Charlie’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he nods. Kai quietly leaves the room.
“Here, drink this,” I say, holding the straw to his mouth.
He takes a few sips before pushing my hand away. “So, we were never actually married then,” he says after a few beats of awkward silence.
“I’m sorry I lied to you.”
“It’s okay, Abby. I betrayed your trust. I get why you didn’t tell me.”
“I care about you so much, Charlie,” I say, threading my fingers in his.
“But you don’t love me.”
I hate to beat on a man when he’s already down, but I can’t lie. And it’s not as if this is anything new. We’ve already had this conversation before.
“I love you as a best friend, and I’d hate to lose you from my life, but I don’t love you in a romantic way, Charlie. I am very much in love with Kaiden. He’s the only one for me.”
“He’s a lucky man, and I’m not bearing any grudges.” He squeezes my hand. “I want you to be happy, and I can see he makes you happy.” Pain slices across his face, and I hate that I put it there. “And I’d like to think we can regain our friendship one day, but I don’t know if I can do it.”
Now I’m the one hurting, but I can’t disregard his feelings. I don’t trust myself to speak, so I just nod.
“I love you so much, Abby.” Tears cling to his lashes. “And I got a taste of what my life would be like with you in it, and I loved every second of it.”
I’m tempted to bring up the woman he screwed the night of our fake wedding, but there’s no point dragging that shit up again. I think Charlie is in love with the idea of loving me, and it’s only when he meets the love of his life that he’ll realize that.
“I can’t be around you knowing I loved and lost you. And I can’t be around you with him.” He wrenches his hand from mine. “I’m sorry.”
A tear creeps out of the corner of my eye. “I understand. It sucks, but I get it.”
“I appreciate you coming here. I really do, but I’d like to be left alone.”
I stand. “I called your mom and Lil. They are on the way.”
“Thank you.”
I lean down and kiss his cheek. “Get well soon, and thank you for saving my life. Kai isn’t the only one who won’t forget.” I cup his face. “If you need me, I’m here for you. Always.”
Tears well in my eyes as I close the door to his room and step out into the corridor. Kai is slouched against the wall, holding two cups of coffee. He tenses when he sees me. “I don’t care if he’s in a fucking hospital bed, I’ll fucking—”
I press my lips to his, cutting off his diatribe. “He didn’t hurt me. I’m the one who hurt him.” I press my face against his chest as he puts the cups down and wraps his arms around me. “I hate that I’m the cause of his pain, both physical and emotional.”
“He’ll be okay, babe.” Kai runs his hand down the back of my head. “He just needs time.”
We return to Rydeville different people but the same. The town is full of gossip over what went down in Wyoming and all the revelations that came to light. But we ignore it and them, returning to school as normal, focusing on our upcoming graduation and on building a new phase in our lives.
Mom has a bunch of medical issues, but Drew and I are supporting her through them. She has good days and bad days, but we are both there to help her.
Kai and I found a beautiful new modern build on the outskirts of Rydeville and moved in almost straightaway. I fangirled like crazy when Rick arranged it for Alex Kennedy to manage the interior design of the house. Kai teased me endlessly while she was overseeing the project, but I was too busy gushing to care. And we have a beautiful, stylish yet comfortable home, thanks to her amazing talent.
Mom wants to stay in Rydeville, because it’s the only home she’s ever known—even if the house she grew up in is a pile of rubble. We’re working with her and an architect to build a new home on the grounds of the property she loves. In the meantime, she’s staying with Drew in the house he bought a couple of miles away from us.
Kai offered for Mom to live with us, which only made me love him more, but Drew wouldn’t hear of it, insisting he didn’t want to live alone. But I know it’s because he wanted to give Kai and me time to be newlyweds.
I’ve broached the subject of Jane with him several times, but he refuses to speak about her, and I don’t know what’s going through my brother’s brain. I’m convinced something happened between Drew and Shandra, because she’s been melancholy since we graduated high school last week. She hasn’t said anything to me either, and any time I’ve asked, she’s said she doesn’t want to talk about it, and I respect her privacy, even if I’m curious as hell.
The fact there was something between them is one of the reasons I haven’t reached out to Jane. The other is because Xavier hasn’t been able to find her. Wherever she’s hiding, it’s clear she doesn’t intend to be found.
“Where are we going?” I ask again as Kai takes the exit off the highway for Boston.
