AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ll miss you here today.” He sighs. “But it sounds like some time to think will do you good. I’ll pack your beach chair when we head out.” He kisses my forehead. “Love you to the moon and back, peanut. We’ll be home later tonight.”
I suck in a breath of fresh air and sunscreen before nodding toward my dad.How am I ever going to break the cord between us?I’m twenty-two. I still live at home. If my parents say they’re going to the beach on Sunday, I go to the beach. They still call me peanut. I need to get a handle on my life.
I give my best fake smile and dig my feet into the warm sand as I make my way back up to my car. I love my family, I truly do. They want the best for me, like any good parents would. Trouble is, they don’t really know me.
I slide into the car and pump the air conditioning to high as I filter through my phone for a message I’d saved from Romeo. He sent it weeks ago, but I look it at half a dozen times a day.
‘You have my heart, darling. Always.’
If I hadn’t spent the last year getting to know this guy inside and out, I’d think he was full of it… but I did. I know him. I know what he wants. I know what he needs. I know what he loves, and I want to be the person that gives it to him.
Tears stream down my face. I’ve typed a million responses but never sent one.
What’s the point?
As much as I want it to be, this life isn’t for us.We can’t be together.The sooner I realize that, the better off I’ll be.The better off everyone will be.Besides, this message was sent so long ago, he could’ve realized how dumb he was and moved on by now. I need to move on, too. I have a future to plan, and while I may be able to convince my parents that an orchard is my dream, I’ll never convince them that Romeo’s arms are where I’m meant to be.
I stare down at my phone and suck in a deep breath as I type out a response that I should’ve sent months ago.
‘I think I should move on. You should too.’I hover over the send button, biting the inside of my cheek. He’ll probably laugh when he gets the message. Most likely, there’s some other girl next to him, and I’m a distant memory. The thought shatters my heart, but no matter the outcome, I know what I need to do.
Holding my breath, I press send.
Less than three seconds later, the message alerts that it wasread.
My throat closes and my mouth goes dry as I watch three single dots parade endlessly.
He’s typing a response.
Chapter Two
Romeo
If I thought for a second that Piper truly believed our relationship should be over, I’d leave her alone.
But that’s not the case.
She wants me and I want her. If it weren’t for the drama of everyone else, we’d be together. She’d be in my arms tonight. She’d have her head against my chest. I’d have her heart to hold.
It’s been weeks since I sent her a message, but not because I haven’t been thinking of her. There’s rarely a moment that goes by without wondering what it would feel like having her next to me. Simple things, like having dinner, grabbing groceries, sitting down at the end of the night to watch TV are everything to me. I’ve spent days wondering what it’d be like to hold her while she sleeps or what her smile looks like in the moonlight on my back porch.
Fucking hell, this shit hurts.
I stare down at her message. I’ve typed and deleted my response twenty times now. If she’s staring at her phone, I’m sure she’s waiting impatiently. Then again, I know this girl inside and out. Most likely she watched her phone for a minute, got frustrated, tucked it into her back pocket, and moved on with the day, convinced that she’s helping both of us by moving on.That’s what Piper does.She makes decisions based on what’s best for everyone else. And to everyone else, we don’t make sense.
Fuck! How do I compete with that?
I toss my phone down on the bed and bury my face in my hands. I have no fucking clue what to say anymore. I’ve tried convincing her. I’ve tried talking. I’ve tried being patient.
My phone buzzes and I jump to it, hoping by some off chance it’s her, but it’s Tex, one of the guys from Rugged Mountain MC. He was a part of the Death Rangers out in Texas before cutting loose and making his way out to Rugged Mountain. We’ve known each other for years and I’m hoping he’ll convince the guys up there I’m not so bad.
“Hey, man. What’s good?”
“You sound depressed as fuck.” Tex is a big guy with no filter. I’m used to the type and don’t pay his comment much mind.
“Yeah. That’s life for ya. You get any word?”
“Nothing. We’re having a vote this week. I’m rallying for you, but you’ve made a name for yourself up there. Kane and Diesel are going to want a meeting with you.”
