Anyway, I sound like a fucking idiot going on about souls and emotions.” He groans and goes to pacing. “She’s mine, she’s been mine for years, but also… she’s not, you know? How do I live like that?” He shakes his head and twists his cap back. “Sorry, man. I’m spinning out tonight.”

“I get it. I just left one that’s not mine, but she is.” I scrub my hand over my face and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. I can’t do what Sawyer is doing. I can’t live like he’s living. I can’t lust after Opal for years then watch her marry another man. I can’t watch her live the life we’re supposed to be living with someone else.

“You gotta go after her, man,” Sawyer says, taking a sip of his beer. “Sit on her porch all night if you have to. Better now than when she’s got a fiancé at home.”

I know where I need to be, but I’m not sure I can leave Sawyer on the line right now. “What happened with you and Evie, anyway? Not sure I ever heard the story.”

He raises his brows and groans. “Short story? I fell in love with her when I shouldn’t have, and there was a lot of pressure on her to live her life for others.”

That’s about as vague as the word‘soon.’“You still have kidnapping?”

He laughs and scrubs his hand down over his salt and pepper beard. “I was planning it right before you showed up, actually.”

I’m pretty sure he’s joking…I think.

“Either way, man, you’ve gotta go back out there tonight. You’ve gotta sit on her porch and wait for her to open the door. Sing her songs, talk until your throat bleeds, do whatever it takes. You’re lucky there’s no one else in the picture.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a man as raw as I’m seeing Sawyer right now. “You sure you don’t want me to call someone to hang out here tonight? You—”

“No.” His tone is deep and sure as he says, “This’ll pass. I just have to work through it, ya know?”

I nod and stand from the chair, making my way toward the door. One quick stop at the cabin for my guitar, and I’m taking the girl I came out here for.

Chapter Seven

Opal

“Child, why are you callin’ me? Your supposed to be on a date.” Clearly, Agnes is never too tired to let things go.

“I called to check on the dinner service. How’d everything go?”

I can hear her eyes roll. “Honey, it went fine. We made the food, and then we served the food. Now tell me why you’re not buried under the covers with that big, inked-up music star.”

“It’s a long story. I just wanted to check on dinn—”

“I’ve got time, child. Loads of it. Tell me everything. You know I won’t let it go.”

Sighing loudly, I pull open the fridge door and take out the ginger ale I started this morning. “There’s nothing to tell. He’s a good guy, but celebrity life isn’t for me. You’ll know why when the newest issue of People magazine comes out.”

“So, there are some street snappers. I can’t imagine they got anything too interesting.”

I laugh, and tip back the flat soda. I’m not sure why I save these things, or why I keep buying cans when I can’t seem to finish a whole one. I should buy two liter bottles, but I like the way the cold tin hits my lips when I take a sip. “Let’s see… they caught a sexually explicit act, my fall into the stream, and an argument between Buck and I on the front porch. So… yeah—”

“Oh, honey.” Her tone rises significantly as she says, “I didn’t think you had it in ya. Good for you! Can’t wait to pick up a copy.”

“No, it’s not good. It’s humiliating. It made me realize what an idiot I’m being. I can’t get all wrapped up in Buck. If he hurts me like Edwin hurt me, I’ll never live it down. It’ll be on the news, on the cover of magazines, everywhere. It’s a disaster in the making. Has no one ever heard of protecting your peace? It’s a thing. People talk about it.”

Agnes sighs. “Honey, when you run in from the storm, you miss out on the rain. You don’t want to miss the rain, do ya?”

I laugh under my breath, half dismissing her. “Actually, that’s exactly what I’m trying to miss out on. I hate rain. It’s gross and wet and annoying. You end up all drenched, sticky, and you have to go home and change.”

Agnes laughs. “Sounds like a fun night to me.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, it sounds like inevitable disappointment to me.”

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