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What if I hadn’t walked away?
What if I’d tried?
What if I’d looked past my fears and begged him to forgive me?
I look at Mom. Tears stream down my face. “I love him.” I’ve said those three words to him time and time again, but I’ve never felt them the way I do now. “I love him.” I half laugh half cry and wipe a fresh wave of tears from my face. “Trevor is the love of my life, and I don’t want to be without him.”
“Then go,” she says. Grabbing her keys out of her purse, she shoves them into my hand. “Go to him. Tell him.”
“I was horrible to him. He begged me to stay and talk to him, and I walked away.”
“You weren’t horrible, sweetheart. You were scared, and if he loves you, he’ll give you the chance to explain.”
“I gotta go.”
“Go.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind me taking your car?”
“I’m sure. Go.”
With my heart in my throat, I make the five-mile trek to Trevor’s house. His truck is in the driveway, along with Coop’s and Rhett’s. Great, that’s just what I need. For a split second, I wonder if I should leave and come back when he’s alone, but I can’t get myself to put the car in reverse, and the thought of going another second with him second-guessing my love for him makes my chest hurt.
I put the car in park, and I’m halfway to the door when the porch light flicks on and the front door opens. Rhett steps out onto the porch and shuts the door behind him. He’s never looked at me with anything other than love and acceptance, but tonight I see neither of those things in his stormy gaze.
“What are you doing here, Claire?”
I’ve known Rhett for far too long, which is how I know there’s a giant, soft teddy bear beneath his steely gaze. “You know why I’m here.”
“Humor me.”
“I want to talk to Trevor.”
“I think you’ve said enough.”
I’m frustrated that I have to deal with Rhett when all I want to do is see his brother. But I’m more frustrated with myself for putting all of us into this situation to begin with.
“Really, Rhett? You’re going to make me go through you to get to Trevor? I didn’t butt into your relationship when you and Mo were trying to work things out, and so I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of mine.”
Rhett walks to the edge of the porch. “He’s my brother, and one of the best men I know, and do you have any idea what I told him when he wanted to pursue you?”
I shake my head.
“I told him not to hurt you. I told him not to hurt you, because I knew that if one of you was going to fuck things up, it was going to be him.” He glares at me for a moment. “Damn it, I was wrong. Not once did I think you’d be the one to hurt him, and do you know how that makes me feel?”
“Probably a lot like how I feel right now, if I had to guess.”
Rhett pinches his lips together in a thin line and watches me walk toward him.
“I made a mistake, Rhett, and I need to apologize, but not to you, to him.” I point toward the door behind him. “I understand you’re upset with me. I’m upset with me. But I learn from my mistakes, and I try hard not to make the same ones twice, and I promise you I will never hurt your brother again. I love your brother with my whole heart.”
Rhett’s eyes soften as the front door flies open. “Are you still giving her the third degree? Because if you’re done, I have a few things I’d like to say,” Coop says.
Sighing, I drop my chin to my chest. “Not you, too.”
“Yeah, me, too,” he says, joining his brother on the porch. They look so much alike. And while they’re both incredibly handsome, they don’t hold a candle to Trevor.
Trevor.
