AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, that is an asshole thing to say.” He gave me a hard look. “But I don’t mind proving myself to her. What about you? You didn’t seem to think she was too young when you were fucking her.”
“I didn’t mean she was too young for a fling,” I said, trying to keep my tone in check. I didn’t want this to turn into a fight, but I could tell we were both on edge now. “I thought I made that pretty clear from the beginning. That’s all I can commit to right now. Even… even if I want more, I don’t think I can.”
“What are you so afraid of?” he asked, his tone softening a little. “For as long as we’ve known each other, I’ve never seen you afraid of anything except…”
“Except love,” I finished. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want to fuck it up. What if she decides it isn’t what she wants after all? What if you decide that? What if I do? Then what happens?” I shook my head. “No, I can’t do it. I won’t.”
“Then you need to tell her,” Cade said. “Soon. If she thinks there’s something more going on, you have to tell her how you really feel.”
“Yeah…”
“No, you don’t.” Janessa’s voice made my heart stop beating as I turned to see her standing in the doorway. “You don’t have to tell me anything. I’ve already heard enough.”
She turned and ran.
Fuck.
Fuck.
By the time I made it to the door of the bunkhouse, she was already halfway across the yard.
“Janessa!” I shouted. “Wait, please!”
“Go.” Cade pushed me out the door. “You need to catch her. Go.”
I started running after her, calling her name every few seconds, but she never turned back around. She ran inside and slammed the door behind her.
Jesus. Why couldn’t I have kept my fucking mouth shut? Why did I have to be such a dumbass? How had I managed to nearly have a fight with my best friend—my only friend—and somehow hurt the only woman I cared about all at the same time?
It took a special talent to fuck things up that badly.
I was so determined to follow her inside that I nearly collided with Justin as he was walking out the back door of his house.
“Boone, what the hell?” The older man grabbed me by the shoulders to keep both of us upright. “I was just coming to find you.”
Great.
Now she’d gone and gotten her uncle involved. He’d probably shoot me in the balls for upsetting his niece. Not that I could really blame him, of course. I was pretty pissed off at myself, too.
“Justin, I just need to talk to Janessa for a minute, okay?” I tried to push past him, but he didn’t let go.
“Okay, but that’s not something you need to worry about right now.” His tone sharpened. “Boone. Listen to me. Listen.”
He was shaking me, and I was starting to get really angry. It would have been enough to make me hit any other man, but I had enough respect for Justin that I tried to calm down enough to hear what he was saying. I knew he didn’t want me talking to her, but damn… I just needed a few minutes.
“What?” I asked, still looking past him into the house. “I just need—”
“No, you need to get home,” he interrupted. “Right now. I just got off the phone with the sheriff. Boone, are you listening?”
His words finally, slowly started to sink in.
Go home?
The sheriff called?
What?
“I’m listening,” I said, finally turning my attention to him. For the first time, I could see from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t angry. He was worried. Maybe even a little scared.
