“You need to leave, Marcus.”
“What?”
“Leave. I don’t want you here. I need space. This… this wasn’t okay.”
He folded his arms. “I’m not abandoning you.”
Based on her wince, he knew he’d hit the nail on the head. She was scared. Wynter might not know it yet, but she wanted this as much as he did; she just wasn’t sure how to get it. “I’m staying right here. We’re going to talk this out and?—”
Wynter huffed out a breath and shook her head before she marched to her closet and pulled out a duffel bag.
“What are you doing?” Marcus asked, panic leeching into his voice.
“If you’re not going to leave, I am.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
She barked out another laugh. “Oh, I think we surpassed that a long time ago.”
No amount of pleading put a stop to Wynter’s packing. She gathered her belongings, and even as he followed her out of the house through the crowd of people still lingering, she didn’t stop her quest to be rid of him.
Wynter left him in the cold, standing on her driveway, watching her pull away from the house.
Marcus lost track of time as he stood outside until someone came out to retrieve him. Then he sat numbly in the living room as the partygoers took their leave. When it was only him and Nora, he refused to let her talk him into staying. “I should get going. I’m sorry this turned into such a mess.”
Nora offered him a sad smile. “She’ll come around.”
He shook his head, his hand pausing on the doorknob, his back to her. “No, I don’t think she will.”
24
WYNTER
Wynter’s eyes had long since run dry of tears. They were dry, itchy, and likely puffy. She hadn’t wanted to leave her home, but she knew she couldn’t stay. Not with Marcus there. Not only had he humiliated her, but he’d also dug up the fears she’d worked so hard to bury. The only good thing that had come from tonight was that she’d finally realized she’d been living in a fairytale. She’d thought she could move back to Copper Creek to be closer to Grams, to fall in love with Marcus, and have the perfect life.
But that wasn’t how reality worked.
Yes, Wynter could move back to Copper Creek. She had a place to live. A job. And Grams was there.
But so was Marcus.
And she wasn’t made for serious relationships. She’d already decided she wasn’t going to marry. She didn’t want a family that could get torn apart. She just didn’t.
The vibrating on the side table in her motel room drew her attention, and she sniffled before wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She’d missed several phone calls, and the text messages were piling up. The last time she’d picked up the device, she’d caught a glimpse of the people reaching out. Most of the messages were from Rose and Morgan. Marcus had tried a few times, but he’d since given up. And Grams had called and left one message.
They were all worried about her. And rightfully so. Wynter wondered if any of them had known about Marcus’s plan and could have put a stop to the horrendous evening before it took place.
She fell back on her bed and stared at the ceiling, scowling as she went over all the details from the evening. Then it hit her.
Jason.
He’d been acting strange. He’d known.
Wynter shot up on the bed and stared at her phone. Did that mean that Isabelle was involved in this? What about Grams? She hadn’t missed the way Marcus’s sister interacted with Grams when she’d come over.
Disappointment turned into fury, and she was tempted to call Grams to chew her out right then and there. Her fingers twitched with the temptation to demand answers. She gave up the fight when her phone vibrated again. Leaning over, she snatched her phone to find Rose calling.
She swiped to answer the call and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hey.”
