“He’d gone to watch the sunrise all right. Except he was missing the whole thing because he was full-on making out with my sister. Like, on a beach towel, moaning and groaning, rolling around, sand in their hair. Mysister.”
“Gah.” It came out like an exhale after a gut punch. “Please tell me you were on the next flight home.”
“Nope.” She sniffled. “My mom wouldn’t let me. Said it would ruin our family trip and to suck it up.”
My teeth clamped hard. She’d been living with that right in her face all this time. No wonder she left Laramie the first chance she got.
A tear slipped off her jaw. “I thought coming here would make things better. That if I got away from that, I’d finally be able to relax and just be happy.”
Arms wrapped around her shoulders, I leaned my head back against the red brick of the building. This was all my fault. She was right. Coming here should’ve made things better.
And it would have.
If it weren’t for me.
It was time to do the right thing.
Time to make sure Christy was never hurt because of me ever again.
sixteen
CHRISTY
What was I doing at Dupree Ranch?
A week ago, I’d had it all. Awesome job, great coaching gig, dream guy. And now it was all gone. The school board put me on administrative leave while they investigated everything. The only thing in my favor was that I was still getting a paycheck. For now. But who knew if that would still be the case whenever they made their final decision.
Silas was acting principal. He’d covered both our butts when he’d disclosed our relationship. Holden was still coaching the girls because he wasn’t an employee of the Seddledowne School District. And there was no one else to do it.
But my behavior was “unbecoming” of someone in such a position of leadership. Though I suspected being an outsider had a great deal to do with it. I got a slap on the hand and a swift kick out the door. If things had been the slightest bit better in Laramie, I would’ve tucked my tail and gone home.
I sat in my truck, hands shaking, running through every breathing exercise I could think of as I stared at the farmhousein front of me. I’d been here, parked in this very spot, once before, for a few minutes. The day I’d kissed Holden at Sophie’s. But I’d never been inside.
I looked at Holden’s last message. He’d sent it the night of the pep rally fiasco, a half hour after the school board had decided I was on leave. A freaking text message breakup.
Holden: Sorry, I’ve been MIA this evening. I needed time to think everything through, and now I know that this was a mistake. I never should’ve started this. If I don’t end things now, it will only get worse. I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive me.
Of course, I’d hurled messages back, like,
Me: You said you weren’t going to break my heart. So much for keeping your promises.
Me: You suck.
Me: I hope you get herpes.
Me: I hate you.
Me: I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean that. I actually think I love you. Please, can we talk about this?
My head hung in shame. I’d told him I loved himafterhe’d dumped me, over a text. It doesn’t get any more pathetic than that. And even more pathetic was the fact that he never even responded. Just left me on read.
And here I was at his house likeIwas some kind of stalker. What was wrong with me? And what was I doing here? Holden’s white car was parked right in front of me. All I hadto do was let my foot slip off the brake and bam! it would put a nice dent in his beloved Tessie. The thought was satisfying. And also heartbreaking. Because that was the opposite of what I wanted. I didn’t hate Holden. I loved him. I wanted to hug him, not dent his car.
Silas and Lemon walked down the porch steps and across the lawn to my truck. I shoved my phone into my purse and leaned down, pretending to fix the hem of my jeans. They were both wearing a sad smile and I fought the urge to rev the engine, shove the truck in reverse, and high-tail it out of there. Lemon waved through the window and I reluctantly turned the key. The engine died and I got out.
“Hey.” She leaned in and hugged me. “I’m so glad you came.” Her words were too eager. She was trying too hard. We weren’t friends. We weren’t at hugging level yet.
I hugged myself. “Of course.”
