Page 31 of Timber's Line
“I messed up so much. I drank to keep my nightmares away, and in the end, I lost you.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“Male ego.”
“You lied to me. You promised me you would stop drinking. You don’t remember all the times you missed my dances because you got drunk. I would come home, and you were passed out.”
“I know. I promise I’ve changed.”
“It’s not enough. You ruined my life that night. I lost you because you aren’t the same man that I met on the show. The crash messed up my legs and feet. I haven’t been able to dance in the ballet since.”
Fuck.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
“I’m with someone else now,” she says, pointing to a man at the bar. He’s just her type, suit and tie.
“Snow,” I rasp.
“I loved you. But you hurt me too much. I can’t be with you.” She slips out of her seat, tapping the man on his shoulder, who chances a glare at me.
I sit there for a long time before the guys sit down at the table.
“Dayton.”
“It’s over.”
“Holy shit. It’s you. Wasn’t that the girl you hurt in the accident?” says some asshole at the other table.
“D,” London warns.
“Fuck, she’s a pretty one. Guess you’re too ugly or something. Or was it because you fucked her up in that crash? Heard she almost died,” the man kept pushing.
“Dayton.” Memphis tries to reach out for my hand, but I pull back, wheel around, and punch the guy. He stumbles but doesn’t fall, and I jump on him.
“Fuck,” Brice yells. It takes all three of them to pull me off him.
“Fucking asshole,” the guy screeches. Memphis throws some bills at him as they push me out the door.
“Memphis,” I start.
“Get in the car. Call your contact and tell him you’re not coming. We need to go home, now.” I text the guy ‘no more fights’ and put my phone back in my pocket.
“I’m so fucked up.”
“Yes and no. You’re brokenhearted. Now you know and can move on,” London says from the driver’s seat. I lean my head against the backrest, wishing the floor would swallow me up.
“Put some ice on that,” Brice says as he walks me back to the barn after we get to the house.
“I’m sorry,” I stumble out.
“Little brother, you don’t have to be sorry. London wanted to punch the guy as well. Don’t tell him I told you. Move on. I think there’s a girl who needs you just as much as you need her.”
Timber.
I nod.
I walk up the ladder and she’s there.
