Page 48 of Rebel Moon

“I sent her away. And replaced her with this.” She ran a hand down her sides.

“What was so wrong with Mindy?”

“I was ashamed of her. She was poor. Bullied in school until she learned how to make herself really small. The only way out was to do well. First in school. Then in business. Those first years, when I worked at the PR firm, I saved every penny I could, and do you want to know why? What for?”

“Yes.”

“For a nose job.”

“They did a nice job.”

I’d hoped to make her laugh. Instead, she hung her head. “Rhett said Mindy was the one who made the deal with Wyatt, not me. He said that’s why I didn’t want anyone to know. Because I don’t want anyone to know Mindy.”

“Do you think that’s true?”

She returned to the ottoman. “I think it might be.”

“I’d like to know Mindy.”

“That’s who I’ve shown you these last few days. That might be why this feels utterly terrifying. I let my guard down. I got drunk in front of you, for heaven’s sake, and I know you heard my accent and witnessed the hot mess I truly am. I asked you to kiss me. Madeleine would never do that.”

“Mindy’s fun. She likes to drink too much and sing loudly and totally off-key. She laughs really hard heading down a hill. She’s gentle with a moron who sprains his ankle while on vacation. And she feels really good snuggled next to me. Most of all, she changed my life when she decided everyone in the world should hear me play guitar.”

“That’s true. I did.”

“I’ve been an idiot. And a donkey’s behind,” I said. “But I’m asking for a chance to make it up to you.”

“I’m not Mindy. Not anymore.”

“Last week, I would have agreed with you. But you’re different here. So am I. I’ve been emotionally hobbled. Have been all my life. I learned how to live angry instead of curious. I built all these rules for myself, thinking they would keep me safe from the world, but that wasn’t what Gramps wanted. I heard his wisdom through my father’s lens. I can see that now. In fact, everything seems clearer here in big sky country.” I paused, looking for the right words. “I’ve treated you badly simply because I couldn’t admit to myself how complicated my feelings are for you. I’m sorry for it. You deserved better. That’s all I can say.”

She stared at me, blinking rapidly. “I don’t know what to say back to you.”

I drew in a deep breath that burned my lungs. “You don’t have to say anything. But it’s important to me that I’m honest with you and myself.”

“Thank you. I didn’t expect this.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m completely unsure of what to do now.”

“Do you want to stay? Talk some more?”

She hesitated for a moment, playing with the sleeve of her sweater. “I can’t tonight. Ivy’s expecting me at the bar to talk over some maid of honor details.”

“Okay, sure.”

She stood, then leaned down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll check on you first thing tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here.”

I couldn’t watch her walk out the door, so I gazed into the fire instead, jumping slightly when the door shut behind her. Only then did I see her cross by the window and head into her own cabin. Not the bar.

She just wanted to get away from me. And that pretty much broke my heart in two.

The next morning, I had just gotten out of the shower and dressed when Jack appeared.

“Thought I better come by and see how you’re doing,” Jack said. “How’s the ankle?”

“Much better today. It’s stopped throbbing, so I actually got some sleep.”

“You feel good enough to get breakfast with me?” Jack asked.