Page 113 of Feels Like Love
“Fuck.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Wren. I was only trying to protect you, and I… Well, I fucked up.”
“Yeah. You did. But thank you for admitting it,” I said. “I guess I feel a little better now knowing that I wasn’t stood up because of anything that had to do with me.”
He dropped his head. “I should’ve listened to Bennett. I should’ve let you decide for yourself.”
I nodded, though I didn’t fully understand his comment about listening to Bennett. “Yes. You should’ve.”
A muscle in his neck twitched. “And I will from now on.”
I scoffed and looked back out over the stream. “Like it matters now. I’ve had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime.”
“You really love him, don’t you?”
I nodded, fighting back tears. “I really do. But I don’t know if I can get past what he did. I want to, but…”
Liam pulled me into his side, and we stayed there awhile, just enjoying the view. We hadn’t fixed everything, but it certainly felt better to get that off my chest. Mom and Harper were right—life was too short to live with regrets.
* * *
Another week passed,and I still hadn’t talked to Bennett. For all my talk about not wanting to live with regrets, it was easier to forgive my brother than Bennett. River and work were the only things keeping me going.
“Here.” Harper dropped a brown bag on my desk. “Pore Over gave me the wrong cupcake—double chocolate with honeycomb.”
My favorite.
“Thanks.” I pushed it away. I knew what she was trying to do, but I wasn’t hungry. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I was barely functioning. “I’ll eat it later.”
I sighed, my attention on my computer. I was editing the photos from our most recent engagement shoot, and the way the couple looked at each other made me long for what I’d had with Bennett. But he’d lied to me. He’d made me trust him, and then he’d made me feel like a fool. Just like Kade had.
“Can you do me a huge favor?” Harper asked.
“Oh, is that what the cupcake was for? To butter me up?” I teased.
“No. I’m worried about you. I know you haven’t been eating.”
“I’m fine. What do you need?”
She frowned. “I’m scheduled for headshots later, but I totally forgot that I’m supposed to pick up Enzo’s friend Val from the airport. Can you do them for me?”
“Oh, um.” I glanced at the calendar on my phone. “Sure. I doubt my mom will mind watching River. He’d probably rather be with her anyway.”
“He’s still mad about the thing with Bennett, huh?”
I scoffed. “Oh yeah. I almost caved and bought him a puppy the other day because I felt so bad.”
She cringed, knowing how long I’d resisted his persistent pleas for a dog. “Yikes.”
“Yeah. It’s bad.”
River was barely speaking to me. He clearly blamed me for what had happened with Bennett, but it was too complicated for him to understand. So, he lashed out at me because I was there.
Harper and I worked in silence a while longer until it was time to head out. Harper to the airport and me to the shoot.
“Good luck,” she said.
“Thanks.” I climbed into my car and drove out to Alpaca Acres. I had no idea who the client was, but I honestly didn’t care. I just wanted to get this over with and go home.
I walked up the path and stopped in my tracks. Little glass jars filled with candles lined a path into the woods, and I was tempted to see where it led.
