Page 70 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

“I will apologize for a lot of things I did wrong, but I’m not going to apologize for doing what’s best for me. I thought that was you, but it’s so obviously not. You’re not the person I thought you were.”

“Yeah, neither are you.” He laughs bitterly. “You know, I’m glad it’s over. It saves me from having to divorce you a year from now when I figure out what a little whore you are.”

I walk toward the door. “I’m going upstairs to get your ring and then I want you to leave.”

He makes a grunting sound. I don’t look back. Hank’s leaning on the wall, looking out the window. Claire’s sitting at the front desk.

“I’m so sorry about this,” I say, looking at them as I run up the stairs. “He’ll be gone in a minute. I just need to get something for him.”

When I get back outside, Steve’s sitting on the bench. I walk over and hand him the ring.

“When did you take it off?” He takes the ring as he slumps over—his elbows resting on his legs with his face in his hands.

“The first night I got here after you left the bar—”

“So you’ve known for that long?”

I sit down by him. “I’ve known for a while, Steve. I just couldn’t admit it to myself. I thought for a few years that you were one person, but for the last few months, you’ve been someone else. And tonight, you proved you’re not the person I thought you were at all. I wouldn’t be happy in this marriage and frankly neither would you. Now unless you can think of any more names to call me, you need to leave.”

He stands up abruptly and walks toward his Jeep. He stops when he gets to the door and turns around.

“If Dad hadn’t mentioned the move to Dallas, would we be married right now?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s a good thing for both of us that he said it.”

He stares at me. He doesn’t look mad anymore. He looks tired.

“I’m not sure I agree with that,” he says. “Not yet, but I probably will one day.”

He shakes his head as he gets in the car. He sits there for a few minutes—looking at me.

When he finally backs out and drives away, I see Nash’s truck across the street. He waits for Steve to leave and opens his door.

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