Page 21 of Soul of the Mountain
We ride in silence to Grady’s place. Every so often, I steal a glance at Gabby, who has her gaze firmly fixed straight ahead. She hardly even blinks. Does she regret what happened between us? Am I really that repulsive? The hurt and betrayal twist and knot together in the pit of my stomach, morphing into bitterness.
I pull up next to Grady’s garage, ready for this all to be over so I can go back to the inn and chop down an entire goddamn tree instead of feeling my feelings.
Gabby rests her hand on the door handle, taking a deep breath before looking at me over her shoulder.
“Sullivan?” she whispers.
Hope flares up in my chest for a brief, fleeting moment. Is she going to tell me she quit her job and wants to live with me forever?
“Thank you for everything.”
I clench my jaw and give her a tight nod. That’s it?Thank you for everything?It’s not that I want her praise or gratitude; I wanther.I want her to tell me it mattered, that I matter.
Her hazel eyes catch mine, a kaleidoscope of emotion reflected in the various shades. Is she missing me? Or missing her big-city life? Is she sad to be leaving? Or sad she was away for so long?
Gabby opens the door and slips out, taking my tattered heart with her.
Two hours later,I’ve gathered the remains of limbs and debris around the property from yesterday’s storm and chopped them down into smaller pieces for firewood. My muscles ache from the hard labor, but the pain is nothing compared to the turmoil in my head and heart.
Stepping inside, I rinse my face off and lean against the kitchen counter. Everything feels heavy and sluggish, like I’m walking through mud. Is it colder in here than usual? Darker? Or is my world just that much bleaker without Gabby next to me?
The front door chime breaks into my thoughts, alerting me to a new guest. I roll out my shoulders and take a grounding breath before plastering on a friendly smile.
I blink a few times when I see who is standing at the check-in desk.
“Heath?” I ask as I take a few steps closer.
“Sullivan,” he greets me with a smile. “I was hoping you still ran Willow Tree Inn. God, how long has it been?”
“Five years? Six?” I answer before shaking his outstretched hand.
Heath has more muscle than the last time I saw him and a bit of gray hair on his temples, but I’d recognize his grin anywhere. His familiar green eyes have faded slightly, which is the only outward sign of his time overseas. I have no doubt my friend has seen a lot of shit during his time in the military.
Heath pulls me in for a hug and pats my back. “That sounds about right. Damn, it’s good to be back in Hope Mountain.”
“Are you here on leave?”
“Not this time. Officially retired from the Army Rangers.” My old friend has a grin on his face. He’s earned it. Fifteen years in the military, multiple deployments, and even a close call a few years ago with a roadside bomb.
“Well, congrats, man. And thank you for your service. Are you planning to stay here long? Or just passing through?”
“I’m ready to settle down, and I figured there’s no better place than the small town I grew up in, you know? I have my eye on a few houses, but I need a place to crash in the meantime.”
I nod, though my stomach curdles at his words. I also thought I was ready to settle down. Hell, I thought I had found the woman I was going to build a life with.
“What’s wrong, Sullivan? Did I say something?”
“What? No,” I’m quick to say.
Heath raises an eyebrow at me skeptically.
“I understand wanting to settle down.”
He continues to stare at me. Damn him and his ability to read any situation. I’d say it’s his military training, but Heath has always been intuitive.
“I… Well, the thing is… I kind of was with someone,” I stutter. “Someone I thought I had a future with.”
“Oh?”
