Page 22 of Forever in the Country

“Did he do something?” he asks in a deadly tone that would rival Sorren’s. I worry my bottom lip, debating how much I can tell my brother.

How much I’m willing to give.

“It’s more like what he’snotdoing and also I said some things he didn’t want to hear so I think he’s pissed but…” I brush away another tear. “I just want to be happy, you know? I want to be someone’s first priority and…” My breath catches and I swallow down the emotion. “If you need help just call me and I’ll walk you through it.”

“I’ll be fine. Just take care of you.” He pauses and I almost think he’s hung up when he speaks. “You deserve it all, Rhea. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I whisper into the phone and then hang up. I need time and I need space away because I was stupid to think he’d ever choose me.

Picking up my phone again, I call the one man that won’t ask any questions.

“Hello?” He says on the second ring.

“Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?”

11

RHEA

8 MONTHS AGO

It feels like I’ve barely closed my eyes when my alarm goes off. It’s well and truly the only time I hate owning my own business because despite having done this exact thing foryears—I hate early mornings.

I’m not a morning person and my brothers have all given me shit for it—at least up until they wanted coffee and muffins on their way to work.

Harper’s wedding had been beautiful, and I loved seeing my friend get married but not finding coverage sooner was a huge oversight on my part.

Dragging myself from my bed, I bypass the mirror—seriously, no one needs that—and jump into the shower. I wish I could take a hot one but I’ll be sleeping standing up so I hustle through the necessities in lukewarm water.

I’m thankful that my foggy brain waited until I was at least dressed before it assaulted me with memories from the night before. My stomach sinks at how the near perfect night turned so fast.

Because of me.

I wanted to yell and scream at all his excuses because that’s what they were.

Sorren Mackay had kissed me back. He’d kissed me and stopped just short of hauling me across the console to sit in his lap. He’d liked it.

I knew he did.

But then he’d been so angry when he pulled away—like it was my fault for makin’ him feel something.

Is this because of what happened before? You’re doin’ this now to get back at me?

The accusation hadn’t made sense last night and it doesn’t make sense now. I’d jumped out of the car so fast I barely heard his cursing behind me as I hustled up my front walk.

He’d caged me against the front door, his expression stormy and his chest heaving. He was all worked up, and I wanted to see him lose that last bit of control more than I wanted my next breath.

Sorren and I had never been athing. We’d never had a moment or a time in our lives when we’d been pining after each other, so I didn’t understand what he was tryin’ to raise hell about.

A niggling at the back of my mind has me pausing, the wand of my mascara frozen in front of my face. A weird, misplaced memory of a few weeks in college has my heart beating a little faster before I shake my head and coat my lashes accordingly.

I don’t have secrets.

Except that one.

It wasn’t really even a secret—just something that I tried not to think about too often for fear of soul-numbing guilt and heartache. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the relief I felt was still something I struggled with.

Sighing, I throw the tube in my makeup bag and pull my wet hair back into a small bun. I just have to make it through the morning shift and then I can come home and take a bath—dammit, a hot shower.

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