Page 55 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

Ashley narrows her eyes. “Thenfindher.”

I stand, anger bubbling up from my chest. “You think I haven’ttried to think of where she is? That I wouldn’t already be halfway there if I had even the slightest clue?”

“She left because she’s scared,” Ashley says, her voice hard. “And if you let her go without a fight, she’llstaygone.”

I grit my teeth. “She told me not to come after her.”

Ashley steps closer, refusing to back down. “No. She told you what shethinksyou deserve. What shethinksis best for you. But she’s wrong.”

I look away. Jaw clenched so tight it aches.

“You love her?”

The question isn’t fair. It doesn’t even need asking. But I answer anyway.

“Yes.”

“Then prove it,” she says. “Or you’re going to lose her for good.”

I glance at Arden. He hasn’t moved from the doorway.

“She tell you where she was going?” I ask him, low and tired.

“I promised I wouldn’t say.”

“Of course you did,” I mutter, turning away.

“But,” he adds, “I told her she could trust the people she left behind to still be here when she’s ready.”

It’s not enough.

It’snot even closeto enough.

But it’s something.

I stare at my phone again, rereading her message like maybe, if I stare hard enough, it’ll change.

You deserve someone who isn’t broken.

She doesn’t get to decide that for me.

She doesn’t get to walk away and act like I wouldn’t choose her again and again and again.

I head for the door. My plans are still uncertain. However, I do know this: I’m not sitting here, letting her believe that leaving was the right choice.

If I have to tear the whole damn town apart to find her—I will.

Because I love her.

And love doesn’t walk away.

Lovefights.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

ALLY

The quiet here feels... different.

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