Page 47 of Winning Her

I huffed a small laugh. “I don’t know about that. I mean, he’s changed over the years since I’ve known him, but there are parts that are familiar. I might know him better but it’s not by much. But he… started making promises this time, and that’s probably the scariest part. I know they’re not things he can give me.”

There was a short silence, and I wondered what Emily was thinking. My own thoughts were replaying last night, from when Trent showed up at my door and asked me to stay, then started giving out praises like he actually believed everything he was saying. It… all had to be a lie, right?

“I see,” Emily finally said, her voice tight. “And there’s absolutely no way for you to change your mind?”

I shook my head slowly. “I don’t think that would be possible at this point, Emily. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about any of this before.”

“It’s fine, I understand,” she said. “He’s my brother, of course it would be awkward for you to speak to me about him. As much as I don’t like this, I wish you luck, Jessi. Keep in touch, okay?”

“Thanks, and you too.”

With that, we hung up. I wiped away the fresh tears, took a deep breath, and drove on.

My destination was Myrtle Beach, and it was a six-hour drive to the new hotel I’d be working at. I just wanted to get there and start getting settled in. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things, like where I would stay and what my position there would be in the kitchens, because there was always some hierarchy. But right then, I just wanted to get out of the car.

I had a week. When the manager told me, I’d wanted to let him know that I wouldn’t need it, but I got it anyway. I would have a week to change my mind, if I wanted to stay at the new hotel or go back to Charlotte, but I doubted I would.

As abrupt as it was, I knew I needed this change. And besides, after I’d set it all up, it was too late to change my mind, wasn’t it? What would be there for me to go back to anyway, now that I’d actually left? Trent would be annoyed with me after I stole away for a second time while he slept. It would do me no good.

Even if Emily said I could change my mind, there was no point now. With all the rumors I’d left behind, I could just imagine what the staff would come up with if I suddenly came back after a transfer. And even if I was making a mistake, it was made. If I went back and Trent ripped into me for it, I couldn’t take that any more than him not keeping the promises he’d made to me.

You’re doing the right thing, I told myself. It was the only thing I could have done in the situation I was left in.

I truly believed that. But… why did I keep looking in the rearview mirror? There was no way someone would be coming after me to stop me, to get me to go back. I knew that logically, but the further I got from my hometown, the more my heart dropped.

It was my fault for having expectations. It’s time to move on… to my new, boring life.

19

Trent

It was just about lunch, and I’d paused working for the time being. After a moment of sitting back with my eyes closed to relax, I sat up and reached for my phone.

Still nothing.

How busy could she be that she wouldn’t even reply to my texts? Or was she going to go back to ignoring me, as she had before? Even after last night? I’d thought things would be different, but was it just me?

Fuck, I thought to myself as I came to a realization. I am such an idiot.

How exactly were things supposed to change for the better between us? I hadn't even talked to her about things yet.

I need to talk to her, I decided. Right now.

I didn’t know if she’d be on her break or not, or if she would still be in the kitchens. But I decided to give it a try, and picked up my phone to call her. I would have to come up with an excuse for how I got her number. Considering how prickly I knew she could be, it would be less weird if I asked someone for her number than if I got it using my standing in the company.

Before I could dial the number, the door opened with enough force to slam it against the wall, making me look up. I was surprised to note my unexpected visitor was my half-sister.

“Emily,” I said, putting my phone down. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Trent.”

The way she said my name made me look at her a little more closely, and I only then noticed how she was trembling. She had her hands fisted at her sides, her eyes were narrowed at me, and her lips were pressed flat.

“You look livid,” I muttered. “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen with Dad?”

She growled at me, and it was shocking enough that my eyes widened. I was pretty good at keeping my composure around other people in most situations, but I was caught off guard right then.

“Why the fuck are you still sitting on your ass, huh? Get up! You’ve got places you need to be.”