You’d better.
A knock sounds on the door, making me jump out of my skin, and I take a deep breath before murmuring, “Yeah?”
“It’s just me,” Sage’s voice is cautious as it drifts through the hardwood.
Hopping from the counter, my fingers hesitate on the knob. I can’t avoid my sweet friend—nor do I want to. Another second passes as all the air rushes from my lungs. Sage can’t know how bad things are. Not yet. I’m not ready. Finally, I suck up my courage and open the door.
Sage tilts her head to one side, studying me. “Is everything okay?”
I sigh, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear as I step out to join her. “Oh yeah. He’s just being a typical man.” I wrinkle my nose in a show of faux disgust. “You know how it is. He misses me and wishes I were home with him.”
Her brow furrows, big blue eyes pinning on me. “Couldn’t he have traveled with you?” Lips twisting a bit, as if she’s beginning to sense something’s not quiteright, she finishes, “Seems like it would’ve been a great time to meet your parents and all.”
“Oh no,” I respond quickly—maybe too quickly. “His schedule is sheer insanity right now. He’s got constant meetings. We’ll do the whole introduction of the families when Mom and Dad fly out before the wedding. I’ve got lots of plans—all the usual pre-wedding events.”
“Gotcha.” Sage shrugs, chewing on the corner of her lip as she eyes me. “I just thought I’d get to meet him while I was with you in LA.”
“Yeah.” I exhale hard, fervently hoping it somehow settles my stomach that’s begun to rebel. “It wasn’t in the cards, I guess.” I hook my arm around her waist and tug her toward the living room where all manner of chaos must be ensuing from the sound of it. “Now, come on! Let’s get back to the madness.”Before I spill my guts and ruin this party.
When we return, Grandma Jo is gesturing wildly as she talks to one of the male models, still naked as the day he was born. “It doesn’t matter how impressive your equipment is, if you don’t know how to use it.” Raising her hands, she leaves an impressive distance between the two. “My husband had afantasticcock. Some days, I think I miss it more than I miss him.” She glances over her shoulder at me with a naughty wink.
“Oh my god, I love that woman,” I mumble undermy breath to Sage as we both have a good chuckle at Josie’s antics.
I’ve only just picked up my charcoal pencil again to get back to it when Sage leans over. “By the way, I never got a chance to say how glad I was that you and Kade got on okay when we visited you. He enjoyed the trip.”
Seeing Rhett’s younger brother had been a punch to the gut. The two men are very much their own people, but they give off a similar energy. Both have a take-charge attitude and an unwavering sense of responsibility. But most of all… the Rivers brothers love so damn hard. My heart knocks against my rib cage. That’d been the most difficult part—witnessing what Sage and Kade have. From the way things were between them last night, it’d seem they’re in it for the long haul.
Every time I see the two of them together, it makes me wonder what might’ve been if I had allowed myself to grow roots right here in Idaho with Rhett.
I shoot her a big I’ve-had-a-little-too-much-to-drink grin to disguise my inner turmoil. “Oh, me too. It was good to see him”—I hesitate, chewing on my lip—“and even better to see how happy you guys are.”
“Thanks. That means a lot. I’ve missed you so damn much, Noah. I wouldn’t have known what to do if the two of you hadn’t been able to set aside certain things.” Sage gives me a wistful glance so full of happier memories. It doesn’t go unnoticed that she’s cautiousmentioning anything Rhett related, especially since there’s no doubt she’ll marry his brother someday.
Almost as if my fiancé has some weird sixth sense, my cell goes off, his ringtone blasting amid the talking and laughter of the party.He’s unbelievable.I groan, digging into my pocket, then hurriedly glance at Sage before declining the call.
“You could have answered.”
“Don’t be silly. We’re talking. And I’m enjoying myself.” I hope she can’t tell the smile I force to my lips is faker than Brandy’s boob job. “After all, I’m only home for a few days, and I want to spend it with friends and family, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” My stomach pitches violently, and I quickly finish. “He’ll be fine. Bradley’s got me for the rest of my life after we’re married. But being with you, making these memories, we don’t get to do it often.”
RHETT
7
The agonized creakas the front door opens has me cursing internally.Goddammit.I’ve been rotting in this house for two days. You’d think whoever that is would’ve taken the hint.I want to be left alone. It’s not hard to understand, is it?As I pry one eye open, I clench my teeth.
“Rhett. What in the hell have you done?” Slack-jawed, Kade fills the doorway, staring in bewilderment. His astonished gaze sweeps over me seated in the midst of the destruction. All around, the gift I’d painstakingly worked on for years is nothing more than wreckage. Huffing a bit, he shakes his head and steps inside with a crunch of glass under the heel of his boot. A low whistle fills the room as he surveys the chaos I’ve created here—chaos that is a match for the havoc seeing Noah again has created in my heart.
Her reappearance has been like a powerful storm ravaging everything in its sight. It’s no wonder this is the result after she messed me up the way she did. “Leave it, Kade.” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I take in every last detail of the pain that’d gripped me. My anger destroyed the place I built for her. But can I be blamed, after she’d reached into my soul and gave it another vicious beating. I’ve been on a two-day bender since leaving Noah standing in the parking lot at Boozin’ Boots. The breath I drag into my lungs may as well be shards of glass. Pain rips through me again.
Jaw working to the side, Kade removes his Stetson. “Not happening, brother. And I’m not leaving you here like this, either. This isn’t you, Rhett. What the fuck are you doing to yourself?”
“None of your business,” I grunt. Fuck. It’s as if a drummer has taken up residence inside my skull. My eyes flick to the Jim Beam, tipped on its side. It’s empty. I could lie to myself—say I don’t know what I expected to find at the bottom of a bottle… except I do. Numbness. Anything to block out the torment of what I’ve done to myself again with a single taste of the woman who is no longer mine.
He pushes off the wall. “Look. I see you’re all up in your fucking feelings.” Pausing, he throws up a hand to placate me when I open my mouth to tell him to shut his. “I get it. I do. No one was oblivious to the fireworks thatwere going off in that bar the other night, despite the lack of words spoken. Nor am I unaware of the explosion that had to have followed you outside.”
“You're right. You don’t knowjack.”
“Maybe I don’t. But you seem to be well-acquainted withJimagain.”
