Cut Too Deep(51)

She wrenched away. “Get the fuck off of me, Ryker. Just leave me alone, I mean it. I’ve had enough of men lying to me and manipulating me to get what they want. Stay the hell away from me.”

Jenna ran from the house, down to the street, and headed toward town. She kept her head low, fighting the urge to turn around and see if he was following her. Though she was horribly hurt, it was the idea of breaking up with Ryker that hurt the most.





Chapter Nineteen





Though Jenna trudged down the main route into town, barely a single car drove past her and none of them were cabs. The hour was late enough for everyone who was going to work to be in already, and the school run had ended an hour ago. She kept her eyes peeled for any sign of a cab office, but in this suburban area, she was lucky to pass so much as a convenience store.

The sun beat down on her head. Her bags grew heavier with every step, and pulled down on her shoulders, the straps digging into her skin. Her stomach ached with a sickening, hollow sensation. She’d not eaten anything yet that day, but what she felt was more than just hunger. She felt as if her insides had been torn out and she was little more than a shell. Ryker lying to her was a betrayal of her trust, and more than anything she’d wanted to trust him. Plus she was hurt that he hadn’t believed how serious this thing was with Garrett. It was as if he’d thought she was some hysterical woman over-exaggerating. Ryker not taking her seriously hurt as much as him lying to her. He’d taken her choices away from her and manipulated her to get what he wanted, yet still her heart ached for him. Was this really it? Was she about to walk away from him forever?

She felt so torn. Going back to him would be like telling him what he did was okay. After the quite literal car crash of her last relationship, she needed for the man in her life to know she wouldn’t be pushed around.

Then there was Garrett. Even if Ryker thought she was exaggerating, she knew her ex-boyfriend was near. Ryker could explain away everything with coincidences, or jealous wanna-be girlfriends, or angry little brothers, but in her heart, she knew Garrett was close.

What else could she do but leave?

Though she’d walked a good mile now, still she saw no sign of any cabs. Jenna gave a sigh and came to the decision that she’d reach the garage herself before she happened upon one, so she gave up and decided to walk the couple of miles.

Her t-shirt clung to her skin with sweat. She did her best to hold back her emotions, but the occasional tear escaped her eye and slipped down her cheek. The day was too hot for her to be walking any distance. Her thighs chafed on the inside of her pants, and the underwire in her bra started to rub. Her throat felt like a huge painful ball had lodged inside it, and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

Another couple of blocks on, she finally passed a convenience store, and her dry mouth and empty stomach forced her to stop. She pushed open the door and entered the air-conditioned shop, grateful to be out of the heat. She selected a bottle of water from the chiller cabinet and a breakfast sandwich, which she nuked in the microwave. She was tempted to eat and drink while standing in the air-conditioned store, but decided that would look weird, so she took her items back into the sunshine and walked a little farther before finding a bench to sit on. A park was opposite, where a couple of mothers chatted while their small children chased each other around the slides and climbing frames. The scene made Jenna sad. Would she ever have that? A family of her own. It was all she’d ever wanted from life, just a man who loved her and a couple of children. A simple existence. Her life was so complicated.

She cracked open the water and gulped down half the bottle, before unwrapping her sandwich and demolishing it in several bites. She wished she was one of those people who found themselves unable to eat when they were upset, but she went the other way. The food comforted her, made her feel warm and loved, and she considered going back inside for one of the cherry cake donuts with chocolate frosting that had been in the cooler.

No, she didn’t need a donut. It would only delay her getting to the garage, and she’d already been walking for ages. Jenna hauled herself back to her feet and lifted her bags. At least now she was hydrated and had something in her stomach, physically she felt a little better. She started her walk again.

Why hasn’t he followed me?

She kept hoping Ryker would come after her, and every car that drove by made her heart leap, praying it was him. All the walking left her with plenty of time to think, and she found herself fighting herself in her head.

She imagined him telling her there had been a huge mistake and he’d misunderstood about her car being ready, so it hadn’t been a deliberate lie after all. But as she grew closer and closer to the location of the garage, she had to admit to herself that he wasn’t going to follow her.