Quinn:
Yeah, that’s mine.
Luna:
I thought so! I’ll leave it at the main inn for you.
Quinn:
Thank you. And thanks for the class this morning. I had a lot of fun.
Luna:
Anytime. I mean that.
There was no way Luna had known what had gone on with Ford and me, but she’d been extra gentle with me this morning, shooting me concerned looks whenever she thought I wasn’t looking. So I definitely looked like a mess. And I had no interest in seeing Ford yet if my pain was written all over my face.
But I needed to pick it up, and at least doing so would occupy my mind for a little while. After I grabbed it, I could go for a walk on the beach. Let it soothe me in the way it always did.
And the chance I’d run into Ford at the main inn when he wasn’t working today was slim to none. That made it a safe bet in my mind.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
FORD
The placeI had always escaped to was losing its charm because I didn’t feel even a tiny bit better the following morning. Normally, after an entire day to myself with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company, I would’ve worked my way out of my funk. Would’ve gotten over whatever was bothering me and gotten back to the status quo.
Instead, I still felt like shit. Still felt this ache in my chest, this emptiness that had Quinn’s name branded on it.
And I had no idea what the hell to do about that.
I sat in the hammock, my legs hanging over the side as I stared out at the glittering path the sun made on the surface of the ocean. It wasn’t long before the sound of shoes crunching over the forest floor reached me, and I didn’t even have to turn my head in that direction to know who it was.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the farmers market?” I asked as I swung back and forth, not bothering to lift my gaze to his.
“Made an exception this week.”
“How’d you find me?”
Beck walked up and took a seat in the empty space next to me, the hammock halting its rhythm until he got settled and pushed us to swing again. “It wasn’t hard. If you’re hiding, maybe don’t go to the same place you always do when shit gets too real.” He scratched his jaw. “And also not a place Brady drives through every night for welfare checks. He sent me a text last night to let me know you were here.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. I loved my siblings. Didn’t know what I’d do without them. But Jesus Christ, they irritated the shit out of me sometimes. Couldn’t they ever leave well enough alone?
“I figured my coming out here was a big enough hint to stay away.”
He shrugged, his shoulder brushing against mine. “I gave you till the morning.”
“How generous of you,” I said flatly.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re not out here because the asshole doctor died.”
I breathed out a humorless laugh. “Not exactly.”
Although, in a roundabout way, all this pain was his fault. If he hadn’t made his stupid stipulation and Quinn and I hadn’t gotten married, I could’ve gone on living in blissful ignorance, chasing a high I didn’t know I’d found in her, all while my dick ignored every other woman in existence. It would’ve been a lonely life, but at least it wouldn’t have been painful.
“What’s going on?” he asked, all teasing gone from his tone.
I didn’t want to tell him. It wasn’t like he’d be able to fix it anyway. And I didn’t want to admit it. Didn’t want to voice aloud that it was over. Because maybe if I didn’t say it, it wouldn’t be true…
