Her husband was a good man, a product of his upbringing, and so far out of her sphere that even if she wanted them to live happily ever after, they never could. The mere thought of going back to Baton Rouge made her want to run again. But she wasn’t running anymore.
Snow had found a life here in Ardent Springs, and it did not include a husband. That meant Caleb had to go. She had to make him go. She’d cried for a week after leaving him a year and a half ago, and she would likely cry again when they ended for good. But cutting things off as quickly as possible would prevent her losing her heart completely. At this stage, she might recover. If Caleb kept giving speeches like the one he’d laid on her today, Snow was a goner for sure.
Self-preservation could be a powerful motivator. And right now, Snow was desperate for any kind of lifeline.
“Snow, are you in there?” yelled a voice through the back door, followed by three hard thumps.
Lorelei.
“I’m coming,” she yelled back, crossing the storeroom to unlock the door. “Why didn’t you come to the front?” Snow asked as Lorelei stepped inside.
“I tried, but it was locked.”
Snow checked the clock on her desk—12:02 p.m. Crap.
“Sorry. I was distracted and lost track of time.”
Lorelei followed Snow as she headed for the front door. “Does the distraction have anything to do with, say, your incredibly hunky husband?”
“Lorelei, I—”
“Not that I blame you for not getting any sleep last night. Holy heck.” The blonde made a purring noise. “Don’t get me wrong. Spencer is hot, and I don’t want anyone else, but girlfriend, that man of yours is smokin’.”
Snow ignored the bubble of pride that formed in her chest. “Yes, Caleb is pretty to look at, but I got plenty of sleep last night.” Slept better than she had in months, but she ignored that fact as well. At this rate, she’d be the queen of denial in no time.
“You mean you didn’t—” Lorelei stepped in front of Snow, putting her back to the front door before the lock could be turned. “Are you telling me you didn’t jump that man’s bones as soon as I locked this door for you? You’re welcome for that, by the way.”
On a sigh, Snow said, “There are . . . issues.” She reached for the lock, but Lorelei blocked her again.
“You mean he can’t . . .” Her friend held up one finger, bent at the knuckle.
“No!” Snow exclaimed. “Caleb can get it up just fine, thank you very much. Now let me unlock this door.”
Lorelei finally moved. “You know, if you’d gotten laid last night, you might not be so grumpy today.”
With an evil glare, Snow said, “When you rolled into town in June, did you jump Spencer’s bones right away?”
The sheepish look said it all. “That was different. Spencer and I weren’t married. And we had things to work out.”
“Exactly,” Snow said. “Caleb and I have things to work out. And if everything goes to plan, he’ll be leaving town soon.”
“You’re leaving town?”
“Of course not. I said he’ll be leaving town. A-lone.”
“Oh.” Lorelei grew serious. “You’re talking divorce. So this is more than some lovers’ spat.”
“Much more,” Snow answered. “Caleb and I don’t fit together. We’d known each other only two months before waking up in a Vegas hotel suite wearing matching rings. It’s all a lust-hazed blur when I think about it now.”
“I don’t blame you on the lust thing. That boy is—”
“Please stop pointing out how hot my husband is,” Snow said, pulling the cash drawer from the safe. “I’m aware. But there’s more to marriage than sex.”
Lorelei leaned an elbow on the counter, balancing her chin in her palm. “Were you drunk?”
“Excuse me?” Snow blinked in confusion. “Was I drunk when?”
“The night you got married.”
“No,” Snow said. “I’d had a glass of wine, maybe.”
“Then if you didn’t want to get married after knowing him for only two months, why did you?” Lorelei gave a quick shrug. “There had to be a reason, and it doesn’t sound like he forced you into it.”
Caleb hadn’t forced her into anything. Snow took the treacherous journey back in time to the night she and her hunky boyfriend had sprinted to the nearest wedding chapel, high on young love and the giddiness of total freedom. She’d felt like they owned the world that night. Like there was nothing that could break them apart.
And then something did.