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Wade inched closer. “One dance, Bri. That’s all I’m asking.”
A voice from behind her called out, “Hey, Wade! You made it.”
Momentarily distracted, Wade’s attention shifted to whoever said his name.
Brielle took advantage of this opportunity and hurried around him, freeing herself. This time she didn’t look back as she headed straight for her truck. She’d hit a new low. There used to be a time when she’d happily flirt with a guy like Wade. She could spend all night in his arms making out and not feel a lick of guilt.
What had happened to her?
She wasn’t dumb enough to think she’d grown up. Evidence was everywhere, beginning with the way she’d just left him in the dust.
Brielle climbed behind the wheel, started her truck and put it into gear. By the time she pulled in front of her home, she felt even worse. Pressing her forehead against the steering wheel, she let out a shuddering breath.
Perhaps it was time to come to terms with the drunken decisions she’d made right out of high school. She still couldn’t believe that she’d kept her secret for so long or that she’d been so immature that she’d disappeared from that Vegas hotel room without even figuring out what Tad’s last name was.
Her stomach flipped on its side just thinking about waking up in an empty bed wearing a wedding ring. She couldn’t remember anything beyond flirting with the guy after meeting him at a party her friend had dragged her to. At least she’d still been wearing the same clothes as the night before.
That was the last time she allowed herself to get drunk. She hadn’t touched anything more than a glass of champagne since.
Rather than dwell on what had happened, she jumped back into dating, trying to forget the mistakes of her past.
There was only one problem.
If she fell for someone, she couldn’t do anything about it. What was she supposed to tell the guy? Sorry, I can’t marry you because I’m already married to a guy who I barely know? I’ve got his first name, but maybe we could spend a couple hundred dollars to track him down so I can get a divorce?
Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen.
Confessing something like that would only serve to push them away or cause a chasm of distrust to open up between them.
Brielle heaved a sigh and climbed out of her truck. This was why she refused to get close to Wade. This was why she couldn’t get close to anyone. Besides Shane, there had only been one guy she could have seen herself with.
But now her high school sweetheart was married to her sister.
The irony of the state of her life was not lost on her.
She shuffled toward the house, unable to bring herself to climb the steps and enter the empty house that had become the norm since half of her sisters were now married and the other half were planning their weddings.
Settling on the bottom step, she leaned against the post that supported the railing. Her life was such a mess. She’d been so young when all of this happened, and had she been smart about it, she would have gone to her father and asked him to help her clean it up. Now that it’d been ten years, she wasn’t sure how to even start—especially without dragging other people into it.
It wasn’t like Tad had sent her any documents to get a divorce or an annulment which could mean he either didn’t care, he couldn’t find her, or… worse… he did care and he wanted to remain married.
Brielle snorted, shaking her head. A guy like that would be crazy if he thought he’d be able to track her down and insist they give it a try.
Headlights flickered over the hill as a truck rumbled toward her house. She got to her feet and peered into the darkness at the vehicle. It was too dark to recognize who might be approaching, so it could be anyone.
Then it pulled up beside her truck, and her stomach bottomed out.
Wade climbed out of the truck and then just stood there. His brows were drawn together, and his mouth was set in a firm line. “I’m not usually the kind of guy to go chasing after a woman who doesn’t want me.”
She huffed. “You could have fooled me.”
His arm rested on the open door and he glanced away, his eyes narrowing as if he could see something in the distance. “I’ve tried really hard to be patient. I can tell you have some demons you’re dealing with because I’ve had to battle my own.” He swung his gaze back to meet hers, and a shiver rattled her spine. “I just wanted to come here and tell you I’m not giving up.”
Brielle threw back her head and let out a sharp bark of laughter. “You can’t be serious. We’ve been on like three dates.”
“Five. And then we spent plenty of time working at my place.”
She bit down on her cheek to prevent herself from flinging another sarcastic comment. Wade was right. They’d worked close enough over the last year that she felt connected to him in a way that rivaled even her feelings for Shane. Only, she’d kept these feelings a secret, locking them away so that no one—especially not Wade—would know.
