Ryan cut the engine and climbed off his bike, praying he didn’t run into anyone on his way in because he was not fit for company right now. He’d been pissed off ever since he broke up with Emma, and a couple days to stew over it hadn’t helped.
He’d been an idiot, plain and simple. He had no idea if they’d manage to salvage their friendship after this, but did it even matter when she was leaving town anyway? Now he’d think of her every time he rode on his bike or visited the bluffs. Hell, even the rock face at Off-the-Grid. Every aspect of his life had been infiltrated with sweet, sexy, amazing memories of Emma.
She’d torture him from afar without even knowing she was doing it.
He missed her so fucking much already, and she hadn’t even left town yet. Dammit all to hell. How had he let this happen?
He’d just shoved the key in his front door when he heard someone coming down the stairs, dragging something heavy. It scraped and thumped down each step. Had to be Trent. Mark never made that much noise.
He turned to see Trent round the corner above him, dragging an enormous suitcase.Fuck.“You’re really going to LA? Just like this? Were you even going to say good-bye?”
Trent shook his head, a lock of hair falling over his eyes. “I’m going home.”
Home? “What?”
Trent shoved his suitcase down to the landing and shook his hair back from his eyes. “Iris dumped me. Are you happy now?”
Ryan stared, noticing for the first time that his brother looked as wrecked—and as pissed at the world—as Ryan himself felt. “I’m sorry, man. I’m real sorry to hear that.”
“Whatever,” Trent said, dragging the suitcase in the direction of his car. “This place blows. I’m going home.”
“You’re going back to Missouri?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Ryan followed him. “Yo, don’t leave like this, Trent. At least stay the night. You shouldn’t start a long drive this late in the day.”
“You’re as bad as Mom and Dad!” Trent wheeled on him, dark eyes snapping as he unleashed all his hurt and anger on Ryan. “Stop telling me what to do. Just leave me alone.”
Ryan stepped back as his brother’s words clawed at him, ripping at his heart. “I’m sorry, Trent. I just wanted to help. Don’t leave like this. Please.”
“Whatever,” Trent said again, sliding into his car and slamming the door behind him. “I don’t need your help or anybody else’s.”
The engine roared to life, and Ryan watched helplessly as his brother drove away.
Just leave me alone.
Those words hurt like a motherfucker. He’d lost Emma, and now Trent, and suddenly it felt like all the color had been sucked out of his life. He stormed into his condo, slamming the door behind him. Next thing he knew, he’d punched another hole in the wall, and now his fist hurt like a motherfucker, too.
* * *
Emma lifted her cotton candy martini and gulped from it. Tonight’s girls’ night out had changed from going-away party to “Ryan dumped me” commiseration to “dream job here in Haven” celebration. When Gabby offered to drive, Emma had jumped at the chance because she had no desire to stay sober enough to drive herself home.
Nope. She was getting trashed tonight.
To eliminate any chances of running into the guys—or really just Ryan—they’d taken their party to Jazzy’s Martini Bar in Silver Springs, and the change of scenery was just what Emma needed. Rowdy’s and even The Drunken Bear held too many bittersweet memories for her to handle right now.
“To Emma’s new job,” Carly said, raising her glass.
“And staying in Haven,” Gabby added.
They all clinked glasses. Seated around a bar-height glass table with her were Jessica, Gabby, Carly, and Mandy. The best friends a girl could hope for.
“It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m not leaving,” she said. “It’s been such a rock in the pit of my stomach for the last few weeks, dreading the move but knowing I needed to stick with the plan I’d set in motion.”
“Seriously, though, I can’t believe you’re taking over Artful Blooms. That’s such an amazing opportunity,” Carly said.
Mandy raised her eyebrows, and Emma winked at her. After she’d left Mary at the bakery, Emma had called Angela Davenport to accept the Silver Springs Lodge project, then driven straight to Mandy’s apartment. They’d spent the rest of the afternoon putting together a business plan.
