Page 29 of The Scars We Heal

“Actually, it’s funny you mention summer help, because Caitlin and I are moving to Washington.”

Five heads snapped toward him, some with expressions of blatant disbelief.

Maggie’s brows shot up. “Oh?”

He nodded, leaning back into his chair was a satisfied smirk. “Yeah, I got a job with an investment company out there. They’re very excited to have me. They want me to start right away.”

Chip cleared his throat. “Thought Caitlin wanted to stay here in Goldfinch.” It was more of a gruff statement than a question, because it was true. In every conversation I’d had with her, she wanted to stay in Montana so she’d be able to visit home.

Adam shrugged. “Yeah, well, she doesn’t have a job offer lined up, so it made the most sense for us to go where my work will be. And my family’s out there, too. You know how it goes.”

Silence fell over the table, and I stuffed my burger into my mouth so I didn’t say something rash.

“Oh my God! Caitlin, what is that on your hand? Don’t tell me. Is that a ring?” one of her friends across the room squealed, breaking the silence, and my heart lurched.

Adam laughed, scootching his chair back, the sound of the legs scraping on the floor like nails on a chalkboard. “That’s my cue.” He walked over to Caitlin and her friend, taking Caitlin’s left hand in his to pull her to the front of the room. “I was going to make a formal announcement, but Shannon just had to spoil the surprise.” He made it seem like a joke, but deep down I knew Adam Holmes was probably pissed that someone had stolen his big moment.

Caitlin’s cheeks flushed. She had never been one for wanting—or needing—the spotlight. Caitlin was okay with not being the center of attention. Though, in the time I’d known her, she’d been the center of mine.

“Sorry, not sorry!” Shannon sing-songed.

“Well, now that we have everyone’s attention,” Adam’s voice grew louder, booming. “Before we got here, I asked Caitlin to marry me. I would have loved to get a ring on her finger sooner and have my last name on both of our degrees, but I was a patient guy”—this got some laughs out of the crowd, but I had to fight the disgust from displaying on my features—“and by the grace of God, she agreed to be my wife.”

Colter shifted uncomfortably in his seat beside me, glancing over at me every so often as if to gauge my reaction. Finally, after the fifth time, I shot him a glare that would make even a U.S. Marine wither back.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“It’s fine,” I clipped, remorse immediately washing over me for snapping at my best friend.

People swarmed Caitlin and Adam. Questions like, “Do you have a date?” and, “Where are you going to get married?” and, “Can I see the ring?” filled the room.

Bile rose in my throat, burning and bitter on my tongue.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Adam staring off in our direction. When I finally turned my head and made eye contact with him, his lips curled up in a cocky smirk. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, but the message was received.

Adam got the girl. The one who called me on nights when she was stressed about her final exams. The one who texted me randomly during the day just to say hi.

Not only was he moving her a thousand miles away to Washington, but he was also marrying her.

The stupid grin on his face, aimed directly at me, told me he knew he’d won, and there was nothing I could do, because who was I to interfere if he truly made her happy? I’d swallow my pride for Caitlin’s sake, even if it made me nauseous.

Across the room, my eyes caught on Caitlin’s for a split second before she tore hers away.

I was going to be sick.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

caitlin

PRESENT DAY

Awarm breeze blew across the fairgrounds in Goldfinch, the temperature rising more and more as the day went on. The sun beat down on the metal bleachers, and I was glad I’d brought sunscreen for Whitley.

The strong scents of livestock, fried food, and dust wafted through the air as the rodeo announcer boomed over the loud speaker, introducing and cheering on the cowboys participating in today’s competition.

Ellison sat on my left, and Juniper—Mikey’s girlfriend—was to my right with Whitley standing on her thighs, bouncing with excitement as she watched the arena.

She loved all the animals, but especially the horses. A girl after my own heart.