Page 83 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

There was a sharp pause on the other end.

“Legal issues?” Daniel’s voice was incredulous, like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. “Are you serious right now? I thought it was just some bookstore to sell. I don’t know why you're making this such an issue.”

I rubbed my temple, frustration mixing with a growing sense of guilt. “My uncle left a mess that I need to fix.”

“And that's more important? I need you back here this week.”

“I…” This was bad,reallybad. “I can’t.”

“You don’t want to lose this job, do you?”

The words stung, harder than they should have.

I had worked so hard to get to where I was, but now I wasn’t sure if I even wanted it anymore.

The weight of the decision I had to make was overwhelming. I couldn’t make a choice right now.

“I'll be back soon,” I said quietly, though the words felt hollow. “As soon as I can.”

“You’d better,” Daniel snapped. “And you’d better have a damn good explanation when you get here. If I don’t hear from you again in the next twenty-four hours, I’m pulling you off the Sterling account, and you can kiss that ‘future’ goodbye.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving an echo of silence hanging in the air.

I stood there for a long moment, phone still in hand, staring at nothing.

The hollow sting of Daniel's words lingered, but I wasn’t sure if I was more upset about his anger or the fact that I didn’t actually want to run back to the city.

I’d known I couldn’t keep this up forever, but now?

Now it felt too late to pull away. I’d already crossed a line I wasn’t sure I could uncross. And I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to.

But deep down, I knew I had to. Before it got messier.

I couldn’t let myself fall too hard for these men.

Because no matter how much I wanted to ignore it, the truth was clear as day: this was a temporary thing.

What I had with them—what I wanted from them—couldn’t last.

I had a life waiting for me back in the real world. A job, a career, an identity that didn’t include a complicated, impossible love affair with three brothers.

I had to cut myself loose.

Before I couldn’t anymore.

I just wasn’t sure if I had the strength to do it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Owen

I hadn't plannedon stopping by Page Turners, but I couldn’t help myself. I needed to see her.

The door creaked open as I stepped inside, and the smell of old books hit me right away.

Familiar. Comfortable. But the air was thick with tension.

“Aurora?” I called, my voice low.

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