Page 29 of Wild Night

My breath hitches because I didn’t think I was giving off any vibes at all that would be a cause for concern.

“You don’t have to tell us, but if you do, just know that it’s safe with us,” Cidney murmurs.

And that is when the tears unexpectedly slide down my cheeks. I could lie and say I don’t know why I’m crying, but I know exactly why. I’m scared to fucking death that Lucian is going to appear. After what he did a few weeks ago, I’m terrified that he’s going to come after me again.

But instead of lying to them or trying to pretend that I’m okay, my words spill out of my mouth as if the cork has been released, and everything comes out in a rush. I tell them everything. I unload it all. And when I’m finished, they stare at me, lips parted, eyes wide, wordless.

I shouldn’t have said anything.

Nothing at all.

Shit.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

POSEY

Cidney’s phonerings before either of them can respond to what I’ve just told them. She answers it, then says that she will be right there. I don’t have to guess. I’m sure it’s Ivy who called her. A few moments later, we’re gathering a box of pastries, another coffee each, and heading out the door.

Before I walk out of the bakery, I look back at Lainey, who hasn’t responded to my verbal diarrhea, and apologize.

“I unloaded, and I’m really sorry,” I say in a whisper.

She lifts her hand and waves it around. “We’re all family. Nothing to be sorry for. Anytime you want to come over and just unload, you go right on ahead.”

I don’t know how this girl, who is clearly not even thirty years old, is more mature and has her life far more together than I do. I can’t deny that I’m thankful for it. In the few hours I’ve known them, both she and Cidney have made me feel more at ease than any other women I’ve ever been around.

Granted, that hasn’t been a lot. I’m not really a girl who has ever had girlfriends. But I see the appeal now, at least with oneslike these. Cidney and I make our way back to the office, the first few feet in silence, then she speaks.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” I say honestly. “But I’m sure I will be.”

“Posey,” she whispers.

Shaking my head, I lift my iced coffee and wrap my lips around the straw, taking a sip before I speak. The words I say, I’ve been thinking about for a long time. This whole thing, while Lucian is definitely the problem, could have been avoided if I had just paid attention instead of wanting to live in a fantasy.

I chose to stick my head in the sand, so whatever comes my way is on me. In fact, I should just pack my car up and drive back home to face him in person. I know I should, and I’m avoiding it again, pretending and hiding from the facts.

“I am really confused by everything that is my estranged husband. I don’t know what to think about him, mainly because I don’t even know him. He’s a stranger to me. I married him in hopes I would be able to truly start my life.

“He promised me things, and I accepted everything on the surface, choosing to look no deeper. I ignored anything that could have been conceived as a red flag, and now I’m paying the price for my chosen ignorance.”

My words are the truth. This is my chosen ignorance, and I’m running from the consequences of that again, hoping I can avoid it. But there comes a time when you need to accept it and deal with it head-on.

“I need to go back.”

Cidney’s eyes widen, and she turns to me. “No, Posey. Let Justin and the others help you. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I almost, almost laugh in her face—stupid is my middle name. But I don’t say that. Instead, I shake my head a couple of times, clearing my throat before I respond to her words. There’snothing wrong with what she’s said. In fact, letting others help me was my whole reason for coming here.

But I was wrong.

Just in talking about Lucian and my situation, I realize that I am seriously wrong in more ways than one. I should not have come here for help.

The mess I’m in has absolutely nothing to do with this group of people, with Dakota, and I came here knowing that whatever shit Lucian has swirling around him is no doubt swirling around me and will affect all of them.

It was selfish and wrong.

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