“No.”
“The house, it was forus. For you.”
She sucked in a breath before turning to face him. “Youliedto me, Logan. I can’t start a life with you based on a lie.”
The words packed a worse punch than a hard hit from a bucking bull. The absence of her ring packed another. “Lie? It was asurprise, Abbs. Please, come with me to see the house. I want to tell you all about the plans I have. For us. For our future.”
“Leave, Logan. Just please leave. I can’t do this. I thought I could, but—”
“This isn’t just about the house, is it?”
She glanced around him, but everyone seemed preoccupied with Izzy and her new horse. The little girl was being hoisted into the saddle. He had only a moment to wonder how long it’d be until her feet reached the stirrups before Abbie answered him.
“What if our kids grow up and want to be bull riders, too?”
“I’m sure at least one of them will. Is that so bad?”
Tears of regret lingered in her eyes. “I can’t do it, Logan. I can’t.”
His heart cracked open at those words. “Abbie, if you want me to go, I will. But I won’t keep chasing you. If I leave this time, it’s for good.”
“I’m sorry.” She briefly touched his arm. The remorse in those eyes would haunt him for years to come. Somehow he’d find the strength to figure out a life that didn’t include Abbie Bennington. He’d always love her, but the fight in him was gone.
She’d broken his heart for the last time.
Chapter 22
Abbie
Monday morning came too soon. Abbie hadn’t slept well the night before; even Gibbs had been annoyed with her unusual amount of tossing and turning through the twilight hours. He’d abandoned the bed he wasn’t allowed on for the off-limits couch.
She wasn’t sure coffee could cure much right now, but she was on her third cup anyway.
Less than thirty minutes ago, she and Gibbs watched from the window as Logan drove away. Though they could hardly see more than the top of the truck cab, the dog whined as it left. Seemed he knew too—this time was different than the last. Gloomier.
Logan hadn’t even said goodbye.
A glance at her bare left hand left her empty inside.
She wasn’t ready to face anyone today, but she certainly couldn’t call in sick after the way she confronted her uncle and finally made forward progress. Now was not the time to mess up any of that.
“Well, Gibbs, let’s get to it.”
“You all right, Abbs?” Mom asked, fishing out a peanut butter treat for Gibbs when they arrived at the store.
She wanted to be mad at Logan. Anger was the only thing that helped her hold it all together when he left the last time. “I’ll be okay.” He left without even an attempt to change her mind. No calls or texts either, no matter how many times she checked her phone. His words haunted her.I won’t keep chasing you.Maybe this time, it really was too late to fix anything.
Gibbs leaned against her legs, licking her hand until she scratched his head behind his fluffy ears.
“Erin told me what he did.”
“He lied to me, Mom.”
“Hefibbedabout what he didfor you, Abbs. Sounds like he had some big plans for you two, and you couldn’t even give him the chance to share his vision with you.” Her mom glanced at the front door as a customer entered. “You don’t always have all the answers.”
She couldn’t talk about it anymore or she’d crack. Best thing to do, she reasoned, was to go to the office and lose herself in her work. She had four pages of next week’s paper to plan, the blank slate she’d always wanted. She’d keep her head down and write every night until she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
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