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Mr. Chambers had always required his employees to know basic first-aid procedures, but she wasn’t in danger of passing out. She was excited and terrified, but whatever she was feeling was good.
“I’m not making any major decisions just yet. I just wanted to let you know what might be coming.”
“Does Blake know?” How long had Ridge been considering leaving?
“I told him yesterday. You were kind of busy with the bachelorette party, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to you.”
Everly pushed her hair out of her face and rolled the window up. “Thanks for letting me host it at your place and for helping me clean up last night.”
“No problem. What’s mine is yours. You know that.”
Everly blinked hard, dispersing the moisture in her eyes. Her brother had always been there for her, and she’d always felt comfortable knowing he was close by. “I’ll miss you.”
Ridge reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “I’m not leaving yet. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not worried,” Everly said as she carefully wiped beneath her eyes.
Ridge changed the subject and asked about Everly’s new job, and her almost tears were long gone by the time they got home.
Everly walked in first and was greeted with the handsome sight of her boyfriend sitting at the bar.
Yep, she was going to start calling him her boyfriend now. It was time.
Blake stepped around the island with his arms open to her. “Hello, gorgeous.”
Everly kicked off her heels and stepped into his embrace. She’d take this welcome home every day.
He held her tight for a few seconds and released her when Ridge’s keys jangled as he tossed them on the counter.
Blake leaned back to look at Everly, then at Ridge. “Did he tell you?”
“He did.” She didn’t know what else to say. Her thoughts had been tangled up thinking about what this might mean for Blake and their new relationship.
Would Blake leave with Ridge? She hoped not. She’d pack up and move with him if that’s what he wanted, but she loved Blackwater, and it felt like home.
Blake looked down at her, and his expression was tense. “There’s something else.”
Everly’s brows creased, and she turned to Ridge. His hands were stuck in his pockets, and his hip leaned against the counter.
“We think it’s time you knew the truth,” Ridge said.
“What truth?” She looked back and forth between Blake and Ridge. Whatever it was, this was the bad part, and Ridge had waited until Blake was with her to lay it all out.
Ridge gestured toward the living room. “Let’s sit.”
Everly held out her arms, stopping Blake and Ridge from moving this conversation. “What truth?”
Ridge’s gaze fell to the floor before meeting hers again. “Why I almost killed that man in North Carolina.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Everly
Everly felt the room spin around her. Everything about Ridge's sentencing was fresh in her mind. She'd been sick with worry—literally vomiting at every mention of it when it happened.
Ridge was a good man, and he wasn’t instinctively violent. Still, she hadn’t been able to ask his reasons for what happened.
Reaching for the counter, she closed her eyes. "Okay, maybe we should sit down."
