“Everyone loves you.” She wipes her mouth quickly. “You go above and beyond for every single person, even the really annoying ones. Do you know how many times I’ve delivered something to someone in town and they brag about something you did? Maybe that’s a huge part of why I was so angry with you too. It was like you were always being talked about; but not just talked about, raved on. You do so much damn good, and I just wanted you to be an asshole to everyone. Sure, your surly attitude is one thing, but your actions show a different side of you.”
“Rina…” I’m speechless. I’ve never once thought about my job as sheriff like that. I just do what I’ve always thought I was supposed to do for the job.
“Sorry, that was probably a little much. I just wanted you to see yourself how the town does.”
“And what about you? How do you see me?”
She puts her burger back down on the plate, wiping her hands on a napkin before giving me her full attention.
“I see a grown-up version of the man I loved all those years ago. A man I’m scared shitless to fall for again. But I really want to give this a real try.”
I reach across the Formica table and grab of her hand.
“I know none of this is going to be easy, Emmerdeur, but I’m going to try like hell to get you back.” It’s as much of a promise as any truth I’ve ever spoken.
Chapter 23
Rina
Today has been … life-affirming. Is that too much? Possibly, but going on a proper date with Arlo feels like it changed my brain chemistry.
It was all so normal, like we hadn’t even been ignoring each other for the past fifteen years. I wouldn’t say it was like we were, back when we were together, because hiding our entire relationship from everyone was certainly nothing like a date at Sal’s for all of Bluebell Falls to see.
And the craziest part? Once I got out of my head, I enjoyed the hell out of it. I didn’t focus on what all the nosy people would say. I just got to know Arlo, as a first date usually does. God bless him for the quick thinking to pull me out of my nervousness.
We’re now walking to my truck, bumping each other’s shoulders every so often, and the anticipation is killing me.
“We should do this again sometime,” Arlo breaks the silence. I smile at his continuation of the first date narrative.
“We should. You have my number. Just let me know when you’re free,” I offer, playing along.
We stop in front of my truck and I rock on my heels, suddenly feeling very shy, which is highly unlike me.
He grabs one of my hands, the heat and calluses causing me to melt in a puddle at his feet.
“I had a great time, Rina.” Leaning forward, he places a kiss on my cheek before shifting to my lips and placing the most tender kiss I think I’ve ever had in my life. I reach out to steady myself on him, but he pulls away from the kiss before it continues. I sway forward, finally finding his forearm in my Arlo haze as he lightly grabs my hips to stabilize me. He presses his forehead to mine, closes his eyes, and justsmiles.The brightest, happiest smile I’ve seen grace his face since we got married at the courthouse.
“I have to get back to work, but I’ll talk to you later,” he murmurs.
“Perfect,” I whisper. I don’t want to part ways. I want to invite him home and possibly have a repeat of the workbench fun we had, but I also know walking away is the smart decision. We need the time to figure out who we are now as a couple, not who we were back when it felt like we could work through any obstacle that came our way.
He pulls away and walks back to the sidewalk, watching me as I climb into my truck. His eyes track me the entire time as I drive away from downtown. I feel the heat of his gaze on me long after he disappears in my rearview.
A crash startles me awake.
I look at my phone and see it’s just after eleven at night, and in my sleep-confused brain, I’m trying to figure out what’s happened.
Another crash sounds and I jump out of bed, phone in hand, racing outside without another thought. I don’t immediately see anything, but I run to my workshop to see if something fell in here.
What I see when I open the door stops me dead in my tracks.
Wood chunks, splintered anddestroyedpieces cover every inch of the large space. My eyes look everywhere and nowhere at the same time, not believing what is clearly in front of my face.
Everything I had in here is destroyed.
I feel my shoulders shaking before I realize I’m crying. Not just crying, full-on hysterics. Sinking down against the doorframe, I hug my knees to my chest and let the worst of my sobs out.
The phone I just remembered I brought with me lies on the floor and I pick it up gingerly, realizing I must have dropped it, judging by the shattered screen.
