Page 146 of Anton

I know he means it, so I give him the answer he expects. “Fine.”

My duffel is still near the dresser, and I shove everything I took out back inside before zipping it. Anton doesn’t try to stop me again, but I sense him behind me the entire time.

At the door, I freeze, giving him one last look. My entire heart slices in two, the crushed photo on the floor between us.

“Bye, Anton.”

I wait for him to say something, to make this better somehow, but nothing comes. So I open the door and walk away, knowing there’s nothing left here for me any longer.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

THORA

It’s past one in the morning when I make it to the farm.

The closest hotel is a bit of a drive, and I wasn’t going to my place, not when Anton knows how to find me there. My eyes burn from crying the whole way and his words keep circling through my head, no matter how many times I try to shove them away.

By the time the gates come into view, my hands are shaking on the steering wheel. I slow the car as I pass the bed-and-breakfast, then keep going toward the horse stalls because I want to be near my horses.

Thankfully, Greer should be asleep once I get to the house. If she finds out what happened, my family will come after Anton. I don’t want that. I’m not after revenge or bloodshed. I just want to curl against a pillow and mourn the love we could’ve had.

The back of my throat burns as I stop near the stables, sitting in the car while the whole barn sits washed in shadows. I’m about to pull around to the side when I spot a figure moving near the paddock fence.

Who the hell is up this late?

Security, maybe?

When I turn my headlights on, the figure stops and turns toward me, and that’s when I realize it’s Charlie. The second he notices me, he smiles and heads over.

I roll down my window as he approaches.

“Hey, Thora. What are you doing up?”

Then he gets close enough to see my face, and his brows shoot up.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.” My voice cracks around the lie. “I’m fine.”

Charlie doesn’t call me on it, but his expression says he knows I’m bullshitting. “Do you want me to get someone? Greer? Should I call your mom?”

“No.” The answer comes out too fast, and I shake my head, wiping beneath one eye with the heel of my hand. “No, please don’t. I’m okay. I just need to get some sleep. If I can.”

I sniffle, trying my best to hold it together.

He nods. “All right.”

I glance past him toward the stalls. “Why are you up this late?”

A faint, tired smile touches his mouth. “Insomnia. Most nights, anyway. I usually come out here when I can’t sleep and find something to do.”

“That sucks.”

“Eh.” He shrugs. “I’m used to it by now.” Then he studies me a little too closely. “Want me to sit with you for a bit?”

I turn off the car and sigh. “Yeah. Maybe just for a little while.”

He walks around to the passenger side, opens the door, and lowers himself into the seat beside me. Neither of us speaks at first, and I’m not even sure what to say.