Page 71 of Back in the Country
CALEB:I wasted a whole fucking day driving out to see you and for what? So you could drive away while we were still working things out??
CALEB:Seriously I’m done playing games. It’s time for you to come home.
My blood boilsat the implication that there is anything going on between them. The doubts that had consumed me yesterday after talking to Sorren come flooding back, and I need to rein myself in.
And what the fuck did he mean he drove out here? She saw him and didn’t tell me? My stomach turns with dread.
I take a couple of deep breaths to steady myself. This is fine. Everything is going to be fine. I trust her, and I need to let her explain.
As the coffee brews, I pull eggs and bacon from the fridge and a couple of pieces of sourdough bread I’d snagged from Hank. He growled, but he is used to us raiding his place.
Marlee emerges from the bedroom wearing only my shirt and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. My chest aches at the sight of her like this. I don’t want this to end. Marlee and I are something special—we always have been.
“Is the coffee ready?” She yawns as she settles into one of the worn chairs at the kitchen table.
Sliding her a steaming hot mug and the creamer she likes, I turn back to the stove to flip the bacon. She sighs as she holds the mug close to her nose and inhales.
“How was your talk with Sorren yesterday?”
“It was good. I mean, we have a lot to work through and obviously it’s going to be tricky finding a balance, but we both agreed to try.” She smiles reluctantly. “I prepared for a lot but I didn’t prepare formybrother, if that makes sense. But we’re getting lunch today so it’s a start.”
I nod. Sorren always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he never complained so you never knew exactly how he was handling it.
“When we went to the bar, he ordered a root beer. He said it kind of became a habit,” I say without revealing too much. She bobs her head side to side before looking at me and putting it together on her own.
“Do you think everyone will keep some in their fridge? So he never has to feel pressured?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Way.”
I place our breakfast sandwiches in front of us and watch as she takes a bite with zero regard for the fact that I’d just pulled everything off the cooktop.
“Oh! Hot!” she mumbles as she waves her hand in front of her mouth.
I chuckle and then sober as I take a sip of coffee. Her phone buzzes again, and my hands clench into fists.
“So you’re flying out this week?” I say through gritted teeth.
“Mmhmm.” Marlee doesn’t notice as she pulls out a piece of bacon from the sandwich and pops it in her mouth. “I’m really excited to have this off my plate. I’ve been emailing my boss nonstop the last few days, and it will probably be much of the same until we’re in Kentucky.”
“And then what?”
“I’ll start my new position.” She beams like this is good fucking news.
“What about your business? What about all the work you did?”
“I’ll work remotely. I can do both. I’m not ready to leave my job in Nashville just yet and Robin said—”
“And that’s what you want?” She wipes her hands on her napkin like this conversation isn’t rewriting my entire fucking world.
“Of course.” Her eyes are wide like she can’t figure out what is wrong with me. I push my half-eaten sandwich away and look out the window. “So that’s it then?”
“Yes, that’s it. Waylon, what is wrong with you?”
“You’re leaving!” I snap, and she sits back in her chair like I just slapped her.
“I won’t be gone forever, Way, I—”
