Ashton’s eyebrow raised. “Back to Seddledowne? It’s four hours away, man.” He stood too.
“I don’t care. I have to fix this.”
He tipped his head, his forehead crunched. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“Obviously, Einstein. I always have.”
“That’s what Dad said.” He laughed. “Then I guess you better go after her. But Mom is going to be so salty that you’re skipping beach week.”
“Yeah. Well. Sorry, not sorry. An eternity with Clem or making Mom happy for two seconds?” I balanced invisible scales with my hands.
Holden was in a surprisingly generous mood, and minutes later, I had my duffel hung over my shoulder and his car keys in my hand.
“Where are you going?” Mom met me in the hall.
Here we go. “I think Clem went home. I gotta go make this right.”
“Silas. The three of you have to sleep under the same roof tonight or the ninety-day agreement is ruined.” It actuallyshocked me that this wasn’t about the fact that I was ditching family vacation.
“I don’t know what you want me to do. Clem left and she won’t answer her phone.” I could drag Anna along, with the hopes that we found Clem before the night was over, but there was no guarantee.
Mom just stood there, lips pursed, shaking her head, like I should’ve been capable of working miracles. And like I was becoming a perpetual disappointment to her.
Anna appeared behind her, her bag over her shoulder. “I’m coming. Team Trifecta isn’t going down that easily.”
“No, ma’am,” Mom said. “You are not missing beach week.” Mom’s expression told me she was not going to relent.
I walked over and wrapped my niece in a hug. “It’s okay. You stay here. Team Trifecta will be fine. As soon as I find Clem, we’ll be back. Even if I have to drive all night to get here before the sun comes up.”
She stuck her pinky out, her eyes worried. I hooked it and squeezed.
I didn’t know how I was keeping it, but I had to try.
twenty-eight
CLEMENTINE
Iwiped the tears off my cheeks as soon as the truck door was closed. I was done crying over stupid, douchebag men. I gassed it around the corner and didn’t breathe until the house was out of sight. Then I pulled over long enough to block Silas and turn off my location services. The last thing I needed was for him to track me on that stupid Stalk My Friends app Sophie had added us all to years ago. And I definitely didn’t want his empty apologies. Then again, maybe he wasn’t even trying to contact me to apologize. For all I knew, he was walking happily ever after up the beach with Christy right then.
A rogue sob escaped at that thought, but I shut it down. I blew my breath out in a hard O. This stomach ache was getting worse. I gunned it, beach houses getting smaller in my rear-view mirror. By this time in the evening, the tunnel traffic was super light. Once I was past Richmond, my cell rang. I gritted my teeth, tempted not to look. Silas had probably borrowed someone else’s phone to get through. But I had to be there for Anna if she needed me. So I pulled it out of my purse.
Momma.
“Hello?” I answered, trying to hide the anguish I felt. She was on vacation, after all.
“Honey.” The way she said that one word, dripping with pity, told me Silas had called her. “Clem, sweetie, you need to call him. He’s desperate to talk to you.”
My jaw clenched. “Momma, you weren’t there. He led both of us on. He’s not who I thought he was. He’s no better than Billy.” I slapped the steering wheel. “And he shouldn’t have bothered you on your trip.” I bent over, barely keeping my eyes above the dash, my abs contracting so tight I thought they might tear.
She sighed, and I prepared myself for a lecture on how things aren’t always what they seem. She’d given it to me many times in the past, and usually she was right. Not this time.
“I don’t know all the details, but I know one thing. Love is messy sometimes. You know that thing Shakespeare said, ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’ Well, he was right on this one.” I’d been quoted Shakespeare twice now this summer, pertaining to my love life. I used to like the man. But I was seriously rethinking him now.
Another call came through. Ford. Nope. I wasn’t falling for that trick. I sent it to my full voicemail. Silas could enjoy a second rejection there.
“Momma. Th-this is not a play. This is r-real life. And I’ve had enough. I took a chance, I decided to trust a man again, and that was my m-mistake. From now on, I’m a party of one. Gah!” It felt like I was being punched from the inside. I eased over onto the side of the freeway, cars and semi trucks flying past, shaking my truck.
Ashton’s name came up on the caller ID. I didn’t even send Silas to voicemail that time, just straight cut him off.
