I put my hand on his chest, meaning to push him back, wanting to pull him in. The ache in his brown eyes causes tears to fall down my cheeks. I can’t let him leave me gradually. To slowly, ever so slowly, decide he wants someone else, like Greg did.
“Well, maybe I don’t want to date you right now, okay?” I force my fingers to extend, urging him to step back and clear the way. With that, I close the door, sink to the floor, and give in to the sorrow at last.
If Beau is going to leave me anyway, then at least it won’t be drawn out as he tries to let me down easily. As he tries to stop what he started.
I told him to take time, to give it some good, hard thought, which means I didn’t shut him down completely. What Ididdo is something they say you’re supposed to do. It’s the butterfly coming into play once again, only now Beau is the butterfly, and I’m setting him free. If he comes back, Beau’s mine to move forward with. If he doesn’t, he never was.
CHAPTER24
Beau
“Talk about the stupidest breakup in history,” Parker groans from the passenger seat.
I narrow my eyes as I spot a post off the windy canyon roadside. “Can you see what that sign says? It’s covered by that freaking branch.”
Parker leans far over before straightening back up as we pass it. “Nope. Was covered by a freaking tree branch.”
This kid is determined to make me lose my crap today. I’ve summoned the patience of a dozen saints, but if he doesn’t stop egging me on, I’m going to drive his butt back home instead of drop him off at this sketchy party I don’t feel great about him going to in the first place.
“I thought you said you guys were just taking a break,” he persists.
“So?” I clench the wheel harder as the next sign comes into hindered view. I curse as we pass it. “I have no idea if we’re going to find your little party, Park.”
“It’s not my fault the navigation gave us the wrong route.”
“Some of these dirt roads don’t get factored in,” I say. “The further off-grid, the harder it is to find.”
“You know what’s going to be harder to find?”
I grit my teeth, my nostrils flaring as I suck in a breath and beg the heavens for mercy.
“Finding another woman like Kirsten, that’s what.”
“Would you just stop it? I didn’twantthings to end.”
“That’s not howshesees it. She told Jack you did. You were worried that you didn’t like her for the right reasons. Did you tell her that?”
“No.”
“So she’s lying?”
“She’s making assumptions, Parker. And can wenottalk about this right now? I’m struggling to find this place as it is.”
“That’s it up there,” Parker says, pointing out his side of the window. A bouquet of balloons floats from a tree branch. Not cheery looking birthday balloons either. Black ones with white skulls and cross bones.
“You’re not going to do any séances out here, are you?”
“No, and I’m not the only one who misses her. Paige is upset, too.”
“Yeah, we all miss her.” I glance at the rearview, making sure I’m over far enough, and wonder if Kirsten has already dropped Jack off. Hopefully, she doesn’t get lost out here and get stranded with no service.
When Parker doesn’t open his door yet, I resign myself to confiding in him. Who else do I have who knows both me and Kirsten?
“I mainly got scared when your uncles were bugging me about the relationship. Luke said we were just trying to make Mom and Greg jealous—”
“That’s stupid.”
“I know.”
