Page 64 of Dirty Secret Love

“Did my mother already go through town telling everyone I’m not a virgin and my relationship with River is fake?” I ask angrily. Ruth Asher might hate this town, but she knows how to work the gossip system better than anyone.

“Not that I know, but everyone is keeping an eye on her to see what she does,” Gina says, glancing up from her phone. “What’s up girly? I’m here to listen to everything, but I can’t promise I’ll help bury your mother’s body. I think we should chop it up and dump the pieces for the feral animals—you know, to hide the evidence.”

I chuckle at her joke and shake my head. “Actually, I’m thinking that I could move back to New York.”

“What?” Gina’s tone sounds startled. “You can’t possibly think about leaving this town.”

“Yeah, it’s small enough that I can get everywhere but big enough no one will pay attention to me,” I ramble as I try to think of where I’ll store my things while I find an office space. There’s no way I can find anything big enough for it.

Her brow creases. “Why are you leaving?”

“It’s always been the plan since I moved here. It’d be until Wren got back on her feet,” I remind her. “Her and Milo are safe now. She’s in love again, this time with a good man who adores her.”

“If you leave, we’ll miss you,” Gina states. “What’s going to happen with the library?”

I tell her how on my way to her house I thought about it. They could have a fundraiser to get the money to pay a librarian. I’m willing to keep donating money so they can buy books—within reason. If I move to New York, I’ll have to be more careful with my earnings.

“You could move to Denver, it’s closer,” Gina suggests.

I shrug a shoulder. “Sure, but I’ll be tempted to visit, and then she’ll be here.”

“Uh-uh. How bad is it?” I hear Jez’s voice. When I turn around I find her walking toward us with a large box in her arms.

“What is that?” I ask, gesturing to the mystery box.

“Wine, food . . . the usual stuff we need for a girls’ night in,” she states matter-of-factly. “We’re getting drunk as we try to figure out what to do with your little situation.”

“There’s nothing to do,” I mutter with a helpless shrug. “Unless you’re here to help me decide which neighborhood to pick and if you remember a good real estate agent in New York.

Jez brushes past me into Gina’s house, clearly not taking no for an answer. With a sigh, I follow them inside, resigning myself to a night of drinking and discussing my mother.

But the truth is, the decision is made. It’s over, and maybe it’s all for the best.Though, what’s going to happen with River?

Maybe when he can leave, he’ll join me in New York. We can see if the sex is as good when he becomes River Thorndale again.

ChapterThirty

River

I spendthe rest of the night helping my brothers with the bar since Jez went to Gina’s so she could talk some sense into Sutton—or help her pack. Whichever is more convenient, she said on her way out.

When we arrive at Drake’s house, I’m beaten and hoping to find a solution, so I don’t lose her. I can’t imagine my life without her.

“What if I go with her?” I suggest with a shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. “I don’t give a fuck about staying here.”

“You’ll put her in danger,” Cal answers immediately.

“This is fucked up, you know?” I grumble, scrubbing down my face with both hands.

“Keep your voice down,” Drake says, tilting his head toward the staircase. “You don’t want to wake up my son.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, pacing around the house as my brothers sit around the living room.

When Wren enters her house, I look up at her hopeful. “How is she?” I ask, unable to keep the concern from my voice.

Wren shrugs. “I think she’s handling this better than the rest of us.”

“Probably drank all the wine,” Drake says and I’m not sure if he’s serious or joking.

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