Page 87 of Pick Me This Time

The tripod had finally been back on its legs—and then I knocked it right over. Smashed it to pieces.

I’d shattered my brother’s trust not once but twice, and I’d irreparably damaged a bond of friendship he’d had and had cherished for most of his life. I swallowed hard, a burning coal lodged in my throat, and I tried to fight the tears that were threatening to overwhelm me.

As much as I was completely uncertain about where this left my situation with Sterling, I couldn’t be selfish. If I’d kept my hands to myself and my fantasies in the past where they belonged, none of this would be happening.

This wasn’t Sterling’s mess to clean up. It was mine.

Moving so fast that I got the sheets wrapped around my legs and almost fell out of bed, I grabbed for the nearest clothes and hurriedly got dressed. I pulled on some socks while I ran, not bothering with the time it would take to put on shoes.

Grabbing a coat that was hanging over one of my dining-room chairs, I slid it on, raced to the door, and threw it open. I had to stop them. Whatever was happening between them, I couldn’t let them fight it out by themselves.

Eric had to hear from me. Blame me.

Icy wind sliced through me as I stepped outside, immediately making my fingers sore and numb. It gathered my loose hair and whipped it out behind my head, but I ignored it all, chasing across the garden to the gate, but they were gone.

“Daphne? What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Mom asked from the back porch of the main house. “What just happened? Dad and I saw Eric and Sterling storming out of here like they were on fire.”

I spun to face her, my eyes wide and my heart breaking as it hammered against my ribs. As I stared at her standing there in her robe, her fingers wrapped around a mug of coffee and her brow knitted in concern, I broke down, deciding that I would tell her everything.

“I messed up, Mom. I messed up so bad and Eric is going to hate me for it.” As the words came out, the tears finally broke free and a sob caught in my throat.

My mom sighed, but then she smiled softly and motioned toward the door leading into their house. “Come on, baby. It’s too cold out here. Let me make you something warm to drink and we’ll talk. I don’t know for sure what this is about, but I have a sneaking suspicion, and if I’m right, it’s not really so bad at all. It’s just going to take some time to work itself out.”

I wished I could believe her, but as I folded my arms around myself and trudged into the house after her, I wasn’t so sure. My chest was aching and my heart was heavy. Each breath I pulled in felt like it would be the one that would obliterate me.