Page 105 of An Unfinished Memory

I blinked back sudden tears. Aggie’s words streamed through my head. I could talk to her about anything related to Wilder, and I really needed to phone a friend now. I put the pickup in park and called her.

She didn’t answer.

Right. Wilder was getting sworn in.

He’d already have taken the oath. Wilder Knight. Murphy County Sheriff.

His life was cemented in Buffalo Gully. Mine was in Crocus Valley.

My breathing kicked up. The tears burned hotter. How important was my life in Crocus Valley?

No. I wasn’t giving up everything I’d worked for.

But did I work for Wilder?Reallywork? Or did I sit around and wait for him to change like I’d done with my parents? Had I withdrawn and not been completely honest about what I was feeling? We’d talked, but I also hadn’t been as transparent as I should’ve been. I had thought I shouldn’t need to be.

Wilder was achieving something he’d worked almost half his life for, and I wasn’t there. I’d been determined to lead my own life. I wasn’t waiting on anyone. Now I wasn’t there for him either.

Was fucking Carla at the swearing-in ceremony?

I growled, and Oreo popped his head up in the back. “Sorry,” I muttered. I rubbed my face and pulled my hands back. My cheeks were wet. I let out a frustrated breath. “Did I fuck up, Oreo?”

He thumped his tail against the seat.

“What do I do?”

Light flashed off a vehicle that was turning. My pulse jumped, but it was Aggie’s pickup.

Wait—Aggie?

When she approached, I frowned. Ansen was driving, and she was in the passenger seat. Why weren’t she and Ansen at the ceremony? InMontana? Ansen pulled in front of my pickup, a giant grin that matched Aggie’s on his face. The back door opened, and Wilder hopped out.

I blinked. “Wilder?” I opened the door and climbed out before I could figure out what the hell was going on.

“Hey, Doc.”

I stared at him, bewildered. Why was he herenow?

Ansen hopped out, grabbed a bag out of the back, and tossed it on the driveway. Then he got back in. Aggie rolled down the window. “Call me later!”

Ansen backed up and sped away. As if I wasn’t confused enough.

“You what? How are you here? Where’s your pickup, and what?—”

He yanked me to him and crushed his mouth to mine. I whimpered and wrapped my arms around him. I wasn’t any more informed than before. My brain registered Wilder’s presence when I was missing him the most. When I felt like I’d let him down the most.

I pulled away. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been at the ceremony.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.”

“I made a huge mistake, and I think I know what I have to do.”

“Sutton.” He pressed his finger against my mouth. Oreo barked from inside the pickup.

“Nice to see you again, Oreo,” he said without taking his eyes off me. His grin was sheepish. “I should’ve called, but I was too worried about missing you. I caught a ride with Ansen and Aggie so you’d be forced to take me on as a passenger wherever I caught you. We were going straight to the Black Hills if we missed you.”

“You got vacation?”

“A long one.” His grin spread. “So long you might get sick of me. I quit.”

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