I realized, in bits and pieces, that I was waiting for him to come back. To tell me he’d changed his mind and take back the words he’d spoken.
I would’ve forgiven him. Iwantedto forgive him.
But the cabin door didn’t open. Reed didn’t come through it. And he wasn’t going to, was he?
I waited anyway, for way too long. Like an idiot.
When the light outside started to fade toward evening, I zipped the duffel shut and stood, finally letting myself give up.
It was time to go.
* * *
I made my way down the pathway past the cabins to the communal gathering area, and that’s where I found Lacey and Lindsey. They stood side by side near the fire pit, both dressed in athletic pants and sports bras, no shoes. They’d been about to shift, probably, now that it was approaching full dark.
They saw the duffel slung over my shoulder and both of them stopped in their tracks.
Lacey’s face darkened. “You’re leaving?”
I didn’t answer.
“After everything?” Her voice rose, sharp with anger. “No way! After last night? After we accepted you—”
“Lacey.” Lindsey’s voice was flat and hard. She sized me up, her eyes narrowing. “Reeddid this. He told you to leave, didn’t he?”
There wasn’t much use denying it, was there? And anyway, they’d find out from Reed, soon enough.
“Yeah.” My voice sounded strangely hoarse.
“That fucking idiot,” Lindsey said, rubbing her temples.
Lacey’s anger shifted immediately, redirected. “What the hell iswrongwith him?”
“Someone needs to talk sense into him,” Lindsey groaned. “Why does he have to be such a dunce? Every damn time.”
No. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t stand here and talk about Reed, about what he’d said to me, or about the way my chest felt like it was caving in. And I couldn’t break down here. Reed had made it excruciatingly clear I didn’t belong.
“I’m sorry,” I said, avoiding their gazes. “I have to go.”
I pushed past them, heading for the parking area.
Lindsey called after me, “Harris, just wait for a minute—”
But I didn’t stop. I got into my rental car and started the engine, feeling entirely numb. The last thing I saw in the rearview mirror was the two of them watching me go. Lindsey had her hand on Lacey’s arm, as if holding her back. She clearly wanted to follow me.
I put the car in drive and left.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN || REED
Iwoke up hours later, bleary-eyed and feeling like absolute shit, as though someone had replaced every drop of blood in my body with snake venom.
Good. I deserved every second of it.
Through the window, I could see the sun had already gone down.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and squinted at the screen. A text from Lindsey:Where the fuck are you, Reed? Harris left. Everyone is worried about you. That was hours ago.
