Page 69 of More Than a Helping Hand

“I understand.”

“Good because I feel very guilty about asking you to keep secrets. It doesn’t seem fair.”

I pull her back to my chest and relish the last few minutes I’m able to hold her. “I don’t care about fair, Prim.”

An hour later, we’re on our way home. She’s holding my hand as the radio plays.

When her phone rings, I turn the volume all the way down.

“Hello?” She answers on speaker.

“What time will you be home?” Primrose’s dad’s voice is strained.

“Is Bailey okay? We’re about two and a half hours away. What’s wrong?” She tightens her grip on my hand, panic etched in her features.

“She’s fine. I’m calling because a man stopped by a few minutes ago, looking for you. He introduced himself as Kyle. Is that?—”

“Keep Bailey away from him. No matter what. We’ll be there as fast as we can. I mean, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll have Mom take Bailey to the ranch. She can stay with Parker and Bluebonnet until this gets sorted out. Is he the guy from college?”

“Yes. I don’t know what he wants.”

“He didn’t tell me. He just said he’d be back later today because he needed to talk to you about something important. And, Primrose, don’t worry. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.” Her voice is a fragile whisper.

“Anderson, get her back here safely.”

“Yes, sir.” I squeeze her hand as she says goodbye and ends the call. “Whatever his reasons are for showing up out of the blue, we deal with it, okay? I know you’re worried. But we’ll find a solution. No matter what the problem is.”

She tugs her hand free. “It’s been nearly ten years. And, Anderson, there is nowe. You spent years with your life on hold for your sister, and I’m essentially doing the same thing to you. And it’s wrong. You’re almost thirty. You deserve someone who isn’t asking you to hide or dragging you into a whole heap of problems. I think we should stop seeing each other.”

There are a thousand things I want to say, but instead, I force out one word. “Okay.”

CHAPTER25

PRIMROSE

I’m trying to think of all the possible reasons Kyle wants to talk, and I’m trying not to think about Anderson. But that’s hard when he’s sitting beside me, silent.

He always said he’d let me set the pace, and he held true to that. Honestly, I expected more push back, but this is better. Easier. Who am I kidding? This is the most painful breakup I’ve ever been through, and very few know we are dating. Or were dating.

But I won’t drag him into my mess. It’s not fair to him.

When he parks outside my parents’ house, I slide out and run to the door.

Mom runs out and hugs me. “Bailey is fine and happy with Parker. She has no idea about any of this. Y’all come on in.”

Anderson sets my bag on the porch. “I’m not staying. Y’all have a good day.” Then he turns and strides back to the truck, and it’s painfully obvious that he’s upset.

Mom shakes her head. “Please tell me you didn’t end things because of Kyle.” It’s like she has emotion-sensing radar.

“Kyle is just a reminder of why I shouldn’t be in a relationship. It was never going to work. Did he say what time he’d be back?”

“Go talk to your dad.” Mom runs toward Anderson’s truck.

I pick up my bag and go inside.

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