Page 72 of To Challenge a Wolf

“This is the reality: I’m not going to wake up one morning ready to be what you need.”

“Well, of course you’re not. It’ll take time and work just like most everything else in life. But you’re already the one I want. Right now, this minute. So can we please stop this repetitious argument every time you have the barest flutter of a feeling?”

What? His feelings weren’t the problem. His lack was the problem. Had she not heard a thing he’d been saying for the last week?

He stopped pacing and faced her. “No. I’m ending it. It’s got to end now, before…”

Before she got hurt. But he was too late for that. Her scent proved it.

“Howdareyou,” she whispered. “How dare you choose for me?”

He shrugged. Control was surging back, blunting the rawness in his chest. His expression was a perfect blank. “What can I say? I’m daring.”

“The snark isnotwelcome right now!”

“Definitely the wrong wolf for you then.”

“I’m not giving up on us, Rhett. You can’t make me give up.”

He stepped in close to her, inhaled her scent, though it was layered with insecurity, anger, hurt, and a determination that seemed to sputter. Now was the moment. If he said it right, he could send her away. For his own sake and for hers.

“There’s nous, Vivian. There’s never going to be anus.”

Her eyes glossed with pure hurt. “Don’t do this. I know you feel something for me. I know you do; I’ve seen it.”

“You’re seeing what you want to see.”

“You’re lying. Your feelings are so big they’ve got you running scared.”

Her words were so ridiculous, suddenly doing the right thing was easy. He didn’t lie. He didn’t run scared. He held her gaze and told the truth. “I don’t feel. Anything.”

Nineteen

She’d been driving forever.

It was only a feeling, not reality. She drew a deep breath, but her chest stayed tight. Her final vacation day was tomorrow, but she’d said goodbye to Trevor and Kelsey a day early.

“Oh, Vivian, what happened? Are you okay?”

She’d nearly cried over Kelsey’s genuine dismay at the…breakup? Was that what it was? She’d wanted Kelsey to become a friend, enjoyed how their energy levels matched, how they each had a creative streak unlike the other’s. Maybe that was why she’d been wholly honest, unable to wear a brave face.“This isn’t my choice, Kelsey. It’s not what I want, and he knows that.”

Rhett wouldn’t spend the day with her tomorrow. Wouldn’t join her for a final early breakfast, split the french toast, wander the streets downtown and poke their heads into random resale shops and bookstores. It had been their plan. Her last day here, the day they hammered out logistics for seeing each other again, for keeping in touch between, texts and video calls until she could come back or he could make it to Chicago.

Now instead she’d stopped at the diner for lunch, sat in their corner booth alone and forced down a delicious turkey club wrap she’d ordered with an idea for closure. She couldn’t bring herself to order a strawberry milkshake, though nothing in the universe should be able to spoil dessert. Then she started driving home. No reason to do anything else. He’d stopped answering her texts.

“I failed.” The words were loud in the quiet car, nothing but muted wind outside as cars passed by from the other direction. “I messed up.”

She’d had a solid plan and executed it to the very best of her ability. She had to figure out where she’d gone wrong. Maybe she could give it a second try. Adjust the plan and…

And what? Drive back to Tennessee, show up on his porch and pound on his door? He wouldn’t open it. Or if he did, he’d lie to her some more.

“I don’t feel. Anything.”

Halfway home, she stopped for gas and a restroom break and sent a text to the one person who might help her find her way out of the melancholy tunnel.

I’ll be home in about three hours. Are you free tonight, feeling like company at all? You can say no!

By the time she was ready to get back on the road, her phone had pinged with a reply.

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