Callan leans back, arms crossed. “That’s on you, brother. But I’d figure it out fast. Especially before Rose gets her handson you.” He pauses, then adds, “And for what it’s worth? I liked her. She was good for you. She made you, I don’t know, stop taking yourself so seriously all the time. Made you laugh a little more. I haven’t seen you that relaxed in a while.”
Before I can get a word in, my phone buzzes against the desk.Finn.
“Hell, here we go,” I mutter, swiping to answer. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Good news, pal.” His voice is downright cheerful, loud enough that Callan raises an eyebrow. “You’re officially a divorced man. Signed, sealed, and delivered.”
Cal shoots to his feet, throwing a fist in the air. “Hell yeah!” he whoops, clapping me on the back so hard my chair scrapes against the floor. His energy is ridiculous, contagious, and despite everything, the corners of my mouth twitch up.
I’ve been holding my breath for years and finallyget to exhale. The weight pressing on my chest, the tension wound so tight in my shoulders, it all just…leaves.
“Thanks, Finn,” I say. “I owe you big.”
“For you? Anything,” he replies. “Now, go figure out how to stop your girl from leaving, or Elsie’s gonna have your arse.”
“Aye, I’ll figure it out. Talk to you soon.”
“Congrats, Knox. You’re finally free of her.” Callan grins, turning toward the door and pausing just long enough to add, “I’ll give you your moment. You’ve earned it.”
I’ve been counting down the days for this moment, swearing it would be some grand form of relief, like walking out of a prison cell and into fresh air. And for a second, it did feel that way. But now it’s almost…futile. The one person I need to talk to is about to board a plane and fly halfway across the world. I can’t stop thinking about how wrong that is.
The thought twists in my gut, but I know better than to beg her to stay. That’s not whatsheneeds. What I can do, though, ismake damn sure she never doubts me or questions how I feel, ever again.
I have an idea.
I’m on my feet before I can second guess myself, fingers already finding Rose’s number in my contacts. She answers on the second ring.
“Knox, I was wondering when you’d call.” Her voice carries that mix of kindness and warning that only Rose can manage. “You’ve got about fourteen hours before she’s gone, you know.”
“I know.” I pace to my office window, staring out at the hills. “I need a favor.”
There’s a long silence on the other end. I can practically see her weighing her options, deciding if I deserve this chance. Then, her tone shifts, curiosity replacing the edge. “I’m listening.”
“I need you to get something into Juliette’s suitcase before she leaves tomorrow. It’s…” I pause, running a hand through my hair. “It’s important, Rose. Please.”
“You’re not proposing via luggage, are you? Because that’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
I laugh. “No, nothing like that. It’s just…something to remind her that she matters. That she’s worth holding on to. I want Juliette to have it.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “All right,” she says, her voice gentler now. “I’ll get it in her bag, but don’t make me regret this, Knox. I can only vouch for you so manytimes before I can’t anymore.”
I don’t argue. I don’t want to screw this up any more than I already have.
“I’ll make it right,” I promise, the words tasting a lot like hope and desperation.
thirty-eight
JULIETTE
Thick clouds roll in, swallowing the sky whole. They stretch over the hills like an ominous blanket, casting dark shadows that creep over everything in their path. My bags sit packed by the door, a chaotic mess of clothes, mismatched shoes, and random bits of a life that I tried to weave together here.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it could’ve been like to call Scotland home, to build a life here. But reality pulls me back with a harsh grip, and the truth stings way too much to ignore. There’s nothing left for me here. It’s time to let go.
I take one last glance around the bedroom, checking for anything I might have missed as Aunt Rose appears in the doorway. “Ready?”
I nod and follow her to the car. We drive in silence, the passing landscape nothing but a blur, each mile dragging me farther from the life I thought I could have.
The first raindrops splatter against the windshield as we near the airport, light at first, then steady, almostlike the sky is mirroring the sadness in my heart. I chuckle darkly.Perfect. The weather matches my mood.
