He laughs, unbothered. “You’ve been at it all week. Why don’t you just go after her?”
I stop pacing. “What?”
“You heard me. Drive down there. Bring her back.”
I shake my head, raking a hand through my hair. “She made her choice.”
He sets his mug down, eyes hardening. “She left because she thought she had to, Jack. Not because she wanted to.”
My teeth grind. “She needed to deal with her family.”
He shrugs. “And how’s that working out for her?”
I have no answer. Truth is, I don’t know.
Beth’s texts are vague at best. Her family is a nightmare. Clark’s spreading lies all over town. She’s struggling, I know that much, but how badly, I can only guess.
And guessing is killing me.
Henry sighs. “You gonna keep pretending this is fine, or are you gonna do something about it?”
I look away, jaw clenched. “What am I supposed to do? Show up and drag her home?”
He grins. “Yeah. Exactly.”
I want to snap back, but he’s not wrong.
I pull my phone from my pocket, thumb hovering over Beth’s name. Before I can text, a message flashes across the screen.
You need to come here. Now.
I stare at the name—Lori. Beth’s friend. The one who got her out of that disaster of a wedding. How’d she get my number? Whatever. Doesn’t matter.
Me:What’s happening?
Lori:She’s barely holding on, Jack. Her family’s tearing her apart. Clark won’t back off. She’s miserable.
Me:She says she’s fine.
Lori:She’s lying.
My grip tightens around the phone.
Me:Are you sure?
Lori:She needs you.
That’s it. That’s all I need.
I drop my phone into my pocket and turn toward Henry. “I’m going.”
He gives me a knowing look. “About damn time.”
I don’t wait for more. I get in my truck and head home, grab a duffel, and toss in some clothes. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone—a weekend, a week, longer. Doesn’t matter.
I’m not leaving without her, not unless she tells me, face to face, that she wants to stay.
And if she wants to come back with me, I won’t let her go again.
