Page 101 of That One Night
“Emery?” he called out when she was halfway across the lane. The sound of his voice felt like a blanket and a knife.
But she didn’t turn back. Didn’t stop walking. Sometimes, moving forward was the only thing you could do.
He stood there watching her until she reached the gate to her mom’s farm. She didn’t walk up the steps to the porch, though. Just walked around the back, to where the fields sprawled out with their golden corn. Once she disappeared from view, he let out a long, painful sigh.
It was the right thing to do. He knew that. It was the only way for the lien on her mom’s farm to be removed.
You could have told her the truth.
No, he couldn’t. He couldn’t give her another burden to carry. Another lie to tell. He knew she hated this whole situation. The very least he could give her was the ability to sell her mom’s farm and move on.
And he definitely couldn’t let Trenton ruin his mom’s charity launch. The memory of her face that night when he’d seen her sobbing in the kitchen was enough for him to know that.
They were the two women he loved the most. He knew that now, even if he’d never told Emery the truth of his feelings. He loved her.
And sometimes love meant making sacrifices. It meant walking away because they deserved better than you could give them.
Even if it felt like every cell inside of him was being crushed right now.
A nudge against his stomach brought him out of his thoughts. Frank was staring up at him with soulful eyes.
“I know, buddy,” he murmured. “It’s a fucking mess.”
Frank tipped his head to the side, like he was agreeing, then pushed against Hendrix’s stomach again. Harder this time, like he was annoyed.
No, goats couldn’t talk. Nor could they understand the words you said out loud. But from the way Frank was glaring at him right now, maybe he knew that Hendrix had just lost the one person that had made him feel whole in the last few years.
And yeah, he deserved to feel like shit.
Taking his phone out of his pocket, he walked up the steps to his house, finding the number for the man he hated the most.
And when he found it, Hendrix sent a message containing two words.
It’s done.
How she managed to keep her tears inside until she made it out to the pasture, Emery would never know. And yet she’d done it,her body stoic, her face still, until she collapsed against the fence and let the tears flow.
Of all the things she’d expected him to say, ending things wasn’t one of them. She was blindsided, unable to breathe. And for a moment all she could do was sob. Why was this so painful? It felt a million times worse than when she’d broken up with Trenton.
Because he made you believe in him. And for the first time in forever you didn’t feel so alone.
She pulled out her phone. It was almost seven. Which meant it was after midnight in Europe where Maisie was.
She couldn’t call her. But she sent her a message, anyway. Hopefully, her friend would see it in the morning.
Hendrix ended things between us. Can you call me when you wake up? – Emery
She hit send, knowing that she’d still be awake in the middle of the night when Maisie woke.
Before she could put her phone away it rang. For a second her heart did a little twist, knowing that her friend was still awake to hear her tales of woe. But then she saw the name on her phone.
Trenton Montclair.
Her stomach twisted. What the hell did he want?
“What?” She didn’t bother to try to sound nice.
“Emery.” His voice was soft. “I called to apologize.”
