Chapter 1
Ainsley
Moving back home is the right decision.
Maybe if I keep repeating it, I’ll believe it. It’s not like it’s even all that far from where I was living, it just feels like I’ve … failed.
My sister, Larkin, would say none of this is my fault. Deep down, I know she’s right, but I’m still too angry and raw to think logically about the situation.
Exploited. I feel exploited.
I’m currently driving from Austin to my small hometown of Bluebell Falls, about two hours away, because my direct supervisor harassed me at work and then got me fired because of it. In this day and age, I wasn’t expecting to have to defend myself against a raging narcissist who thinks women are only there to please him. The worst part is I was passed up for a promotion, for the job he actually got, and I had seniority on him—yet, I’m the one who got fired.
Good ‘ol corporate America strikes again.
I sigh as I pass the sign telling me there’s only thirty more miles until I’m home-sweet-home. Population of 2,739. God, I fucking hate small towns. It’s the reason Larkin and I moved to Austin for college and never came back. In a small town, everyone is always in your business and there is zero privacy.
Good thing I don’t plan to stay here.
I guess that’s why I’m renting a small-ass house on the outskirts of town, in hopes that people leave me alone. I don’t want to have to explain why the previously ultra-responsible Ainsley is back home to lick her wounds and start her life from square one. Talk about anxiety-inducement.
I guess the only positive is I’ll have my parents close, although, that could quickly turn into a negative, depending on how invasive they are. Lord knows I was vague as hell when I explained I was moving back home. And I know my dad is going to be butting his nose into my business the second he can. My mom will tag along, but my dad is the one to watch out for. He’s worse than the group of octogenarians playing Phase 10 every week as an excuse to exchange town gossip.
Moving home is a good thing. Admitting defeat isn’t weakness—it’s accepting that things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would. And I’m one hundred percent okay with that.
Yep, keep telling yourself that.
I’m trying to stay positive.
My inner devil-and-angel argument is interrupted by my phone ringing through my car speakers.
“Hey.”
“Where are you at? Did you make it yet?” Larkin’s anxious voice hits my ears.
“I’m, like, thirty minutes out. Calm down.”
“Sorry, you know I’m just worried about you.”
“It’s the mother hen in you now.” I chuckle.
“Possibly. I had no idea how fearless a thirteen-year-old boy could be, but let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of heart.”
Her and Theo, her husband, adopting Gavin out of foster care will forever be something I’m beyond proud of her for. It’s also the reason I cried the first hour of this drive. I won’t be close to my nephew or nieceanymore. I can’t just go pick him up from school and have a “fun aunt” afternoon. And my heart is still breaking because of it. His little sister is awesome too, but I’ve always had a deep connection with Gavin.
“Tell him I miss him,” I whisper, trying to hold the tears in.
“Oh, Ains. I promise we’ll make trips to come see you. Hell, he and Maddie can even spend the weekend if you really want. It’s not like Theo and I would say no to a quiet house once in a while.” She says it barely over a mutter, so I have to assume my sweetheart of a nephew is close by, or the tornado that is Maddie. It’s a toss-up, really.
“Deal. I’ll come steal them myself if I need to.”
“You really think this is the best move?” she asks me for the tenth time.
“I do. Lance is going to blacklist me from any financial firms in the city. Hell, he already is, and staying means starting a completely new career. At least with this new job, I can work from home and get my bearings back.”
“But you could stay here and do that too,” she offers.
“I could, but I need the change of scenery, Lark.” I could explain that staying in the same city as Lance makes me feel dirty and used. That the circle of work friends I had sided with him and left me in the dust. But right now, I don’t really want to examine too closely how I feel about that. Running away from it all feels like the easiest option.
