My anger ebbed, though my jaw was still clamped shut. Because I understood. I hated that I understood, and I hated that I gave a fuck.

But I did.

“I don’t love you,” I said in a tone that brooked no argument.

She nodded at her shoes.

“And I can’t help you. Not anymore.” My heart ached, twisting and tight. “You have to figure this out yourself. And we both need to move on.”

Another nod, a sniffle. “I’m sorry, Luke. I’m so sorry.”

I fought the urge to soothe her, my mind occupied with imaginings of what she’d do on her own. And even now, even after all this.

“I wish you’d come to me and told me the truth. Because I could have helped you without all this. But you’ve gone too far. It’s all gone too far.”

“I thought I could get you back. I … I didn’t know you’d moved on.”

“Wendy,” I said, taking her by the shoulders, waiting for her to meet my eyes. “We will never get back together. Do you understand?”

Sheer and utter sadness touched every angle and plane of her face. “I understand.”

And for the first time, I actually believed she did. But this time, I wouldn’t wait for proof.

Not with my own life to look forward to.

24

A Certain Faith

TESS

“I don’t know how you’ve avoided him,” Ivy said into a bucket of rhododendrons.

“I don’t know either.” And it was both a blessing and a curse. I found I didn’t want him in the zip code just as desperately as I wanted him to walk through those doors, just so I could breathe his air.

I’d spent the last days looking for answers by avoiding all the questions. I wondered if seeing Luke would jar something loose. If he’d walk through the doors and the clouds would break, shining light on him like a saint in a burst of divine intervention. But I had convinced myself that seeing him, talking to him beyond the few cursory texts we’d exchanged, would only confuse things more.

The last thing I needed was more to be confused about.

“Marcus has been keeping him out of the shop, and Mrs. Bennet too. He’s so deep in the doghouse, he’ll be making it up to her for years. But I figured he’d find ways to come see you anyway.”

“I asked him not to, and he said he wouldn’t,” I said quietly and with a touch of regret.

Ivy watched me, though her hands moved flowers to a pile on the table. “Have you heard from him?”

A nod, just one. “We’ve texted some. The … the doctor’s appointment is today.”

She groaned. “Oh God. No wonder you’ve been so quiet. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I rolled a shoulder. “Because I didn’t really want to talk about it.”

“Tess, I know it feels safer to board up your shutters and lock yourself away from everyone, but you don’t have to go through all this by yourself. You don’t have to carry the burden alone.”