Page 63 of Dirty Secret Love

“But you don’t need to work,” he states consolingly, stroking my hair. As if that should make me feel better.

Sure I have a way to support myself, but what about the people of this town.

“But if you need anything, I can get it for you,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. His arms tighten around me comfortingly.

“Probably a new home,” I mumble into his shirt, hiding my face against his chest.

“Does the house come with the job?”

I shake my head, dropping my gaze despondently. “No but what’s the point of living here when everyone is going to point fingers and . . .” I trail off with a sigh.

“You’re not letting her run you out of town, are you?” he asks, upset. “We can do that, kick her out.”

It’s adorable that he sounds like he’s ready for a war and prepared to win it. This is so freaking swoony, just like everything he says and does. I glance at the ring he gave me and take it off. “Here, it’s no longer necessary.”

“But—” he protests.

“My family already knows this is fake.” I place the ring in his palm and curl his fingers over it. “One day you’ll give it to the woman who deserves it. Someone who’ll see how amazing you are, even when you don’t like to be vulnerable.”

“Sutton—”

I push up on my toes and kiss his lips, cutting off his words. “It’s okay. I’m leaving soon.”

“The town needs you,” he states.

“No. They don’t. Wren is in a good place now. Jez’s business is finally taking off, and Gina never needed me here.” I wave a hand dismissively. “It’s totally fine. I might miss the Thursday lunches and the occasional reunion but they’ll be a text or email away, like always.”

He stares at me for a moment. “You can’t let her win.”

“She’s not winning anything,” I state. “In fact, I’m the one who accomplished something today. I was able to finally set myself free from her chokehold.”

“Why are you leaving then?”

“I hate to sound very cliché-y, but this town is too small for the two of us—Mom and me. I’d rather leave to get away from her toxicity. She can’t afford to do it, but I can,” I state, trying to convince myself this is the right decision. But a pang of sadness tugs at my heart, knowing I’ll be leaving the first place that ever really felt like home.

When I look up at him, he looks slightly lost, eyes searching mine for answers. I want to hear what he has to say, but I’m pressed for time right now. There’s a lot I have to do and people I need to see before I decide where to set my new homebase.

“Hey,” I begin, biting my lip, “I don’t want to rush you, but my schedule is packed today.”

His hands move in a restless gesture, a silent plea. “Can we talk about this?”

I walk toward my office, begin to turn off my computer and grab my purse, slinging it over my shoulder. I walk by the main desk, shut down the computer, and lock away the day’s returns that I didn’t input today.

“Sutton,” he insists.

“Sure, can we do it tomorrow?” The keys jingle in my hand as I lock up, offering him an apologetic smile before hurrying out the door. “If you don’t want to spend the night here, you better leave with me.”

River nods and hurries up.

* * *

When I arriveat Gina’s house, she’s already waiting by the entrance.

“You waiting for someone?” I ask curiously, wondering if I came to the wrong place, but if not here, where?

Wren is with Milo and Drake. Jez is working and . . . well that leaves me with Gina. Not that she’s the last option. More like from all three she’s probably the one that not only has time but will talk some sense into me before I make the wrong decision.

“Nope. Rumor has it that you and your mom had a confrontation,” she explains with a casual shrug, typing rapidly on her phone. “We were wondering where you’d be landing to talk it out. Jez and Wren should be here soon.”

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