It was heart wrenching with Caro. She’d pleaded with me not to leave before thinking things through, offering to keep me company by staying in my guest room or for me to stay with her, to give me time to fully process the situation with her support. When I refused, Caro cried in my arms, and despite being pissed at her for helping Roane lie, I’d hated hurting her.

So not only did I have Roane to blame for breaking my heart, I could blame him for the guilt I felt in breaking Caro’s heart.

Milly pushed open the door I’d left unlocked for my cab’s arrival. Even the thought of having to call a cab infuriated me. I’d never rented that car like I’d promised myself I would because I’d become solely dependent on Roane and my friends to take me anywhere I needed to go.

I’d handed over my independence to them in so many ways.

Greer was right. I’d come to Alnster to find myself, and instead I’d just lost myself in a man, and in a fantasy.

The cab wasn’t due for another half hour, but I’d thought it would be easier to wait in the store than up in the apartment that held so many memories of intimate moments with Roane.

I’d been wrong. It wasn’t easier to be down here.

Losing the bookstore was agony too.

Milly was focused on me but then something caught her attention in her peripheral vision. The luggage. Her head snapped toward it, then back to me, and her eyes widened. “You’re leaving now?”

I swallowed my guilt. “My cab is on its way.”

“Oh, Evie.” She strode toward me, determination etched in her face. “Don’t go, lass. Don’t be so rash about this. You know you belong here.”

Bitterness cut through me. “I don’t belong here. You turned me into the village entertainment.”

Milly’s face hardened. “If you knew anything about us, you’d know that wasn’t true.”

I clenched my teeth to stop myself from lashing out at her.

“Evie.” Her expression softened at whatever she saw in my eyes. “It seemed harmless at first. We all could see how much Roane liked you right off the bat, and we all heard you spouting about those silly rules. We didn’t want you to discount him for stupid nonsense like that. We wanted happiness for him. We’re protective of him. Of each other. And we let you in, Evie.” She reached out to touch my arm. “We let you in from the get-go, and that never happens, lass. We let you in because you shine so bright and you are special indeed. We knew that this place was your home before you even did. And we don’t want to lose you.”