Page 171 of Dove
They both tittered with laughter, and it broke the spell holding me hostage, allowing my body to move. My feet thundered down the remaining steps as I booked it back to Reverie.
I could hardly see through the tears flooding my eyes, but I knew these streets like the back of my hand. Something pounded in my chest, but surely it couldn't be my heart, which had been eviscerated at the thought of Josh going behind my back tosell the farm.
Hot, angry tears tracked down my cheeks as the bell over my head chimed, the cheerful jingle instantly grating on me when before it had been welcomed.
“Damn, where’s the fire—what’s wrong?” I must have looked a sight because her voice went high and panicky.
My mouth worked, opening and closing, but all I could manage were shaky, wet gasps.
The ice cream disappeared out of my hands as my best friend took hold of them and set them aside somewhere before guiding me to sit.
“Deep breaths,” she encouraged. “That’s it. Calm down Just focus on breathing.” She rubbed my back. “Please don’t tell me this reaction is because they were out of cookie dough,” she joked lightly in an attempt to distract me, although her concern was obvious.
Something worked its way up my throat but instead of a laugh, it was a sob.
“You’re freaking me out, Dove.” She crouched down in front of me, worry etched across her face, a hint of fear reflecting in her eyes. “What happened? You were barely gone ten minutes. Is... is Josh okay?”
My head bobbed, not knowing whether to nod for yes or shake for no. He wasn’t going to be fine when I was done with him. If I could ever stop crying.
It was the ultimate betrayal. Not only because he went to Stella,of all people, behind my back, but that he was already making plans to sell the farm without even consulting me. After we’d just had the discussion about keeping me informed only a little over a week ago.
I’d had a gut feeling the finances were rough, but...
Sell the farm?
How could he? That was our home.Myhome.
“Was that a yes or a no?”
“J-josh is fine,” I managed. “For now,” I added darkly.
Reverie’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion. “That sounds ominous.”
She remained by my side, holding my hand, until I’d calmed down enough to tell her what had happened.
“Stella’s word isn’t worth a lick of salt,” Reverie spit vehemently, and I had a feeling that was a phrase one of herolder clients had taught her. “I wouldn’t put it past her to be making this shit up to hurt you. She was always weirdly jealous of you and Josh hanging out when we were younger. It was like she needed all of his attentionall the timeor she wasn’t satisfied. She’s probably just jealous he’s back and not giving her the time of day. I bet she expected him to be slobbering all over her, especially after that boob job she paid for.” Her nose wrinkled in distaste. “Too bad she can’t buy herself a better personality.”
I hiccupped a tiny laugh—a bit more put together now that I’d relayed what I’d overheard.
“Normally, I’d agree with you, but... Josh has been keeping things from me. Stuff with the farm, and its finances.” I hunched in on myself. “I mean, it’s partly my fault. I should have asked about it after Mom and Gareth...”
“No,” Reverie interjected. “Give yourself some grace. You were juggling everything the best you could, Josh had only just come back, and you were deep in your grief. Youstillare, even if you try and hide it.”
I glanced at her in surprise. Sometimes I forgot how amazing my friend was at reading me.
Her lips titled into a wan smile. “Do you really think Josh would sell the farm?”
“I don't know,” I whispered dejectedly. “And that’s the part that hurts the most. I thought Ididknow him. I thought we were...” I shook my head, unable to voice what I’d thought out loud. It hurt too much. “But I guess not. Maybe he just wants this place out of his life.”
Maybe he wantsmeout of his life.
The thought sliced through my chest like a sharp blade. A breath rattled out of me, and I willed myself not to start crying again. The fact I was this emotionally distraught was embarrassing, but I knew Reverie would never judge me.
Reverie squeezed my hand tightly where she was still holding it. “Listen to me. Josh is a lot of things, but one of them, the most important one, is that he’s madly in love with you. I think you need to talk to him about this.”
I blinked at her. “You’re being oddly rational.”
She snorted. “Flying off the handle ismything, not yours. And I truly believe Stella was just trying to rile you up.”
