“I don’t want to go to Las Vegas. I want you to clear my name. I want my life back.” Saying the words, demanding what she deserved since Erin confessed to stealing the cash, released the pain McKenna had kept pent up for almost two years.
“I’ve finally got a shot to make good money and be happy. Don’t spoil it for me.”
“Spoil it for you? What about me? I’m still paying for what you did.” If it hadn’t been for being fired at her last job over suspicion of theft, Zane might not have assumed she stole the shadow box. She could’ve talked to him. Together they could’ve investigated what happened to the pin.
“How long are you going to hold that over my head?” Erin accused, her hands defiantly on her hips.
“Again, I’ve lost everything, while you haven’t suffered a single consequence for your actions.”
“What do you expect me to do? Destroy my life, too?”
No more thinking she deserved less than her sister because their father loved Erin more. “I want you to fix this. You need to tell my boss what you did. You also need to call Darby and offer to repay the money. If you do, she’ll probably let the incident go with that.”
Erin shook her head. “Darby won’t cut me a break. She’ll want me thrown in jail.”
“At least tell my boss, so I can get my job back.”
“I can’t risk she’d turn me in.”
“If you don’t, I’ll contact Darby.”
Her sister’s eyes turned stormy making McKenna shiver. “You go right ahead and tell Darby. Without evidence, it’ll be my word against yours. It was cash. I didn’t deposit it in an account. I gave it to the management company for my rent, and I didn’t get a receipt. That’s not much of a paper trail.”
McKenna’s knees wobbled, threatening to buckle under her. She collapsed onto the edge of the bed. The sister McKenna had cared for and protected would step over the shattered pieces her life without a shred of guilt or a backward glance to move on with her own. Note to self—if you need a kidney don’t count on one from Erin. McKenna glanced at her sister, who’d returned to packing.Erin believes she settled the issue. She believes I’ll do what I always have and protect her no matter what it costs me.McKenna pushed off the bed and stood, regaining her energy. Amazing what dumping emotional baggage could do.
“I hope Las Vegas works out for you. I really do, Erin, because I love you, and I always will because you’re my sister. But if it doesn’t go well, don’t call me. I’m done. Don’t come here or contact me in any way unless you’re willing to clear my name.”
*
Despite Erin’s refusalto clear her name, McKenna decided to admit the truth to Ginny starting with the theft and ending with her lying about leaving her previous job on good terms. If Ginny failed to believe her or fired her, at least McKenna’s conscience would be clear.
As to Zane, she’d survive their disastrous breakup and eventually the consuming pain would fade to a dull ache.Please let the saying time heals all wounds be true.
When she turned onto the old blacktop highway heading for the Lucky Stars Ranch, a truck in the oncoming lane came into view. Was it parked? She slowed. Could the driver be having car trouble? Granted, he couldn’t pull onto the shoulder since it was only a foot before a ditch drop-off, but he should’ve moved off to the side some.
As she continued at a slower speed, a man exited the truck. When he stood in her lane, his stance reminded her of…
“No, it can’t be.”
The heart she’d sworn had shriveled to nothing this morning fluttered to life.
Stop it. Why would he be anything other than heartless like he was the last time they spoke?
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel.Please, let it be anyone other than Zane.But as the distance closed between them, there he was.
He shifted his stance and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her heart pinched over what they’d lost.
She honked, but he refused to move, forcing her to stop. After putting her car into park, she rested her head against the steering wheel. She couldn’t bear this. What he’d said when she’d last seen him rushed over her. An emptiness started in her heart and soul crept outward as if someone had scooped out her insides with a shovel.
The urge to turn around, to avoid the confrontation, and escape her consuming pain overwhelmed her.
No, she refused to run. Instead, she rolled down her window and stuck her head out. “Move.”
“Thanks for not running me over, though I deserve it.” Zane stood in front of her car, preventing her from leaving. “I was coming to see you when I spotted your car.”
Her University of Texas orange car. No way a Texas A&M Aggie would miss that. Wait, he’d been coming to see her? Her hands shook. What if…
“We need to talk.”
