Page 29 of Unmasked

He kept his mouth shut, despite the words jamming in his throat. It wasn’t his place to comfort her, or even ask how she was dealing with everything.

“I…” Her gaze darted away before meeting his again. “I wanted to thank you. For everything.”

“Yeah?” He arched a brow her way, and bright pink bloomed over her cheeks as she fought to maintain eye contact.

Finally, she nodded. “I appreciate your help. And… I was hoping we could…” She trailed off, and he couldn’t help the tiny flicker of hope that flared to life deep in the recesses of his heart. Her throat moved as she swallowed hard. “I was hoping maybe we could still… be friends.”

A wave of anger started at his toes and swiftly began to rise. Did she seriously think she could walk back in here after all this time, after everything she’d done to him, and that he’d welcome her with open arms?

His muscles trembled as he reined in his anger. For several seconds he didn’t dare utter a word, terrified of what would come out if he did. He couldn’t fathom her audacity, and he voiced the only word he could muster. “Friends.”

She gave an abbreviated nod, her gaze darting over his shoulder before reluctantly dragging it back to his. “I… still care about you, and⁠—”

His body flushed hot as fury raced over his nerve endings. “Did you care about me when you got rid of our baby?” Her mouth opened, but he cut her off before she could speak. “How about when you moved up north and married what's-his-face?”

Her face twisted and her teeth cut into her lower lip. “You knew about that?”

He hated himself for revealing his cards. He shrugged, pretending it didn’t matter, though his heart felt like it was breaking all over again. “Word gets around. Besides, it was the wedding of the season, right? Exactly what you always wanted. Money. Prestige. I never would have fit into your world. Didn’t have the right pedigree.”

“You know that's not true,” she insisted.

“It doesn't matter anymore. You did me a favor by walking away that day.”

Tears glazed her pretty eyes, and she blinked them away. His stomach twisted into knots at the thought of hurting her. But she had done this. Had she trusted him, loved him, they might still be together today.

Finally, she turned those blue eyes back on him. “How come…” She bit her lip. “Why didn’t you marry?”

Her question tore through his heart like a knife, and he couldn’t help the huff of a laugh that fell from his lips.

“Why didn’t I marry?” He took a step closer, and her breath hitched as she tipped her head up so she could see him better. He stared at her for a second before speaking. “I thought you’d remember. I’m already married, Everleigh.”

She flinched but didn’t look away, and he forced himself to stay calm despite his limbs shaking with the effort to stay in control and not reach for her the way he wanted to. Instead, he stretched one hand over her shoulder and settled it on the trunk of the tree. His pinky brushed the engraving, and he briefly closed his eyes as the memory came back to him.

Everleigh dressed in a frilly white dress and saddle shoes. The bouquet of violets Vivi had gathered for her to carry during their ceremony. The giant smile that had lit her face when she told him she’d never want anyone else. It didn’t matter that they were kids. What they’d had was real. Until it wasn’t.

He swallowed hard and met her gaze. “I married the love of my life by this very tree when I was twelve years old.”

“Knox.” Her voice broke, and a tear slipped down her cheek as she reached for him.

“Don't touch me.” He stepped away, putting distance between them. “No, Everleigh. I don’t want to be friends. Go back to your life and leave me alone. I never want to see you again.”

Her muffled sob met his ears as he stormed back through the woods. If his heart didn’t already hurt so badly, he could have acknowledged that leaving her behind for the second time was even harder than before.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

THEN

Everleigh's parents had been watching her like a hawk for the past week, but today they were both finally occupied. As soon as her father's car pulled out of the driveway, she slipped out the back door and ran.

Her feet carried her through the woods, her heart beating frantically, her lungs heaving. Desperation drove her onward, and she pushed through the pain, determined to get to Knox’s house as quickly as possible. She needed to see him, to tell him the truth. She couldn't bear the thought of him believing she would have betrayed him like that.

The way he had looked at her... the way his voice had dropped, his eyes turning cold as he stared at her, still had the power to send goosebumps over her arms. She hadn't wanted to do it. She had tried to tell him the truth. But she took her eyes off Knox for one second and saw her father standing behind him. She couldn't tell him the truth—not then, not while her father was looking. But she couldn't hold it in a second longer.

She had cried herself to sleep every night for the past seven days, shedding grief for the loss of not only their baby but Knox’s love and trust. She could only hope he would forgive her for lying to him. All she had ever wanted was to protect him. He would see that; she knew he would.

Over the last several days, she had had plenty of time to think. It was going to be hard, but she could stay away from him just like her father ordered. She would cut ties with him—for now. But the day she turned eighteen, everything would change. Then Knox and she could be together again, and her father would have no control over her.