Page 96 of Edge of Heaven

Hurt that Mick wouldn’t even try to understand how I feel.

Frustrated that he didn’t come back later, so we could talk things out.

I’m probably being unreasonable, but I’ve been through a lot over the last six months or so. If he’s truly in love with me, shouldn’t he have tried again? Tried harder to understand what I was trying to say or at least appreciate the fact that I don’t want to bring baggage to our relationship?

I don’t know anymore.

It just feels like my world is crashing down around me, and I don’t know where to turn.

“Hey.” Ryleigh walks in with a bag of food that smells wonderful. “They were out of Swiss cheese so instead of guessing what else you’d want, I got you a meatball sub. I know they’re fattening but someone who just got out of the hospital should have a treat.”

“Thank you.” I take the sandwich and open the paper wrapping it. There’s cheese and sauce all over the place and I take a big bite, unconcerned about the sauce on my nose and cheeks. It hurts my lip a little but I don’t care. The taste is worth it. “Oh, fuck, that’s almost better than sex.”

Ryleigh laughs. “I don’t think so, but okay. You do you.”

“Listen, about that favor.”

“Anything.”

“I need ten thousand dollars. I’ll pay you back as soon as?—”

She interrupts me shaking her head. “Done. Don’t worry about how long it’ll take you to pay it back. Take care of Toby. I meant what I said about that. Your kid has cancer. This isn’t like you need a loan because you spent your grocery money on new shoes. Okay? Stop being stubborn.”

“Thank you. You’re a good friend.”

“What else?”

That gives me pause because I don’t know. Making sure Toby is taken care of is really all I’ve had the energy to focus on.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I’m tired and everything hurts, to be honest.”

“Then rest. You can have the bedroom and we’ll sleep on the pull-out couch—and don’t say no!” She gives me an exasperated look. “You just got out of the hospital and can probably use a little privacy. We’ll survive one night on a sofa bed. Geez. You’re our friend. If they had availability, we would’ve gotten you your own room but I guess the place is sold out.”

“Oh.” I don’t want to argue about anything anymore, so I just nod. “Thank you.”

“How about you relax and don’t worry about what’s next. We’ll see what Angus says when he gets back from the meeting and we can make some decisions from there.”

The lock whirs on the door and Angus comes in.

“Hey, Taryn. Welcome home. So to speak.”

“Thanks.”

He picks up the sandwich Ryleigh got for him and takes a bite.

“So?” Ryleigh asks. “What’s the plan?”

“We’re going home to Minnesota for ten days until we leave on our tour.”

“Excellent.” She nods.

“Is, uh, Mick around?” I ask quietly. “I need to talk to him.”

Angus makes a weird face. “Actually, no. He left a little while ago. He was headed to the airport. Said he had things to take care of before we hit the road again.”

My heart sinks.

He left without even saying goodbye.

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