I let the car ease back a few inches so she knows I’m serious about leaving. She finally takes a step back to prevent the door from hitting her. Once she’s out of my way, I whip out of the driveway so fast the passenger door closes on its own.

Good fucking riddance.

7. Dempsey

Chapter 7

Dempsey

I use my key to let myself in the front door, then call out his name to make my presence known so I don’t startle him this late at night.

“Jake!”

I don’t have to wander far—he’s still perched at the end of the bar, focused on his laptop.

He gives me a nod as I approach, then holds a finger up in my direction, his gaze shifting from the computer screen to the phone in his other hand.

“Dammit, Jake. I need to talk to you now.”

I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to be. I just need to know I’m not going crazy before I take my sorry ass home and put this whole night to rest.

“Just hold on,” he grits out without looking up from his phone.

I grip the edge of the bar to stop myself from pacing as he types out a message and sends it off before finally giving me his full attention.

“I wasn’t trying to brush you off, bro. I just had to let Cory know I might be later than planned.”

Okay, fair. But I need answers. And I’m fading fast. I shift closer and lean my forearms on the back of a barstool rather than take a seat beside him.

“That girl tonight… that girl was Wheeler’s sister.”

I don’t pose it as a question. I’m honestly embarrassed I didn’t connect the dots sooner.

Jake runs a hand through his hair and looks at me like I’m dense. “Um, yes. You heard me call her Fourth Wheel, didn’t you?”

I hang my head in shame. I heard it. I even wondered what it meant. But I never dreamed the “Wheel” stood for Wheeler.

I drop my chin to my chest and shake my head, eventually glancing up at my friend when he clears his throat.

“I had no idea she was Rhett’s sister.”

Jake’s eyes grow wide as he stares at me, unblinking, then his face morphs from shock to confusion before it finally settles on disbelief.

“How have you never met Maddie?”

Hearing her name spoken out loud for the first time breaks something inside me. I’m at war with how I feel right now—I’m at war with how she made me feel tonight.