But the truth is, there’s nothing I can say that won’t leave me wanting more. That won’t drag me into the very mess I’ve been trying to avoid.
So, I don’t reply. I don’t say anything.
I just leave her hanging there, a damn ghost in my inbox.
I pocket my phone. My father was right; this is about control. It’s about being the man people expect me to be.
And Lo… she’s never been anything but a reminder that I’m not in control of anything when she’s around.
Which means I walk away from it. From her. From the chaos she brings.
Because I have no other choice.
CHAPTER 13
Lo
Alright, so this isfun. Really. I’m having the time of my life.
Tansy and I are sitting on my mom’s couch, bottles of cheap wine between us, and too many things I don’t want to talk about shrouding us. I’m trying to pretend that everything’s fine, that I’mfine, when all I can think about is the train wreck that is my life.
I’ve been back in Honeysuckle Grove for just a few days, and I’m alreadythat girlagain, the one everyone can’t wait to gossip about, to laugh at.
Tansy pops open another bottle of wine, as if it’s some sort of victory, and pours us both glasses that are more than a little generous. She’s got that mischievous look in her eyes.
The one that says she’s got dirt and she’s justwaitingto spill it.
“…so then, Ruby, the flirty Omega who nowrunsThe Rusty Bucket Tavern, chased Knox Rylan out the bar, screaming after him…”
“Knox Rylan?” I ask, trying to remember who everyone is in this town. It really has been that long.
“Alpha Handyman. Ford’s friendly rival…”
A heat burns in my cheeks at the mention of Ford. Dammit, I donotwant to think about him right now.
But it seems like I’m the only one.
“Speaking of…” Tansy’s eyes sparkle. “What happened with you guys? I saw you kissing.”
She waggles her eyebrows at me.
Oh, for the love of God.
I freeze, a lump forming in my throat. I should’ve known better than to think Tansy wouldn’t have seen me. The whole damn bar saw us. We were right there, making out like two air-headed teenagers.
The fact that she saw that kiss, though, makes my chest tighten in a way I can’t even begin to unpack right now.
I sip my wine to avoid answering. Big mistake. The heat of it makes me almost choke, but I power through and try to look casual.
“I…” I clear my throat. “We didn’t kiss. That wasn’t…” Shit. “I wasn’t… I mean, it was nothing. Just a?—”
“Oh, come on. The whole damn bar saw you,” Tansy interrupts, leaning forward with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “And I also saw you vanish outside before I hopped into my car to leave. Tell me everything. Did he follow you outside?”
I groan and drop my head back against the couch. “Really?”
Tansy smirks. “Oh, honey, you know I needallthe details. It looked hot!”
I slap my hand over my face, mortified, but she’s already laughing at her own ridiculousness.
