Shine Not Burn(77)

“You’ve got it all figured out, huh?” My voice went all weak and I hated myself for it. He was offering me an out. Blanket forgiveness for all my sins. And I, in return, would have to offer him the same. I wondered what his sins might be, considering how magnanimous he was being. I was sure I didn’t really want to know.

He sounded excited now. Almost endearing in a way. “Yeah, I’ve got it all figured out. That’s why you love me, right? Lifeplan, babe. You’re the one who turned me on to all of that stuff. Am I or am I not the only guy you’ve ever been with who can appreciate the lifeplan?”

I nodded sadly. “Yes, you are. And I think that’s why we have to break up.”

“What?! Fuck that. No, I don’t accept that. We’re not breaking up. Being apart is not an option.”

“Bradley, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Seriously. I screwed up big time … too much to fix it. You deserve better than me. I don’t love you like I should. I’ve come to admire you and look past your issues, but that’s not enough.”

“You don’t marry someone you just admire. You love me, Andie. You’ve said it a thousand times. And you agreed to marry me.”

“I don’t think I knew what love meant when I said it, though.”

“Until now? Until you screwed that redneck? Please.”

“He’s not a redneck. Listen, I have to go.”

“I’m coming out there, Andie.”

My heart stopped beating for a full three seconds. “No! Do not come out here Bradley.”

“Either you come home so we can get this wedding over with, or I’m coming out there. Don’t worry … I’m sure I can convince the guy to give you a divorce once we’re face-to-face.”

“Bradley, no. I’m not kidding. This is non-negotiable. We’re through. I’m sorry to have to say it over the phone, because I know how much that sucks, but I’m serious. We are not getting married and you cannot come out here.”

“You’re not yourself, Andie. You’ve been under a lot of stress, and that’s my fault. I take full responsibility, putting all the planning in your lap and bullshitting around with … stuff. But I’m not going to let my investment in you and in us go down the drain. I’m booking a ticket. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“NO!”

My shouting was in vain. He was already off the line.

“Shit fuck shit fuck,” I moaned, desperately pushing buttons on my phone. “Come on, Ruby, pick up, pick up, pick up…”

“Hello, you’ve reached the voicemail for Ruby, assistant to attorney Andrea Marks…”

I hung up the phone, dialing Candice next.

“Hi, this is Candice, you know what to do! —BEEP—.”

I threw the phone down on the bed. “Dammit!”

“Anything I can help with?” Maeve was standing in the doorway, and I had no idea how long she’d been there.





Chapter Twenty-Nine





QUICKLY BRUSHING THE TEARS OFF my cheeks, I looked up at Maeve standing in the doorway of Ian’s room. “Oh, hi. I didn’t see you there.” I cleared my throat to get the frog out of it.

“I just got in from collecting eggs. I have to head into town to get some things for the picnic. Would you like to join me?” Her expression told me nothing about whether she’d heard any of my conversation.

I looked around the room and at my phone, Bradley’s threat weighing heavily on my mind. What if he really comes out here? How would he find me? I’m out in the middle of nowhere.

Underestimating his determination would be a mistake, I knew that. I had to be on my way back to the East Coast before he got here. It would be the only way to avoid a huge, ugly scene.

“I think I’d better stick around here,” I said. “I need to talk to Mack.”

“Well, Mack’s in town, so if you want to talk to him, best come with me.” She left the room before I had time to argue. The conversation Mack and I needed to have wasn’t one to engage in with his mother standing nearby, but the idea of waiting around the ranch for him to show up who-knows-when was even less appealing. If I found him in town, maybe I could make him take me somewhere private where we could finally end this thing as painlessly as possible.

I grabbed my satchel, slipped on the moccasins Maeve had loaned me last night, and followed the sound of her footsteps going down the stairs.

“I’m just going to throw some other clothes on,” I said.

“I’ll be outside,” she responded from the porch.

I grabbed my overnight bag from the floor and pulled out a t-shirt and shorts, slipping them on in the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and did what I could with my hair before joining Maeve outside.