AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Christy let her in then went off to get drinks and Rebelle used the opportunity to speak to Justine. “Do you know if Will is coming?”
Justine shook her head. “I don’t know. He hasn’t said and I think Blake is hoping he’ll just turn up, but he might be busy or he might not want to come back.”
“You think he wouldn’t want to come back?”
“I think maybe he’s hurt and a little lost right now.”
“God, Justine what did I do? I messed everything up. I should have begged him to stay. Iwantedhim to stay. Why didn’t he pick me?” Rebelle fought back the tears and Justine’s arms came around her.
“Men are dumb, it’s as simple as that,” she sighed and Rebelle burst out laughing.
“His mom came to the shelter today. She wanted to see if I was as miserable as him.”
“No way? Scary Diane?”
Rebelle shrugged. “She’s not so scary.”
“So he’s miserable, huh?”
“Sounds like it.”
“Have you reached out to him?”
“I wanted to, so bad. But it’s got to be his decision, he’s got to choose happiness for himself.”
“Then let’s hope he makes it, and quick.” Justine hugged her again.
Then there was a swell of noise as Taylor entered the house like a little tornado shouting, “Let’s get this bish married!”
*
Will flicked off the shelter’s Instagram page. He couldn’t look at another post of happy animals being rehomed and know that he wasn’t there. That he had chosen strangers and money over what fed his soul. He didn’t care if he let them down anymore. Like Ezra said, they would get over it.
He had made a huge mistake and he needed to fix it now, whatever it cost. He needed to get back to Citrus Pines, back to the shelter, back toher.Just the thought had the weight lifting from his chest for the first time in weeks.
Watching Rebelle lead the life she wanted and achieving her dreams gave him the same urge. It showed him that no matter what, he could do it. After everything she had been through, she’d had the courage to go after what she wanted, to succeed, to take risks and trust him. She inspired him. Rebelle had said he needed to choose himself, but choosing Rebelle and the shelter was choosing himself. He was picking the thing that made him happy, that he could see a future in, that heloved.She had helped him find his courage.
Will called his mother but she didn’t pick up. He tried her again and again and was ready to tear the world apart when she finally came home.
“Where have you been? You’ve been ignoring my calls, you’re my manager and I need to talk to you!” Will’s voice was raised and he flinched, knowing his mom would destroy him for raising his tone with her. She sauntered into the house, like she hadn’t a care in the world.
“I just got back from my trip and you haven’t asked me how it’s gone?”
He sighed. “How was your trip?”
“Lovely, thank you.”
Frustration had him clenching his jaw. “That’s it? Okay well I need to talk to you.”
She shrugged, pulling off her gloves and examining her nails. “Aren’t you going to ask me where I went?”
He closed his eyes, counting back from ten slowly. “Where did you go?”
“Citrus Pines.”
His heart stopped cold in his chest. “What did you go there for?”
“I wanted to adopt a dog. And I wanted to see why you’ve been so sad.”
