“The fuck you did.”
Despite his roar of protest, there was realization in Ian’s eyes now. She could see the belief take over the shock, even as he denied it.
“It’s why you don’t remember what happened that night. Why it was so easy to convince everyone—including you—that we’d slept together.” She was going to be sick. Saying all this, confessing to the horrible sin she’d committed against them.
She was a nurse, she saved lives now. But what she’d done that night…
“Fuck.” Ian pulled Sarah closer to him. “I know your dad hated me, but I never could’ve imagined him doing this.”
“Neither could I.” Her voice broke and she stared up at Ian. “I’m surprised, and yet I’m not. Lately I’m learning my dad wasn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Ah, Sarah.” Ian pulled her into his arms and held her.
“Again, I should’ve never been so quick to assume,” Sarah whispered. “That morning when I found you, my gut screamed you’d never do that to me, but logically…”
“Hell, I was convinced I’d slept with her.”
“You didn’t. Oh my God, you didn’t.” There was joy in Sarah’s teary laugh now.
Ian joined in, his laughter filled with amazement. “I loved you too much. It never made sense. I still love you so much.”
Uncomfortable now and feeling intrusive on their moment, especially when they kissed, Hailey wanted to just back away, and leave them to wade through the discovery.
But Sarah pulled away from Ian suddenly to look at her, blushing as she seemed to remember where they were.
“Thank you, Hailey. I know you didn’t have to tell us.”
“Of course I did.” Her mouth curled into a bitter smile. “I’ve regretted my choice every day since. I’m not proud of what I did. I’m not going to make this about me and say I mourned our loss of friendship, Sarah. That’s a given.” Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she struggled to keep them back. “I regretted ruining your relationship most of all. And when I heard you were back and that you and Ian had a child, I knew I had to come clean.”
“Thank you.” Ian gave a slight nod, even as he still wouldn’t look her in the eye.
She understood. It was a break in trust. A lot to take in. There was so much emotion flowing between them at a moment.
Hailey nodded and pulled her keys from her shoulder bag. “I’ll leave now. Good luck in life.”
She turned and walked away, climbing into her car a moment later. But with her hands shaking so hard she knew it would be another couple of minutes before she should drive.
Ian and Sarah walked back to the pub, arms around each other and talking with heads together before they disappeared inside.
She’d done the right thing. She knew she had. Maybe Sarah had heard some things about her dad that were upsetting, but she now knew Ian was innocent. And that had been Hailey’s goal.
Fumbling to put the keys in the ignition, she paused when the door to the pub again swung open.
Her chest went tight at the sight of Colin McLaughlin, large and intimidating with his glower, striding toward her.
Her windows were already open due to the heat, and he curled large hands around the frame and dipped his head down to look at her.
“Let me give you some advice, Hailey.” His voice was ice and it worked in chilling her to the bone.
“Stay away from them,” he continued. “You’re nothing but trouble and you’ve got no place in their lives. Not Sarah’s, Emily’s, or any of the McLaughlins.”
Her stomach clenched at the verbal kick. He fit well into his law enforcement image. Writing her off as trouble, no doubt because of who her family had been. Even if she hadn’t seen them in years.
“Well aren’t you the protective guy in the family,” she couldn’t help but reply tightly past the hurt.
“Aye. I sure as hell am. But you don’t really want to find out through trial and error.”
She gave a laugh of disbelief, and knew she should’ve bitten her tongue as she muttered a snarky, “You sure you’re not over compensating for something by wearing that badge, Sheriff?”
His nostrils flared. “Excuse me?”
She turned her gaze away from his unsettling stare. “I’ll stay away, Colin. You don’t need to worry about me.”
No one had in years anyway. She did fine on her own, and would continue to do so.
Still, as she backed out of the parking lot, she couldn’t help but lift her gaze to the rearview.
Colin hadn’t moved, but watched after her with an even deeper scowl still.