“You’re right,” Addison said. “I hurt you. I’m sorry. But at a certain point we both have to move on.”

It almost felt like one of their old fights—when they were still together. Addison’s eyes flicked up to his, and she saw it—an aching sort of affection blooming right behind his irises. This was why she refused to let go, even though everyone told her she should. She knew that he still felt something for her, and she hadn’t been ready to give up on that.

“I’ll try to stay out of your way,” she whispered, feeling utterly defeated.

“Thanks.” He propped open the door. Addison’s eyes followed the lines of his fingers, his skin more than summer dark. Fingers that used to touch her, tenderly. She forced her eyes away from his hands, focusing instead on his heather-gray T-shirt that read I got sMashed in Yarrow, Kentucky.

She snorted. Yeah, you and everyone else in this damn town. “Nice shirt,” she murmured.

River looked down at himself. When he glanced back up, his unexpected smile and soft laughter almost undid her. “I have to wear the merch when I work.”

“Not terribly funeral appropriate,” Addison said.

“Nate suggested it,” River said with a shrug as he reached down and picked up the abandoned crate. “I’ll take this in for you. I’m sure you’d rather spend as little time here as possible.”

“I don’t hate the Bonners as much as everyone seems to think,” she said. “I actually really like the bourbon. I started drinking it after…”

The words hung in the air between them. River’s eyes flashed with that revelation. He cleared his throat. “I should get going,” he said, voice thick. “I’ve got a few more things to do before the funeral.”

Addison stared after him as he walked away. Maybe this was why her tea leaves had brought her there, why the fern had appeared in her cup. It hadn’t been to help her sort out her magic at all, but to remind her the damage she’d done had been irreparable. That it was finally time to let River go. She started back toward her car, tears smarting in her eyes. She got there just as Kaden pulled in next to her, his eyes darting from Addison to the now-closed barn door.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” she said as she quickly fumbled to put her sunglasses on.

“You all right?” he asked. “That guy say something to you?”

She didn’t really know this man, but if the universe had sent him to her mother, then maybe he’d been sent to her, too. Either way, it was nice to feel seen.

“We used to be together. I…” She blinked to stop the tears. It didn’t work, so she started picking at her fingernails. “I messed things up, did things I can never take back.”