Page 109 of Heart & Hope

“Yeah,” I utter.

That’s it, a long week. Filled with these amazing people, in this stunning place. And I am set to leave in a few days’ time back to the lonely city. All by myself.

God, I’m a fucking Celine Dion song.

Good Lord.

I roll my eyes, hoping Mack doesn’t catch it, as we walk back into the bright warmth of the barn.

“Hey, sweetheart. You alright?” Lou meets me within a few feet inside. I nod, and she winks at me before turning to studythe room. When she looks to Reed, who is standing talking to guests, she says, “What an incredible night.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“In more ways than one, darlin’.” She squeezes my arm and walks away toward Harry.

“You should be over there. This is your accomplishment, too,” Mack says, retracting his arm from my shoulders and waving at Reed. As if he senses I was looking at him, he turns and smiles at me. And that one look breaks my heart and patches it back together all at once.

“When do you leave?” I turn and ask Mack.

The happiness fades from his face. “Sunday morning.”

Only tonight and tomorrow left. I wrap my arms around him, and he folds me into a hug. “Please be safe.”

“Always am, Rubes.”

When I break the hug, he messes up my hair like the little sister I feel like right now. The one who would do anything to keep him from going back on tour. To save Reed from having to say goodbye to his big brother again. To make sure Louisa’s heart is safe.

But I set my shoulders back, tip up my chin, and dot a kiss to his cheek before striding through the tables and sidling up to Reed. His fingers automatically lace with my own. The couple he is talking to is our first guests from earlier this afternoon, Tim and Denise.

“Oh, love, I am parched. We should grab another drink,” Denise says, meeting my gaze.

“Sure, let’s hit the bar.”

We leave the men to the farm talk and wander to Tanner and order drinks.

“You are one lucky woman, Ruby, he’s gorgeous.”

I chuckle a laugh, dipping my head. “Ah, thanks.”

“No, I’m serious. Nail that down quick. You don’t get that look twice in a lifetime, trust me.” She’s nodding.

I don’t understand.

“What look?”

“The way he looks at you. Babe, that man is a goner. Sorry about my Aussie slang. How do I say this? You’reitfor him. That bloke is head over heels for you.Deep.”

She nods, her eyes widening even further on the word deep. I take a long, burning draw of the Merlot that Tanner set beside me. Swallowing, I glance at Reed. He’s moving his hands in the air, describing something to Tim. My heart races, banging on my ribs faster with every beat. I down the rest of the wine and return the glass to the bar a little too hard.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice, love?” She’s studying my face with lowered brows now.

I meet her gaze, sucking in a breath. “We were fooling around, and things got... but—” I choke on the next inhale.

I did tell him I love him. And I meant it. He is the best person I have ever met. I do love Reed, but loving someone isn’t the same as giving up everything for them.

And this is the one thing I can’t reconcile.

Struggling with how to fit both our lives together, I order another glass. Tanner raises an eyebrow.

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