Chapter Fifteen
The next morning Rex and I moved our stuff into the bigger cabin. The new cabin had a rustic charm, and was even nicer than the one I’d stayed in previously. There was the warm glow of natural wood floors, with pine-paneled walls and exposed wooden beams. A small stone fireplace was on one wall, and there was a comfortable looking leather sofa and a couple of overstuffed armchairs arranged around it.
As Rex had promised, there was a compact kitchenette, well-equipped with stainless steel appliances that added a touch of modern convenience. The butcher block countertops softened the sleekness, lending a cozy, country charm to the space.
There were two bedrooms, and the larger room had a queen-size bed with a sturdy white pine bed frame, topped with a thick blue and white quilt and plush pillows. The other bedroom was mostly empty, which I appreciated. That would make setting up my art studio easier. Both rooms featured large windows that looked out over the sprawling ranch, allowing plenty of natural light to filter in.
“What do you think?” Rex asked, standing in the center of the living room. “Will this work? ”
“I think it’ll be perfect for now. Once my stuff from Billings arrives, we’ll know more about what we need in terms of space.” I moved to one of the boxes near the fireplace. The boxes were all Rex’s stuff since I only had my two suitcases with me for now. “Most of my stuff from my apartment will be put in storage.”
He put his hands on his hips, surveying the boxes stacked around the room. “I’m sorry there wasn’t a cabin big enough for you to bring all your furniture here.”
“That’s okay. We can worry about that later. Once the baby arrives, we’ll move if we need to, right?” I touched my stomach, still in disbelief that I was pregnant. “We’ll probably need three bedrooms eventually. It’s fine with only two while the baby is little, but they’ll need their own room at some point, and I’ll still need my studio.”
He moved closer and put his arms around me. He kissed me softly, his expression gentle. “We could buy a home before the baby arrives, if you’d prefer that?”
I hesitated. “I think we should wait.”
He nodded, but his expression seemed uncertain. “Is that because buying a house is such a permanent thing?”
I frowned. “No. Rex, you claiming me is already a permanent thing. At least, it is to me.”
“It is to me too. ”
“Okay, good.” I met his warm gaze. “I hesitate about buying a house because I don’t have a job yet. I don’t want you to buy the house and then I’m not really a part of it.”
“But you’re my omega. Of course you’d be a part of it.”
“I want to contribute, not live off you. I told you that before. It’s important to me that I make my own money. I’m not comfortable being taken care of.”
He wrinkled his brow. “But, I want to take care of you.”
“I like that you want to take care of me, and I’ll need that as the pregnancy progresses. But I have to feel like I could survive financially if something went wrong.”
“If something went wrong?” He narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”
I shrugged. “I just mean, if… you know… we didn’t work out or something.”
He let go of me, looking disgruntled. “Why wouldn’t we work out?”
I laughed nervously. “I just mean, we might not be compatible. We don’t know how we’ll get along living together. We barely know each other. Maybe I snore and that would drive you nuts, or maybe the way you brush your teeth will bug me.”
“Those aren’t things that break couples up. Those are small annoyances. If you’re committed, you wouldn’t let things like that affect the relationship.” He sounded agitated. “Are you having second thoughts, Tanner?”
“No.” I reached for him and grabbed hold of his sleeve. He reluctantly let me pull him closer again. “You know what I’ve been through with Steve, right? I’m sorry if I still feel scared sometimes. It’s hard to fully trust after what he did. This thing with you, it… it feels almost too good to be real. It feels too perfect. That makes me nervous.”
“But why? When you’re compatible with someone, it should feel good.”
“I… I’ve never been in a relationship that felt this … right.” I grimaced. “I guess I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“There is no other shoe. I’m exactly who I seem, Tanner.” He touched my cheek. “I promise.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I believe you. Just, be patient with me.”
“Okay. I can be patient.” He nodded. “But you shouldn’t go into this expecting us to fail. That doesn’t sit right with me.”
I didn’t like how unhappy he looked, and I slipped my arms around him, holding him close. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I didn’t mean any of that the way it sounds. I’m just hormonal and stressed. ”
“Moving in together is probably overwhelming for you.” He rubbed his hands up and down my back. “I can stay in my cabin for now if this is too much for you, Tanner.”
“What?” I looked up at him, startled. I didn’t like the idea of him not being here with me one bit. “No, I want you here.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I want you beside me, Rex.” I really did. I wasn’t just telling him what he wanted to hear. I craved his presence. “I mean it. I want you here with me.”
“Then that’s where I’ll be,” he said huskily.
“Good.”
“But I want you to know, I’ll help you no matter what. If this all gets to be too much for you, or you change your mind about me claiming you, I’ll still help you with the baby.” He cleared his throat. “Just be sure you let me know before I claim you. Because once I do that, you’re not going anywhere, Tanner.”
I shivered. “Okay. But I don’t see me changing my mind.”
He let go of me. “Now, unfortunately, I have to go help out with the guests or Mrs. Rodwell will have my hide.”
“Yes, go. I can unpack the boxes. I have nothing else to do.” I returned to a stack of boxes near the fireplace .
He grimaced. “I do feel guilty though, leaving you to do it all alone with your injured hand.”
I held up my bandaged hand. “This old thing? Why I barely even notice it anymore.”
He laughed. “Liar.”
“Go on. Go charm the guests. I’ve got this handled.” I opened the flaps of one box. “But don’t expect me to have dinner ready when you get back. I’m not a good cook with two hands, let alone one.”
“That’s fine. I have to have dinner with the guests again anyway. I’m also tending bar after dinner.” He moved to the door. “And remember, you’re welcome to join us if you get bored.”
The thought of being with Rex pleased me, but not the thought of being anywhere near Mrs. Rodwell. “Nah, I’ll just eat something here, and watch TV till you get back. I bought some cans of soup when I went into town yesterday, and there’s a new season of Below Deck on.”
“You like reality TV?” he laughed.
“I do. Is that a deal breaker?”
“Nope. No such thing when it comes to you.” He opened the door. “Oh, I keep forgetting to ask. Did you get your art supplies yesterday?”
“No, but Tom’s Hardware ordered me all the stuff I need. The rest I’ll bring back with me when we go to Billings on Saturday.”
“Sounds good,” he said distractedly. “Well, I’ll see you later tonight. ”
I nodded, a little thrill going through me at the idea of him sharing the bed with me tonight. “See you later.”
Once he was gone, I emptied the contents of my two suit cases onto the bed in the master bedroom. All I really had with me was what I’d packed for my original week-long vacation. The majority of my things would come later. I put my toiletries in the bathroom, and the dirty clothes in the laundry hamper. Next, I hung up my clean clothes in the master bedroom closet, and put my socks and briefs into the dresser.
After my things were dealt with, I moved on to Rex’s boxes. Most of his boxes held clothing and books, including a few cozy mysteries and some well-worn copies of Louis L’Amour westerns. I put the books on the shelf in the living room, and hung his clothes in the closet with mine. Once that was handled, I sat down to look through a small wooden box that had accompanied his things.
The wooden box had the initials RP burned into the lid. It occurred to me I didn’t even know Rex’s last name. I felt so comfortable with him, it still surprised me how many things we needed to discover about each other. Not only did I not know his last name, I didn’t even have his phone number because it had never come up. Yet, despite all the stuff I didn’t know about Rex, the things I did know comforted me .
I opened the wooden box and examined its contents. Inside were photos, golden cufflinks, and an expensive-looking watch. The photos were mostly of a younger Rex with another boy, along with a woman who closely resembled him. I was fairly certain the photos were of Rex’s mom and his brother, Jack, since the three of them shared the same coloring and eye shape.
I enjoyed looking through his photos, until I came across a photo of Rex with Vance. The photo looked recent as far as I could tell. My gut churned as I studied the picture, taking in the two men’s carefree smiles. I didn’t like how relaxed Rex looked with the other omega, or the way he had his arm looped around Vance’s shoulders. There was an obvious intimacy between them.
I didn’t want to overreact, but I was a little confused as to why Rex had a photo of Vance stashed alongside those of his family. That implied the picture was important to him. According to Rex, he’d never wanted anything serious with Vance, yet the only non-family photo he had in the box were of the two of them together. If there had been pictures of him with other people as well, I probably wouldn’t have thought much of it. But that wasn’t the case.
As I studied the photo of them together, my jealousy and suspicion bubbled. It had always bothered me that Vance had seemed so possessive of Rex the day we’d met. Why would he have been like that if Rex had made it clear he didn’t see Vance as anything serious? Had Rex led Vance on? Made promises he didn’t keep?
I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, Tanner. Trust me.
Rex’s words came back to me and I felt foolish for doubting him. I was feeling paranoid because of what I’d gone through with Steve. Rex hadn’t done anything to make me think he was fake. While the photo of him and Vance bothered me, I was being silly. Rex wanted to claim me. I had nothing to be jealous of. He’d picked me, not Vance as his omega. Perhaps after he claimed me, I’d feel less threatened?
With a sheepish laugh, I put the photos back in the box and closed the lid. Everyone had a past, so there was no point in getting bent out of shape over old photos. I had plenty of pictures of Steve and me tucked away at home in a closet. Though, I’d probably toss most of them when I got back to my apartment. My relationship with Steve was over for good. I had no reason to keep photos of us in happier times. Now, they were just a depressing reminder of how gullible I’d been.
Once I had the cabin straightened and organized, I decided to take a nap. My hand and head were throbbing, and I felt extremely low energy. I wanted to be alert when Rex finally got home later tonight, so a nap was just what I needed .
I fell into a deep sleep, and when I woke from my nap, I felt much better. After eating a turkey sandwich, I read for a bit. Around 4 p.m., Tom’s Hardware called to let me know my art supplies had arrived. I was surprised they’d come so quickly, but I wasn’t about to complain.
With Rex busy working, I had time to kill, so I decided to head into town to pick up my supplies. I wasn’t used to having so much free time, and there was only so much napping and sandwich-eating one could do. I needed my art to keep me occupied.
I didn’t feel right about borrowing a ranch vehicle again without asking, so I summoned my courage and headed to the main house to see Mrs. Rodwell. Her office door was open and she was sitting behind her desk looking over some ledgers.
She glanced up when I knocked softly on the door jamb. She looked surprised to see me. “Hello, Tanner. What can I do for you?” She pulled off her glasses, setting them on the desk.
“I was wondering if you’d mind if I borrowed one of the trucks again. I ordered some art supplies and the hardware store called and said they’ve arrived. Don’t worry. I won’t keep asking. I’ll have my car once Rex and I go to Billings on Saturday to get my things. I know it’s probably an inconvenience to have me borrowing the truck, so it won’t happen again after today.” I spoke quickly, stumbling over my words.
She leaned back in her chair. “Sure, you can borrow a truck.”
“Thank you.” I smiled weakly.
"No problem." She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "We can't have you walking into town in your condition, can we?"
“No, that probably wouldn’t be great.” I laughed awkwardly.
“How are you feeling after your snake bite?” She sounded sincerely interested.
“Low energy, but that might be the pregnancy too.”
She nodded, wrinkling her brow. “I suppose that’s true. I never had any children of my own so I have no experience being pregnant.”
I grimaced. “To be honest, I wish I wasn’t pregnant now.”
Her face tensed. “No, I’m sure you aren’t happy about that. Who wants to have the child of their ex? I wouldn’t. It was chivalrous of Rex to step in and save the day.”
“Yes.” She was right, but once more she made me feel like a charity case. “As you know, Rex wanted an omega and a family. He seems very happy with the situation.”
“Oh, sure.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Rex is a man who makes the best of a situation. ”
I had no idea how to respond to that.
“Was there anything else?” she asked politely.
“Well, I uh… I also wanted to thank you for getting the cabin ready so quickly for Rex and me.” I grimaced. “I know you have plenty to do with the new guests arriving yesterday.”
She lifted one shoulder. “It’s not like I cleaned the cabin myself. Sheila took care of that.”
“Right. Of course.” I inched toward the door. “Uh, thanks for letting me borrow the truck again.”
“Sure thing.” She put her glasses back on and went back to perusing the ledgers.
Feeling dismissed, I left her office and headed out to the truck. I worried I’d never get Mrs. Rodwell on my side. After that damn prune remark, I was probably in the dog house for good with her.
The keys were in the visor, so within minutes I was on my way into town. As I left the ranch behind, the road stretched out ahead, winding through rolling hills and open fields. Golden grasses waved in the gentle breeze, and clusters of pines dotted the landscape. Occasionally, a herd of cattle would come into view, grazing lazily under the wide Montana sky. In the distance, I could see the town of Red Mine nestled against the base of rugged mountains, the details of the buildings growing clearer as I drew closer .
I drove down Main Street and parked in front of Tom’s Hardware. A buzzer sounded as I entered the small shop, and an elderly woman reading a newspaper behind the counter smiled at me.
“Welcome,” she said, standing and setting the paper down. “You’re that young fella who ordered all the art supplies.”
“That’s right.” I was surprised she knew who I was.
“I remember you because I’m the only one who ever orders those types of things around here. I buy watercolor paints for my granddaughter. She just loves painting with watercolors. Our church pastor hung one of her paintings in the church as a way of encouraging her.”
“That’s fantastic. Does she sell a lot of her art?”
She cackled. “Oh, heavens no. She’s only three years old.”
“Oh.” I laughed. “I misunderstood.”
“She does want to be an artist when she grows up.” She shuffled around the counter, still chuckling. “Right now, I guess you’d say her style is abstract, but she thinks she’s painting things realistically. She’ll paint a big red blob and tell me it’s a cow, and I just nod and smile.”
“You’re supportive, that’s great. Nothing crushes creativity like criticism. ”
“I’d never criticize anything she does. She’s the apple of my eye.” She beamed. “Now, you just amuse yourself by looking around the shop while I go find your box in the backroom. It might take me a minute; we got a load in this afternoon.”
“No rush. Take your time.” I went down one of the aisles that had picture hanging hardware. Rex had some paintings I wanted to hang up in our cabin, but I didn’t have any of the stuff I needed. Rex had just used bare nails to hang the art before, but I felt like we could do better than that. I wanted to grab some heavy duty picture hangers and do it right.
I was thrilled when I actually found the hangers I needed quickly, and then I killed time wandering up and down the aisles, waiting for the clerk to return. I was standing on the plumbing aisle, lost in thought, when the buzzer over the door sounded. I glanced over distractedly and locked eyes with Vance. My stomach tensed as we recognized each other.
He didn’t look any happier to see me than I was to see him. But he did the polite thing and came over to say hi. “Hello again,” he said, his smile seeming forced.
“Hey, Vance.” I tried to sound congenial, not wanting him to catch on that I was jealous of him and Rex.
“How are you—Tanner isn’t it? ”
“That’s right.” I didn’t buy for one second he hadn’t immediately remembered my name. “I’m doing well, and you?”
“Oh, I’m peachy.” He gestured to the display of toilet plungers I just happened to be standing in front of. “Having bathroom issues?”
I grimaced at the display. “Oh, uh, no. I didn’t really notice what I was standing in front of.”
“Sure. Sure.” He smirked. “It’s okay. We all plug up the toilet on occasion.”
My face warmed. “I didn’t… plug up anything. I really didn’t know I was standing near these plungers.”
“Uh, huh.” He laughed. “Whatever you say, Tanner. Maybe try eating less roughage.”
To be polite, I laughed, even though I was annoyed by his taunting. But I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was just razzing me because he didn’t know how else to handle the awkward situation. A lot of people used humor when they felt uncomfortable.
He gestured toward my bandaged hand. “I was sorry to hear about your snake bite. You seem to be recovering well since you’re up and about.”
I held up my hand, frowning. “My hand is a bit stiff, but so far so good.”
“Snakes are a real danger out here. I’m surprised you got bit when Rex was with you. He’s usually super careful. ”
“It wasn’t his fault. I… I didn’t zip up the tent when I got out of it in the morning.”
He twisted his lips. “I see. Well, you’re a pampered city boy, after all. You don’t usually have to worry about snakes where you come from.”
“You’re right about that,” I said brightly. He was being an ass, but I wasn’t going to let him see he was bugging me.
“It’s good you weren’t hurt more seriously.” He fingered a package of mousetraps that hung on a hook over the shelves. “I don’t suppose that little accident has made you want to run back to the city?”
“No.” I didn’t think it was my imagination he’d sounded hopeful. “It was a scary experience, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Too bad.” He turned to me, his expression sly. “It’s been boring around here since you stole Rex from me.”
I stiffened, surprised at how crass he was being. “I… I didn’t steal him, Vance.”
His laugh was a little too loud. “I know. I’m just kidding. No hard feelings. Rex is a big boy and he makes his own decisions.”
Despite his words, I felt his resentment simmering beneath the surface. I tried not to let it get to me. I understood why he was upset. Losing Rex to me probably was gut-wrenching. I’d no doubt feel the same toward him if our positions were reversed. He’d known Rex a long time, and despite Rex insisting they’d never been serious, I had a feeling Vance had hoped things would head in that direction.
He cleared his throat. “So, if you’re not buying a plunger, what brings you to the hardware store?”
I was relieved he’d changed the subject. “I ordered some art supplies and they just came in.”
“You’re an artist?” His eyes flickered. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, I worked as a freelance graphic artist back in Billings. I’m hoping to keep doing art here.”
“Cool.” He studied me. “So, you’re really staying?”
“Yes. I’m definitely staying.”
He nodded amiably, but his mouth tightened . “It’s such a big decision to make so quickly.”
“It is a big decision, but I’m at peace with it.” I understood why he was surprised by my decision to move here, but he didn’t need to know all the extenuating circumstances that had led to my decision to stay. My breakup with Steve and the surprise pregnancy were none of his business.
He looked skeptical. “You don’t think being a city boy will make it difficult to adjust to life out in the middle of nowhere?”
I frowned. “I don’t think so. So far I’ve loved it here. ”
“Even though you got snake bit?” He raised his brows.
I grimaced. “That was an unfortunate accident. But bad things can happen anywhere.”
“I suppose that’s true,” he murmured.
I shrugged. “Besides, I hated living in the city. I’m looking forward to the change of scenery, and a new way of life.”
He rubbed his jaw, appearing unconvinced. “A lot of people say that, but then the isolation gets to them. They end up hating this place. Red Mine is sorely lacking in fancy restaurants and department stores.”
He was definitely trying hard to discourage me from staying, but it wasn’t going to work. The connection I felt with Rex was worth exploring. Beyond that, I needed Rex. I wanted to keep the baby, and Rex was giving me the chance to do that. He wanted me to be his omega, and we had something really good going. I was hopeful it would turn into something deep and meaningful because the connection I had with Rex was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I could see myself falling in love with him, and I wasn’t about to let Vance chase me off just because he was resentful and wanted Rex for himself.
“I think I’ll be fine. I’m not much into shopping anyway. I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet.”
“That’s great.” His smile was strained .
“Yeah,” I said cheerfully,” I think it is pretty great.”
A muscle worked in his cheek. “I hope you don’t mind that Rex and I are still going to be friends. When he told me about you two, he made it clear he wasn’t cutting me out of his life.”
“Fine by me.” That news wasn’t a huge surprise to me. Rex was a good person and good friend. He wouldn’t want to just cut Vance off completely. While I didn’t love the idea of Rex hanging out with Vance, that wasn’t my call. “You’ve known each other a long time. I have no issue with you two being friends.”
“I appreciate you understand.” He gnawed on his bottom lip. “Rex is very special to me.”
“I’m sure your friendship is very special to him too.” Sometimes I got the feeling he thought I was the one who’d suggested Rex claim me, instead of the other way around. Maybe believing that gave him hope that he still had a chance with Rex.
“We weren’t always just friends,” he said, his green eyes glittering.
“I know.” Did he think I didn’t know they’d had an on and off thing? Did he hope telling me that would ruin things between Rex and me? “I know all about your past relationship with Rex.”
His face twitched at the word “past.”
Thankfully, before he could respond, the store clerk came out of the backroom, carrying a box and two blank canvases. Her arrival was a welcome interruption because it seemed like Vance’s polite veneer had been rapidly slipping. “Sorry it took so long.” She huffed and puffed her way to the counter. “According to the invoice everything is here. You’re lucky, usually things are out of stock.”
“That’s great,” I said brightly, trying to shake off the awkward encounter with Vance.
The clerk glanced over at Vance. “Hey, Vance. Your window blinds got delayed a day. Sorry. I tried calling you but you’d already left The Whistling Pine.”
“No worries.” Vance smiled at her, then turned to me, his smile tightening as our eyes met. “Say hi to Rex for me.” He grimaced. “Oh, wait, never mind. Rex and I are having drinks tonight, so there’s no need.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed out of the shop without a backward glance.
It took everything I had not to react to what he’d just said. Was that true? Were Rex and him meeting up later? Rex hadn’t said a word about that. Had Vance just said that to rattle me? Feeling flustered, I kept my face expressionless as the clerk went around the counter to the cash register.
“Let’s see.” She pulled out an invoice book. “I see here you’ve already paid in advance, so you’re all set, Mr. Smyth.” She pushed the box and canvases across the counter toward me. “Do you need help carrying this to your car?”
“Nah, I’ve got it. I appreciate the offer, though.”
“You bet. You have a good rest of your day.”
“Thanks. You too.” Being careful about my bandaged hand, I moved to grab the box, tucking the canvases under my arm. As I headed toward the door, I felt robotic. The things Vance had said were swirling in my mind.
Once outside, I walked straight to the truck and put the supplies in the back, all the while seething. It was possible Vance might be watching me from somewhere on the street, and I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of knowing he’d upset me.
I covered the supplies with a tarp, and got in the truck, my mind racing with confusing thoughts. Was Vance making shit up, or was Rex actually having drinks with him tonight? Why wouldn’t Rex have mentioned that to me? He’d said he had to have dinner with the guests, and then he’d have to tend bar. He’d made no mention of meeting up with his ex-lover. In fact, Rex had invited me to join him for dinner tonight. Would he have done that if he was going out with Vance later?
Vance is bitter. He’s lying. Don’t believe him.
While all of that was indeed true, it was hard to shake the suspicions that ate at me. After all, maybe Rex didn’t see anything wrong with grabbing drinks with his old pal because it was harmless. But it felt strange that he wouldn’t have mentioned it earlier. He could easily have brought it up when we were moving our stuff into our cabin. Why hide it?
I started the engine and pulled out onto Main Street, my stomach churning from the encounter I’d just had with Vance. My instinct was to dismiss Vance’s anger and jealousy and trust Rex. But it bothered me that Vance seemed to feel so betrayed. If Rex had been honest with him from the start, why was Vance so antagonistic? Had Rex led him on and made promises? Vance wasn’t acting like a casual, no-strings-attached lover—he was acting like someone who felt jilted. Used.
I gripped the steering wheel, wondering if I should bring any of this up to Rex. I didn’t want to come off like I was accusing him of anything, but I would feel hurt if he was meeting Vance in secret. Especially on the first night in our new home together. That seemed unusually thoughtless for Rex.
I arrived at the ranch and noticed the guests were assembled outside. Rex and Seth were unsaddling horses, so the group must have just returned from a ride. Rex had his back to me, which I was glad of. I was still confused and flustered by my run-in with Vance. Since Rex hadn’t seen me, I was able to grab my art supplies and make my escape.
Thankfully, our new cabin was on the side of the ranch where the staff cabins were. That meant I didn’t have to pass Rex and the others, and was able to get back to the cabin without running into anyone. Once inside the cabin, I dropped the supplies on the ground and sat on the couch.
I didn’t know what to think about what Vance had said, but I wasn’t going to bother Rex when he was working. That meant I had no way of figuring anything out on my own. All I could really do was stew as Vance’s poisonous words gnawed at my confidence.
I got up and took my art supplies into my studio, then I sat on the floor with my back against the wall. I stared out the window as the sun lowered in the sky. I stayed where I was as the room darkened, feeling confused and worried. My mind drifted to the photo Rex had kept of Vance and him together. Why had he put that photo in with his special family photos? If things were just casual between them, why keep that picture in his little treasure box?
If Rex didn’t come home at a reasonable hour, did I even have the right to be upset? We weren’t a normal couple. Our situation had come about out of necessity. Rex had offered to claim me because of the unexpected pregnancy. Was it really my place to make demands on Rex ?
I wasn’t sure if I should just keep quiet about running into Vance, or if I should confront Rex about the things Vance had said. Maybe Rex would resent being questioned. What if it led to a huge fight and he decided he didn’t want to claim me after all? I’d be back to square one: pregnant, alone, and unable to get the abortion I needed.
I’d told Rex that I trusted him, but my belief in him had been shaken too easily for that to be true. I felt flustered and insecure. Perhaps Vance was only bitter and aggressive toward me because Rex had deceived and used him. Maybe Rex planned on doing that with me too, but I was too clueless to see he was playing me.
Maybe the plain truth was that no alpha could or should be trusted.