He gave me a one-armed hug. “Anytime, Junie.”
When he was gone, I closed the door and leaned against it. I slid down to my butt and stared at the quiet, empty space in front of me. The cabin was tidy. My life was a mess.
I’d never allowed myself to regret leaving Bourbon Canyon the summer after graduation. I had prided myself on not looking back. Yet the heartbreak had followed me everywhere. At one time, I would’ve returned had Rhys asked.
I had used those emotions. I’d poured them into writing and singing. Because of them, I’d done what I’d set out to do. I was almost at my final goal. My own tour.
And yet, I was right back where I had started. Rhys hadn’t waited for me to return. And the heartbreak was still here.
CHAPTER FIVE
Rhys
I stared out the kitchen window at the barn. The sun was bright and the sky was clear like it hadn’t dumped loads of rain on us last night.
June had left again. Why was I surprised? I’d bitten her head off.
I rubbed my sternum. She’d been her normal, generous self. But the thought of her having a reason to come to the house and teach the girls, to continually tease my brain with thoughts ofwhat if? I couldn’t handle it.
When I’d seen Tenor pulling up, I’d known. She’d called him because I’d hurt her feelings. I had said exactly what would make her run, and it had been for self-serving reasons.
“Dad?” Bethany tugged on my sleeve. “Dad.”
“I’m right here, hon.”
She gave me a look that came right fromher mother. TheI’m talking and you’re not listeningstare. “Do you think she’s okay?”
“Who?” As if I didn’t know.
“Junie.”
“She’s fine. She always lands on her feet.”
“You were rude.” Hannah sat at the table, kicking her feet in her chair.
I was supposed to be making lunch. They’d gotten all the sandwich materials out, but I’d spaced at the sink when I should’ve been rinsing grapes. “I was not rude.”
Both girls leveled me with stares. More and more like their mom every day.You’re so set in your ways you’re like cold concrete. One change and you think you’d crack.
“How was I rude?” I knew exactly how.
“You hurt her feelings.” Bethany was relentless. “I was afraid she was going to cry.”
June hated crying. She hated people seeing her cry. The only time she’d felt comfortable sobbing was around me.
Shit. “I’ll apologize the next time I see her.”
“You should call her,” Hannah said helpfully.
“I don’t have her number.” If social media was to be believed, she’d switched her number several times over the years, thanks to hacks and overly enthusiastic fans. She was a social media darling, but she’d had to work twice as hard to get taken seriously in the country music arena.
Or so they said. Since I didn’t keep up on anything June related.
“Dad.” Bethany sounded distraught. “What if she doesn’t have food?”
“She’ll get groceries.” But how? Had she told Tenor she needed supplies?
She’d said there was canned stuff in the cabin. There had to be a can opener too.
