Never.
And that’s the worst fucking part of all of this, I realize as my heart finally shatters.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
JOEY
Chase
Can I come over?
Joey
Why?
I want to check on you
See how you’re doing
Did Mom and Dad send you?
No
Fine
Max will want to see you
How about I come over after dinner?
That works
Itoss my phone aside and go back to making tacos for Max. It’s the only thing I have the attention span for at the moment.
Because anger and heartbreak are swirling together inside of me, and I don’t know which one is winning.
Heartbreak over losing Sam, or anger at both my dad and Sam for not letting me make my own decision.
“Mommy, can we have guac too?”
“Let me see if we have any.”
I open the fridge and it’s down to the bare bones. With everything else going on, I’ve forgotten to go to the store. Maybe I can convince Chase to watch Max so I can go without my son in tow.
“Here we go.”
I pull out a tub that is still fresh—thank God—and finish making dinner.
“I love tacos,” Max says, digging into his food.
“I’m glad.”
I ruffle his hair as I go back to the kitchen to fix myself a plate. Even though I’m not hungry.
It’s been like this for the last week. No appetite, not being able to sleep, only thinking about Sam.
Anytime he’s supposed to come to the lodge to pick up guests, he sends one of the ranch hands.
I haven’t laid eyes on him in far too long.
