Of all the things he had feared Donna might tell him, this was not it. He knew it was true, now that he saw all Clare’s work in the proper light. With the appropriate thematic framework that Donna had so helpfully painted, it was undeniable. He was in awe of his wife, worshiped her talents, respected her work ethic, longed always to be near her, in her extraordinary presence. He loved her.

He had loved her too much.

But he had never known her.

Chapter 26

Lost on the North Platte

By Clare Kaczanowski

Sitting next to him, bouncing gently on his truck’s old seat, Clare racked her brains for a way to turn the hostile mood in the truck’s cab around before they reached the party. It had been her idea to go, because she thought he would like it. That he would have fun and would enjoy hanging with their friends and celebrating the end of their senior year. But just thinking about showing up at Heather’s, and having to endure her and the bitchy posse of friends, it had soured her mood and made her regret suggesting they go.

“Do you want me to take you home?” he asked her again.

Clare looked sideways across the seat at his profile. “I thought you wanted to go,” she said.

“Oh, I am going.” He glanced at her for a second before returning his eyes to the rutted dirt road in front of them. “I asked if you want me to take you home.”

Her breath stopped in her chest. If she needed any further evidence that she and Adam were shifting into completely unknown territory, here it was. His words, his tone, his utter lack of emotion recently—it felt almost like a slap. She had no idea how to change the atmosphere between them, but she needed to figure it out, and fast, if she had any hope of following through on what she wanted to get accomplished tonight.

She had changed her mind, and she needed to let Adam know as soon as possible, but with their relationship teetering on the brink of near-constant conflict, there didn’t seem to ever be a good time to bring up what she wanted to say. Adam, I was wrong. Yes, please, I want to marry you. I want to be your wife. I want us to be together now and forever, just like it’s always been.

“No, I’m good.” Her tone was light and sounded fake in her own ears. “I’ve just never really gotten on with Heather and her friends, but there’s no reason why we can’t still go and have a good time with our friends.”

“You never gave Heather a chance,” Adam suddenly said. “Just because she was homecoming queen—is that really a reason to hate someone?”