He went silent and still. They’d declared their love for each other at sixteen, and she’d turned on him a year later because of a bribe. His face felt tight as he wrestled with the anger and hurt boiling inside him. Anger with Marissa, yes—but also with Andrea. At the worst point of his life, with his dad going to prison and what felt like the whole school mocking him, she’d walked away and let him face it all alone.

Marissa sighed dramatically. “I wonder what I’ll have to bribe her with this time.”

“What?” He blinked a few times, trying to remember his more recent encounters with Andrea. Laughing. Loving. Sweet. Hot.

“I said I wonder what I’ll have to bribe her with this time. I can’t let her ruin her life—and Hudson’s life—by getting involved with you Rutledges.” Her voice dropped even lower, so only he could hear. “She keeps talking about rebuilding her reputation in this town, but how can she do that with you? What will people think? Any chance she had for a promotion at the college will disappear. You will erase anything good she does. You will ruin her.”

Evie came out with Zayne’s order, but he shook his head at her, dropping a twenty on the counter. “Give it to someone else. I gotta go.”

“Zayne, don’t...” Evie’s face fell, then she glared at Marissa. “Not because of her.”

He’d never thought much about Marissa’s opinions, but in this case she was probably right. He’d ruin Andrea. He’d spent a lifetime ruining things, so why would he think their relationship would be the exception? Enough people thought like Marissa Wentworth that Andrea would always have a cloud around her if they were together. What kind of judgment would she be showing if she stayed with a guy like him?

Not to mention that Marissa could just bribe her to turn her back on him the way she did years ago. Andrea had walked before. It would break him if she walked again. No, it had to be him deciding this time. He left the diner, ignoring Hudson’s little voice calling out to him. He’d been a fool to think he could create some fairy-tale family on that farm.

He’d been a fool to think loving Andrea would be anything but a disaster for them both.

CHAPTER NINE

ANDREA LOOKED AT the text for about the twentieth time in the past hour.

Z: Can’t do the hike tonight. Don’t stop by. Busy with stuff.

“Sweetie, do you think the words are going to change if you keep checking your screen?” Tani raised an eyebrow at her. They were sitting at the bar at the Purple Shamrock. Andrea had texted Tani to meet her for a drink and for help interpreting this new development.