Page 110 of That One Night
“Trenton and I broke up. Months ago. We agreed to tell you once you were back from your cruise, because we didn’t want to ruin your trip,” Emery told them, figuring it was better to rip the bandaid off rather than gently pull it. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “Our engagement is over, but we’re both okay, and that’s all that matters, right?”
“Right…” Trenton’s dad said uncertainly, looking from her to his son.
“So I’ll leave you three to talk.” She took a step back, ignoring the dirty look that Trenton was shooting at her. “Oh, Trenton, don’t forget to give me that release.”
“What?” Trenton asked.
“Trenton has been very kind,” she told his parents, lying through her teeth. “He loaned my mom some money when she was at her lowest. She wants to pay him back, but he has to release the lien so she can sell the house to have the money.”
“Oh, thatwasvery kind of you,” his mom told Trenton. She looked proud.
Yes, it was a gamble. She wasn’t certain he’d go through with it. But it was a risk worth taking. She knew enough about her ex to know he wouldn’t want to lose face in front of his parents.
For a second, Trenton said nothing. But then she could see it sinking in. He’d lost. She’d won. Just by staying true to herself. He pulled the legal form from the manilla envelope and passed it to her.
And there it was. Signed and dated and notarized. She felt almost sick with relief as she stared at it.
“Thank you,” she said softly. Trenton didn’t reply. But maybe she didn’t need him to. He was her past, and she was so ready to leave that behind.
It was time to face her future. Just as soon as she’d done one more thing.
Chapter
Thirty
Hendrix was waitingfor her as she walked down the steps, leaving Trenton talking to his parents. She reminded him of that little girl in the meme, the one who is walking away while the world is burning behind her.
She was beautiful. And strong. And he didn’t deserve her. But damn, he wanted to try.
“You okay?” he asked her.
She nodded. “I need to get this filed,” she said, her voice low as she lifted the signed document Trenton had given her. “But first of all I need to talk to my mom. You know how news spreads around here.”
“Of course.” He wouldn’t expect anything else of her. “Are you okay to drive? I’ll follow you.”
She nodded, giving him a weak smile. She looked as tired as he’d felt all week. “Yeah, I think so.”
He resisted pulling her into his arms even though every cell in his body wanted it. Instead, he walked her to her car, and opened the driver’s door for her, closing it once she was safely inside. He watched Trenton walk into his parents' house andclose the front door behind them, as Emery started her engine up.
A moment later he was on his motorcycle. Like he promised, he let Emery lead, following behind her like some kind of secret service agent keeping her safe. Not that she needed it.
She’d been so strong back there. She was breathtaking.
He was still kicking himself for not being truthful with her from the start.
They were about a mile away from the farm when she turned on her blinker and pulled over to the side, coming to a stop at the edge of the country road. He pulled up behind her, frowning.
“Everything okay?” he called out, climbing off his bike as she opened her door.
She nodded. “I’m just… can you pick the car up later?”
“You planning on walking home?”
Emery shook her head, letting her gaze meet his. “Can I ride with you?”
She could do whatever the hell she wanted as far as he was concerned.
“I don’t have a helmet,” he realized.
