“Every one of them,” she agreed. “It’s the story of my life. When I was younger, I even lost my childhood best friend. She moved across the country. Although it was her parents’ decision and not her fault, it still hurt a lot.”

He gazed at her for a moment and then said, “But that’s not all, right? There’s someone else who left.”

“Well, yeah. But I already told you about my mom dying when I was six.” Just mentioning it had sadness spiraling through her.

He nodded. “I know, but that’s different. It’s not the same as someone leaving. She didn’t have a choice, and you can’t really blame her for that either.”

“I know.”

He gave her a yeah, right look.

“Okay, fine. Deep down I know that. Or rather the adult in me knows. But to the six-year-old inside of me, it still feels a little like she left. Not on purpose, but that doesn’t make her any less gone.”

His eyes softened. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know my mom would’ve stayed with me if she’d had a choice, unlike…” Her words trailed off.

Adam raised a brow. “Unlike who?”

Of course he latched on to that. Figured. “No one.”

“Who else left you? You’re leaving someone out.”

She hesitated. “Well, my dog ran away from home when I was younger,” she said, laughing uneasily.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Come on, Preslee. I’m being serious.”

“Me too. My dog really ran away from home.”

“But that’s not what you were talking about. Someone didn’t want to stick around. Who was the person who had a choice and left anyway?” He gazed at her intently. “Who hurt you so badly?”

Horror spiked through her, and she bit into her lip to keep it from trembling. “No one.”

“Was it a man?”

She shook her head and lowered it as anger and sadness mingled inside her. “I told you. It’s no one.”

“Then why won’t you look me in the eyes?”

Preslee lifted her gaze to meet his and blinked back a tear. “There. Are you happy now? Let it go, Adam.”

He sighed. “Why won’t you tell me? Maybe I can help.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to forget the whole thing.” She motioned toward the door. “Why don’t we just go back to the bar?” She turned away from him to face the front door as she contemplated bolting through it. “I told you I don’t want to talk about this. Just leave it alone already. Please.”

“Sweetheart, this is something that clearly still bothers you. Let me help. Tell me who hurt you.”