Page 48 of Nashville Cowboy
The thought that she’d been violated was too raw, too horrible to even say out loud. His hands formed into fists.
“No, he didn’t.” Lincoln grasped Jackson’s shoulder, somehow knowing what he’d asked without words. “We didn’t even know for a long time. Eve was away at school when all this happened. Sadie was the only one who actually knew. And then Mima found out later, through Brenda. I didn’t even know any of this until recently.”
That was why she’d taken Eve in and easily forgiven her even when Mima was so bitter about the whole wedding. And he’d been such an asshole when he’d first seen Eve again. Ordering her out of the house. Firing her from a place where she obviously felt safe and wanted. He thought back to when he’d threatened Eve ifSadiedidn’t show up to the wedding. Regret pulsed through him. He didn’t think he’d be able to apologize enough in one lifetime.
“Whathappened?”
He couldn’t believe anyone would purposely hurt Eve. It might have been a random attack in a large city.
“You need to talk to her.” Lincoln grimaced. “I think…I’vesaid enough.”
Jackson shoved a hand through his hair. “I have to go now.”
“Wait. Where?” Lincoln put a firm hand on Jackson’s chest in a move to stop him.
“I know where they’re staying in San Antonio and I need to go there now and see Eve. Talk to her. Apologize for being such an asshole. You don’t know all the hurtful things I said to her. I noticed she was different. Skittish. But in my wildest dreams I couldn’t imagine this. ”
“No.” Lincoln made a move to stand between him and the front door of the cabin.
“Don’t try to get in my way,” Jackson snarled.
“You can’t go like this. This angry.” Lincoln grabbed his truck keys. “I know how you feel, you’re ready to kill someone for her. But you don’t have that right anymore. You checked out of her life. Every time I even mentioned her name you’d go to a dark place. After a while I stopped talking about her. That was the way you wanted it. Tell you what. If you go, I’ll be the one who’s drivin’.”
Chapter 17
The hour-long drive to San Antonio was vicious to Jackson’s peace of mind, but necessary because Lincoln was right. Jackson tried to calm down. He couldn’t screw this up. First, he wanted Eve to stop keeping the truth from him, no matter how harsh. Despite what they’d been to each other in the past, they were friends again. That meant he’d want to be told from now on whenever she was in trouble. Whenever she needed anything. He wanted to make up for those years when he hadn’t been there for her, to support her. Shehadto let him. She would have to let her guard down the rest of the way and let him care. Stop being so damn proud and let himhelp.
What happened was horrible and painful and he didn’t want her to have to revisit it. But he did need her to know he was sorry that he hadn’t been there when she needed him. Because he should have been. He should have instinctively known that she was in trouble. Should have known that she needed him. Because this was hisEve.
“Hey, baby,” Lincoln said into his cell phone with a sigh. “I’m on my way to the hotel. No, nothing’s wrong. Well, not exactly. Yes, I miss you, too, but this is about Jackson. He wants to talk to Eve. You can guess what this is all about. That’s right. Well, Ithoughthe knew everything. He fooled me. Yeah, apparently it does have to be now.”
Jackson sat quietly and after the first thirty minutes of the drive, stopped mentally flogging himself for the way he’d treated Eve. Suggesting something was wrong and that he could sense it.
Shewas different.
It must have been difficult for her not to take him to task. Not to tell him to mind his own business. Not to let him know that he didn’t realize the half of it.
And on the last half of the drive, he came to a stunning realization.
He’d placed all the blame on their breakup entirely on Eve, but for the first time he saw how leaving the next day for Nashville sent a powerful message. In his mind, there was nothing left to stay for. But his twenty-one-year-old self hadn’t even considered fighting for her. Obviously, Eve heard his message loud and clear. Because much as he loved Eve, he hadn’t been ready to be married, committed fully to the two of them, and give up the opportunity in Nashville. But he would have gone through with the wedding, because he apparently had far less courage than she did.
Which meant he should forgive Eve for leaving him at the altar. He should probably even thank her.
Lincoln pulled into the JW Marriott hotel lot and parked, then turned to Jackson, who’d started to unstrap his seat belt before the truck stopped moving.
Hand on Jackson’s chest, he pushed back hard. “I’m going to say this only once. Calm. The. Hell. Down.”
Jackson scrubbed a hand down his face. “I have so many questions and don’t even know where to begin.”
“Justlistento her and for God’s sake don’t make this about you.”
He and Lincoln both walked to the lobby, then hopped on the elevator. Lincoln punched the button for the sixth floor and together they walked down the hallway that seemed to never end. Jackson’s throat was tight. It was so dry he could hear himself swallow.
Sadie opened the door. “Y’all reallyarehere. It couldn’t wait, Jackson?”
“This is my fault and I’m sorry, but I need to talk to Eve. Now.” He cleared his throat then rolled his shoulders. “Um, please.”
“Hm.” Sadie quirked a brow. “That’s better now.”
