And all at once, the night before came crashing into her awareness.
Greyson on his knees, begging her to understand. Behind him, a suitcase stuffed with the selections from this life he’d been willing to take into his new beginning. It had been as glaringly obvious as a billboard. She hadn’t been on his packing list.
Her stomach roiled as the pounding in her head intensified, while tears welled in her eyes. She crept to the edge of the tray and eased herself down, landing in the freshly harvested soil. Stray pieces of straw were strewn across the earth. Searching the horizon for a landmark, she tried to figure out which field they were in. After spotting a lone Autumn Blaze maple on a hill in the distance, she knew they were on Agrioli land. With one last look at Toni, she silently thanked him for being a gentleman. Something his brother was apparently incapable of.
Whatever they’d gotten up to last night, he’d made sure she was warm and safe.
She aimed for the blushing point of color, knowing that her home wasn’t too far to the west. Her sanctuary. Her escape for the next however long it took to stitch her heart back together.
_____
The old screen door on the back porch creaked as she tugged it open. Coffee and freshly baked bread added their aroma to the welcoming—yellow—country kitchen. Any other day, she would’ve grabbed at the offerings. Her stomach reminded her today was not an average day.
“Lory? Is that you?” Her mother’s voice echoed down the stairwell.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, thank God.” Her pajama-clad mama rushed into the room; hair haphazardly pulled into a bun. “I haven’t slept a wink.”
“I’m sorry. I should have called.”
“No, no. Antonio let us know where you were. I could kill his brother for doing this to you.”
“He told you?” Lory squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears as her mama drew her into an embrace.
“Antonio knew we’d worry if you didn’t come home. Aw, honeypie. Grey didn’t deserve you.”
Lorelei dragged in air. “That’s not true. He’s a good man. We all knew he had dreams to chase.”
But why couldn’t he have taken her along for the ride?
Mama huffed. “Well, he should’ve gone about it with a little more care.”
Yes, he should have. Lory had been discarded along with everything else he’d left behind.
Damn, it hurts.
Her mother pressed her lips into Lory’s hair. “Oof. You smell like a brewery. Go on and get cleaned up. I’ll have some breakfast waitin’ for you.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think I can tolerate any food. I’m just gonna go to bed.”
Her mother took her time before she released the hug. “Okay, baby.”
Lorelei tried on a small smile and made her exit.
She reached the top of the stairs when Clay’s door swung open. His face was a picture of fury if she’d ever seen one. The golden tones of his skin and hair didn’t match the condemnation cloaking his tensed body. He was poised for battle, but the enemy had already retreated.
“I will hunt him down and cripple him.”
She rolled her eyes. “For being true to himself?”
“Stop being a goddamn martyr.” He pounded a fist on the wall.
Her shoulders sagged. “What would you have me do?”
“Get angry.” He tossed his hands up. “Throw some shit.”
“What’s the point?”
“It’ll make me feel better.” Gripping the top of the doorjamb, he leaned into a stretch.
“Won’t help me none.”
“So, you’re just gonna lie down and take it?”
Lowering her head, she frowned. “No. Last night, I drank myself into oblivion. Now I’m gonna catch up on sleep. And later, I’ll probably cry some more.”
Clay let his arms hang loose by his sides. “Sounds like you have it all figured out.”
“I got the next twenty-four hours sorted.” She held up her left thumb and gave a mock smile.
Shards of light glinted off her diamond ring, drawing forth a tide of emotions. Lory slammed her eyes shut and dropped her hand. Her thumb found its way to the metal band, twisting it around her finger. I can’t take it off. Not yet.
“I’m still gonna hurt him. Enjoy your hangover.” He gave her a pat on the back as he headed for the stairs.
She shook her head, turning to face her door. Her breath caught as she entered the room. The four walls surrounded her in memories of him. Pictures, gifts they’d exchanged, words both spoken and unspoken bulldozing her thoughts. She wanted to stuff them all in a trash bag and toss it in the bottom of her closet. Discard him like he’d done to her. Or maybe she could bolt for the safety of… where? Every corner of their land held fragments of a time they’d had together. She’d have to leave town to have any chance of wiping him out altogether. And even then, he was still in her heart, damn it. She couldn’t rip it out of her chest and throw it in the back of his pickup yelling, ‘Hey! You forgot something.’ The only thing she could do was down some painkillers and collapse on the bed, letting the memory reel flatten her to nothing.
This was her fault. She’d known it wasn’t solid from the start.
Eight years ago. Way back in freshman year . . .
“We spend so much time together; people think we’re dating.” Lory put the statement out there, half hoping he’d tell her she was his one and only.
“Let ’em think what they want. If it keeps the assholes away from you, what would be the harm?”
“Right. I guess.” It wasn’t exactly the answer she’d anticipated.
“So, we are dating?”
He hooked his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. “That okay with you?”
It had been more than fine. A
