I looked up at him.
“You talk like choosing something for yourself means leaving something else behind,” he said, shrugging. “Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t. But sometimes leaving something behind is a good thing, especially if it’s fear. You just need to believe that what you’ve built is strong enough to hold more than one dream. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”
I stared at him for a second, his words sinking deeper than I expected. Not because they were poetic or profound. But because they were simple. And true.
“I don’t even know what my dream is,” I said, my voice tight.
“Sure, you do. You just have to be honest with yourself.”
I blinked, my throat thick. “You make it sound so easy. Chase did, too.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“He told me it was my decision. That he didn’t want to be controlling like Mason. And I appreciate that. I do.”
“But?” Trey prompted.
“He didn’t ask me to stay. Like, it would be easy to let me go if this took me away.”
Trey let out a low snort. “If you think that would be easy for him, then you’re not as smart as I think you are.” I gave him a sharp glance, but he didn’t back down. “He’s trying not to clip your wings.” Trey’s brow furrowed a little,then softened. “But I get it. When he didn’t say it out loud, you filled in the silence with your own doubts.”
The sting of the truth pinched. “I guess.”
Trey rested his elbows on his knees. “You’re doing what a lot of us do when we’ve been under someone’s thumb too long. You mistake being caged as being wanted. You mistake freedom for abandonment. But you’re not a prisoner now. You don’t need permission to go after something good.”
The clearing settled into silence again. Jack shifted in the grass with a sigh.
I let out a soft, surprised laugh and shook my head. “You know, you’re better than my therapist was.”
He grinned. “Probably cheaper, too. This will just cost you one of your pies.”
“Done. Maybe a meal to go with it one night?”
I wasn’t sure if he’d take me up on it. I sensed Trey was a bit of a loner, only coming to family events because it was expected. So I was thrilled when he nodded. I’d make sure he took me up on it.
“I would say we should stop running into each other this way, but weirdly, it seems to work out,” I teased. “At least, for me.”
“Me, too. You helped me decide what to do.”
“But we didn’t even talk about what you were ‘pondering.’”
He winked at me as he stood. “Oh, but we did. You just didn’t know it.”
Impulsively, I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around him. For a second, he froze, like he was rusty at returning affection. But then his strong arms enfolded me with an exhale, as if tension rolled off him as well. Maybe he’d needed that hug as much as I did.
Chapter 41
Chase
I stoodin the kitchen staring after Anna, wondering what the hell had just happened.
She walked out fast. No yelling, no slammed doors. Just that look in her eyes, one like Jack gave when you took away his favorite toy and told him it was time to stop.
I’d told her it was her choice. That I supported her. That I didn’t want to be like Mason—controlling, possessive, manipulating her into smallness. And I meant it.
But God, it had felt like I’d pushed her away.
I ran a hand over my face and dropped into one of the kitchen chairs. I didn’t want to cage her. But the truth was—I wanted her to choose me. Not because she felt like she had to. Because she wanted to build something here. With me. That I was all she needed and worth staying for.