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They both stood. Nadine came around her desk and gave Sky a hug. “You take care of yourself.”
“I will.” She pulled away and turned to go, but then faced Nadine again and said, “Anything you hear or read about me… Just remember I’m still me.”
Nadine stared quizzically at her, but slowly muttered, “Oh-kay.”
Sky left the real estate agent’s office, climbed into her SUV and headed straight to Jack and Liza’s. They had a big house on the lake that he’d bought from his parents when they’d left town—separately. Jack’s father was a famous author. His mother had had an affair with the reverend’s brother. It’d all been quite the scandal back in the day.
She cringed as she thought of how the townsfolk could beat a good scandal to a bloody pulp. Jack’s father had even contributed to the overactive grapevine when he’d owned the newspaper and had run a few incriminating pictures on the front page after he’d caught his wife and Bill Bain fooling around at the Wilder Inn.
The local rumor mill would have a field day with her story, she knew. But what could she do? She had to press charges against Mac.
Luckily, it didn’t take more than asking Jack if she could rent the cottage for him to say yes. And though he insisted she stay there for free, she wrote him a check anyway. Then she made a quick trip into town for supplies. She’d also decided to travel to Austin the next day for more clothes, since she’d left all of her new stuff at Sam’s.
For the first time, she thought of how few permanent things there were in her life. Her family and friends. The box of recipes. Her Escalade. That was about it. She couldn’t even lump Sam into that category, and that hurt the most.
Her life felt damn empty all of a sudden.
Reese called her before noon, asking in a panicked voice, “Where are you? Sam just told me you didn’t stay with him last night.”
Her heart took such a dive south, it was a wonder she was still standing. As it was, she had to press a hand to the kitchen counter in her new rental to steady herself. She missed him like crazy and they’d only been apart for one night. Just one night.
“We need time to adjust to everything.”
“Time, sure,” Reese said, “I can understand that. But distance? He said he never asked you to leave. And good Lord, he’s about the most miserable-looking thing I’ve seen aside from mistreated horses.”
“Reese.”
“You can’t be faring much better. I know you’re crazy about him.”
“Reese,” she repeated. “I need to figure out how to move beyond all of this.”
“Of course.” Her friend was quiet a moment, then said, “I am just sick to my stomach over everything you’ve been through. Where are you staying? With Ruby and Mike? Sam will want to know that you’re okay.”
“I’m renting Jack’s cottage. I… I told them what happened. Jack was just about ready to bust into the jail and pummel Mac. Guess I should be happy there are so many p
eople wanting to stick up for me and make him pay for what he did. But to tell you the truth, Reesie,” she said as tears stung her eyes once more, “it really just makes me feel like a fuck-up.”
“Please don’t think that.”
“I couldn’t even make it work with Sam.” She crossed to the living room and sank onto the sofa.
“That’s not true,” Reese said. “Nothing is final between you two.”
“Feels that way.”
Reese sighed.
“What?” Sky asked, her heart sinking.
“Well, it’s just that… Sam said the same thing.”
Her eyes closed. “Guess that makes it true.”
“Now, Sky—”
“I’ve got to go, Reese.”
“Sky—”
