It’s near Sawyer, and Lucy, and Roman.
My home is with Benji.
I tear through the house, making it to the front door before my father appears behind me.
“Rae! Where are you going?”
I pause at the threshold, looking at the man who still refuses to meet with my siblings. Squaring my shoulders, I face him.
“I’m going home.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and I can see the anger rippling through his body. But what do I care? What does it matter if he’s mad?
I thought we had a deal—I would accept the board position and the house, and they would come meet my siblings.
They reneged on that deal, so I’m leaving. Turning on my heels without another word, I rush out the front door, checking the time on my phone.
Cliff sees me from the garage, and he jumps into the car. He pulls up outside and I toss my suitcase in the back seat before climbing in after it.
“Airport,” I say. “My flight leaves in an hour and a half.”
He nods without a word, and I let out a sigh. My heart still hammers in my chest, but it feels calmer now. Turning around in my seat, I watch the big, sprawling mansion with the terracotta roof tiles fade into the distance. My pulse eases ever so slightly, and I lean back in the seat. I close my eyes, imagining what it’ll feel like to be in Benji’s arms again.
I say goodbye to the overpasses. Goodbye to the concrete. Goodbye to the oil and gas.
When we get to the airport, I give Cliff a hug and wish him good luck. My knee bounces as I wait in the airport lounge. My hands clench and unclench as I board the plane, and my knee goes back to bouncing as soon as I’m in my seat.
Only a few hours now. A short flight back across the country, then a drive to the airfield. If I’m lucky, the party will still be going on when I get there.
I take deep breaths that are supposed to be calming, but they only serve to make me more nervous.
I never should have come here. I never should have left Benji the day of Sarah’s party.
I should have listened to Sawyer. I should have stayed by Lucy’s side. Stayed by Benji’s side. Stayed with my family.
Isn’t that what’s always been important to me? Isn’t that what I’ve been fighting for the whole time?
The hours I spend on that plane drag on, and I dissect the past few years of my life. I think about Lucy being disowned. About Sawyer leaving. About all the sacrifices I’ve made to bring them back together.
But mostly, I think about Benji. How he makes me feel whole. How he makes me think about a brighter future.
I love him with all my heart, in a way I never thought was possible. Benji is the one who makes my heart thump. He’s the one who makes Woodvale feel like home. He’s the true reason I’m rushing back across the country.
I just hope he’ll forgive me for leaving in the first place.
As the plane touches down, my nerves ramp up. I get in a rental car and head for the airfield, a lump in my throat and my heart clenched.
I drive through the lush, green forests as a drizzle of rain coats the car, and a smile tugs at my lips. Rain can’t dampen my mood, because I’m home.
Home.
And in mere minutes, I’ll be with the man I love.
I approach the airfield and park the car, getting out to face the big hangar. There’s no music or sound of revelry, which makes my gut clench tight.
I’ve missed the party.
I stare at the big, corrugated metal hangar, knowing I made a mistake by leaving, but now’s my chance to make up for it.
Gathering all my courage, I walk to the door and peek through.
Benji has a big, black garbage bag, and he’s dumping empty glasses and cans into it. He stuffs used paper plates into it, bending over to pick up a stray decoration from the ground.
When I clear my throat, he turns his head to look at me. His eyes widen, and my heart grows.
It’s only been twenty-four hours, but it feels like a lifetime. I take a step toward him, wanting to run to him. Needing to throw my arms around him and kiss him until the end of days.
But his eyes, usually so bright, are dim. His mouth is turned down. He straightens himself up, turning to face me.
“Rae,” he says, and my heart sinks.
He’s not happy to see me. He’s not relieved or grateful I’m here.
He’s angry.
29
Benji
I’m having visions. Rae’s name rasps through my throat, scraping my vocal cords on the way out. Pain slices at my throat, and her name burns me as I say it.
Rae’s eyebrows draw together, her eyes full of sorrow and hope.
“Hey, Benji,” she says.
It’s wrong how much I love her voice. It shouldn’t be allowed. Rae stands there, looking ethereal and perfect, and I dig deeper into my own anger.
She hurt me when she left. This party meant a lot to me, but she chose money instead.
I grind my teeth together, wishing she didn’t still hold my heart. Rae takes a step toward me, sucking a breath in through those luscious lips.
My body betrays me. It wants her just as much as it did a day ago. My body yearns for her. Leans toward her. Aches for her touch, her kiss, her sex.
But right now, my mind is stronger. My rage wins.
“You’re here,” I spit.
Rae stops, coming to stand six feet away from me. She nods. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I shouldn’t have left, Benji.” Her voice is soft, and it wraps itself around my heart, squeezing painfully.
I scoff. “You think?”
“My parents…”
“I’m not really interested in hearing about your parents, Rae. It doesn’t concern me.”
“I thought I could make them come here.”
My jaw tenses as my eyes narrow. “Did they sign the house over to you?”
Silence stretches
