They clear the fence in one smooth leap, hooves skirting the top rail, and race across the pasture at a breakneck speed that must be reckless even for an expert rider.
I call after him, but he doesn’t slow down.
Ryder keeps going until he’s nothing but a dark speck against the green.
I stare at that spot in the distance until it fades.
Have I lost him for good?
The first sob catches me by surprise.
It rips out of my chest, raw and ugly, and once I start crying, I can’t stop. Can’t breathe. Can’t do anything but stand in the middle of this field and cry as my heart keeps breaking.
I’ve ruined everything.
I’m still sobbing when I stumble back to the farmhouse.
The guest room looks the same as this morning. Cozy and welcoming. But it feels wrong now. Like I’m trespassing in a space where I no longer belong.
I yank my overnight bag from under the bed and shove the few clothes I brought over into it. My hands are shaking and my vision is blurred. I can barely see what I’m grabbing, but it doesn’t matter.
I need to leave.
Get out before Ryder comes back and tells me again how much he hates me.
A tentative knock sounds on the door.
“Faye?” Mae’s voice drifts through the wood, gentle but concerned. “Sweetheart, are you alright?”
I swipe at my face with the back of my hand, but it’s useless. The tears won’t stop.
“Come in.”
Mae steps inside, takes me in, and her expression crumples.
“Oh, honey.” She crosses the room and wraps me in her arms before I can protest. “What happened?”
“I messed up,” I blubber. “I can’t—I can’t stay with you anymore. I have to go.”
She pulls back, hands on my shoulders, studying my face. “But where will you go?”
“I’ll find a hotel.”
“The only place that will have rooms available in high season is mighty expensive.”
“Money isn’t a problem.” The admission slips out.
Her eyebrows lift in a silent question she has every right to ask, but that I don’t have the strength to explain twice.
“Thank you for letting me stay here last night,” I blurt, stepping out of her arms to zip my bag. “And for being so kind.”
“Faye.” Mae catches my wrist, stopping me mid-motion. “My son can be impulsive, but I’m sure you can patch things up.”
I shake my head, lips wobbling.
“What happened?”
I close my eyes. Force the words out.
