AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m still concerned about your safety, if that’s what you mean.”
“Oh, Aiden.” She parks the bike, taking a half-step forward. “I’m so sorry for not telling you about Gary. I didn’t think about how it would make you feel. I should have. I should have trusted you to help me. Can’t we please talk about it?”
Mist is in her pretty green eyes, and my muscles tense with the war raging inside me. She’s so close I catch her faint scent of flowers and the ocean. She twists her hands together, and her voice breaks on the last words. My brother said if anyone deserves a second chance, it’s her.
“I’m not doing this.” I shake my head, turning away. “Keep the bike for now. I’ll figure it out later.”
With that, I climb into my truck and put on my seatbelt, leaving quickly without looking back.
CHAPTER26
BRITT
It feels like a rope is tied around my heart, and when he drives away, it rips through my ribcage, falls to the ground, and bounces over the rocks and stones on the asphalt as he drags it behind him.
Leaving the bike beside his empty space, I walk slowly to the swings and sit. My hands are in my lap, and I lower my chin as a tear traces its way down my nose.
Edward sits in front of me waiting, but I don’t want to move. I don’t want to ride back to town. I imagine sitting here forever and letting that be my punishment.
No, I don’t think even that would ease this pain.
So I sit.
I don’t know how much time passes before the crunch of feet on gravel sounds from near the road. A small footpath leads from the park to town, and I glance up to see Adam running in my direction, then slowing and taking a turn to walk over to where I’m sitting on the swings.
“Hey, girl.” He’s breathing hard, and a sheen of sweat covers his shirtless chest. “What are you doing out here?”
“Playing with my dog.” I look at Edward, who is now lying on the grass in front of me.
He puts his hands on his hips, frowning. “Is that so?”
“Owen was here, so he’s tired. I’m letting him take a break.”
“Owen was here?” He walks over and sits in the swing next to me. “Does that mean Aiden was here, too?”
My chin bobs up and down, but I don’t want to talk about it. He seems to understand and doesn’t press. He only sniffs, looking forward and swaying slightly back and forth. We’re quiet, and his running shoes make a soft rustling sound in the rubber mulch.
Adam is a comforting presence. We never dated in high school, but I always enjoyed his friendship. He’s observant and quick, and I remember how he was my ally for a little while, taking Owen and entertaining him so Aiden and I could be alone. I never thanked him for it.
I lift my face, and when our eyes meet, I feel the urge to confess. “I was falling in love with him.”
“I know.” His voice is quiet, and his damp hair sticks out in sweaty waves around his face. “I was going to suggest we go for coffee, but now I’m thinking you might need something a little stronger.”
My nose wrinkles. “You’re a mess.”
That makes him laugh, an attractive smile spreading across his handsome face, and the family resemblance is so strong it hurts. He stands, turning to face me in my swing and holds out his hand.
“Come on.” I reach out and allow him to pull me to my feet. “I’ll meet you at the distillery, and we’re going to figure this out.”
* * *
“I knewfrom the start it was a mistake, but I didn’t realize how bad it would hurt him.” I’m sitting at the glossy wooden bar in Stone Cold distillery with Adam across from me, talking to him like I’m giving my confession.
A tumbler of their single barrel bourbon is in front of me, and it reminds me of my first night at Aiden’s house, when he invited me over for burgers then took me home and destroyed the possibility of me ever being with any other man.
After we parted ways on the playground, Adam ran back to his place. I biked home to deposit Edward, then I changed into jeans and a long-sleeved sweater and rode out to meet him here at the bar.
“I knew he didn’t like my mom, but I thought ultimately he’d understand my predicament.”
