Page 3 of Together Is Where We Belong

I could tell him where I was going. He was right. We could make this work. But I couldn’t do that to him. He deserved to find happiness without me. He’d be better off without the promise of a future I couldn’t give him.

“I can’t tell you that, Leo. I can’t leave here with promises we both know we’d eventually break.”

“I meant every word. You’re it for me, firefly. We can make it work. There are video chats and phone calls, and these amazing inventions called airplanes.”

He still had so much hope in his voice. Everything he said made sense, but I just couldn’t. I couldn’t leave him here with the hope I’d come back. Because I didn’t know if I ever would.

“We need a clean break, Leo. I can’t make those promises to you. I just can’t,” I firmly stated, internally begging that he just let me go without a fight.

“Break? You’re leaving me? Like leaving me, leaving me?”

He stepped back and dropped my hand. Even though it was hot outside, a chill ran through me at the loss of his touch. At the finality of our end.

“Yes.” My whispered voice cracked, as I said the admission aloud.

“Why? We had so many plans.”

He turned away from me and drove his hands through his hair and gripped at the ends. He paced back and forth before he stopped and turned to face me. His finger pointed at me as he said, “All we talked about this past year was our future, and every word out of your beautiful mouth was a lie,” he screamed as he finally allowed himself to believe the words I’d been trying to say.

“Because I don’t know if I’m ever coming back, Leo.”

“What? What do you mean you might not ever come back? Did you ever even love me?” His voice was now louder than moments ago. His tone echoed in the evening air. All I wanted to do was run, but I’d give him his answer and leave.

“Not the way you’ve loved me, Leo. I did what was expected of us. What everyone believed would happen because I felt like I didn’t have a choice. Now I’m choosing myself.” The second the lie slipped out, my mouth tasted like lead.

I made myself watch as the realization dawned on him at what I just admitted. He schooled his features, as he withheld the tears that formed. His mouth set in a tight line, and I knew that he finally realized the meaning behind my confession.

“Get away from me, Carolina. Go and enjoy your brand-new life. I can’t believe I ever loved someone as cold and heartless as you. Well, now I hate you,” he spewed.

Looking down at his hand, I watched as he pulled off the simple sterling silver promise ring we’d exchanged last year. He tossed the ring; the metal band landed right at my feet. With one final hated look, he turned and walked away from me.

I picked up the band and slid it on my thumb, gently rubbing it, the feeling foreign and final. The ring he’d given me last summer still rested on my right ring finger. I’d likely never take it off. I’d leave the reminder there to taunt me forever.

I deserved every word he’d just uttered. But it still hurt to hear. Even though I just lied through my teeth, it had to be done. I needed him to hate me so he wouldn’t try to get me to come back. I needed him to hate me so I could leave. I needed to lose him so I could learn to love myself.

I watched as he got inside his truck and slammed the door before I turned around and left. Just a few more minutes and I’d be back in my SUV and could break down.

His last words haunted me as I made my way back. “I hate you.”

But while he was over there hating me, I’d continue to love Leo Courtright until the day I died. Even though loving him just broke both of us.

one

Carolina

Eight Years Later

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I screamed as I heard the telltale thump, thump, thump that came from the flat tire of my SUV.

I slowed down and pulled to the side of the road, and slammed the vehicle into park as I came to a stop. I smacked the steering wheel in frustration as I groaned.

I didn’t need this today.

My now sour mood turned even worse as I took in my surroundings. I saw the gate off in the distance with the familiar C and R etched in black steel. So many of my childhood memories took place at Courtright Ranch.

This had to be the universe's way of saying the joke was on me because the past two days since I’d returned to Haven Valley, I hadn’t found the courage to seek out the one person I should.

I had so much I needed to tell him. Especially before word got out. Small towns weren’t exactly known for keeping secrets, and I had a huge one that I needed to tell Leo before someone else told him.