I touched the pedal, and the van slid backward.
I would leave, but I wasn’t giving up. Fuck that.
I’d give her space but not much. Maybe her head would clear, and she’d realize I would never hurt her. There was no way I was going to Montana without her. My mate was here, and I would be here, too.
I told her I’d always watch over her, and I fucking meant it.
I just needed to figure out a way to show her she could choose me and still have that measured, contained life she craved to feel safe.
But fuck–how did I do that?
I gritted my teeth as I drove away.
I needed to go back to the mountains to run. Then I would figure out how to salvage the tender pieces of what we were starting to build.
32
BROOKE
* * *
“Hey, it’s okay.” Casey put her arm around my shoulders. I stood in the middle of the kitchen. I didn’t even remember walking into the room.
I sucked in deep breaths, trying to stop the tears.
“I know. I did the right thing.” I bobbed my head like I was trying to convince her.
I guessed I was trying to convince myself.
“Totally.” Casey grabbed a napkin and handed it to me. “But are you…sure this is what you wanted? You seem pretty upset.”
Fresh tears spilled down my face. I mopped them with both hands and the stupid napkin. “Yeah,” I croaked.
“I definitely didn’t think you should go to Montana with him. That would be crazy. You did the right thing pulling out of that plan. But…”
I hiccuped in a breath and looked at her with watery eyes. “But what?”
She shrugged. “I just wondered if you overcorrected. I mean, by totally breaking things off with him.”
I shook my head vehemently. “No, I’m sure.” I reached out, grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze. “I mean, you were right. I barely knew this guy. I was acting like my mom, ready to play house with the first guy who showed an interest in me. That’s nuts. And he wanted me to move to Montana with him. So what? I’m going to quit my job, leave my whole community behind to live with him? That’s not just crazy, that’s unhinged.”
“That’s definitely your mom,” Casey said in total understanding.
“Exactly.”
“It’s not like you could say, let’s take it slow and see where this thing is going, since he doesn’t live here. Montana’s not around the corner.”
“Right! All of Wyoming is in the way.”
“Yeah. So I guess you chalk it up to a really exciting fling.” Casey’s voice was soft with sympathy. Probably because I was still hyperventilating. “You said the sex was good, so a really amazing fling.”
“Yeah.” I bobbed my head. I threw my arms around her for a hug. “Thanks for pulling me back from the ledge.”
She hugged me back but still looked concerned when she pulled back. “Are you going to be okay? I mean, for a fling, you’re really upset. His dick must have been incredible.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Incredible.”
Now what? I looked around.