Chapter 32
brOOKE
“Hey, it’s okay.” Casey put her arm around my shoulders. I stood in the middle of the kitchen. I didn’t even remember walking into the room.
I sucked in deep breaths, trying to stop the tears.
“I know. I did the right thing.” I bobbed my head like I was trying to convince her.
I guessed I was trying to convince myself.
“Totally.” Casey grabbed a napkin and handed it to me. “But are you…sure this is what you wanted? You seem pretty upset.”
Fresh tears spilled down my face. I mopped them with both hands and the stupid napkin. “Yeah,” I croaked.
“I definitely didn’t think you should go to Montana with him. That would be crazy. You did the right thing pulling out of that plan. But…”
I hiccuped in a breath and looked at her with watery eyes. “But what?”
She shrugged. “I just wondered if you overcorrected. I mean, by totally breaking things off with him.”
I shook my head vehemently. “No, I’m sure.
” I reached out, grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze.
“I mean, you were right. I barely knew this guy. I was acting like my mom, ready to play house with the first guy who showed an interest in me. That’s nuts.
And he wanted me to move to Montana with him.
So what? I’m going to quit my job, leave my whole community behind to live with him?
That’s not just crazy, that’s unhinged.”
“That’s definitely your mom,” Casey said in total understanding.
“Exactly.”
“It’s not like you could say, let’s take it slow and see where this thing is going , since he doesn’t live here. Montana’s not around the corner.”
“Right! All of Wyoming is in the way.”
“Yeah. So I guess you chalk it up to a really exciting fling.” Casey’s voice was soft with sympathy. Probably because I was still hyperventilating. “You said the sex was good, so a really amazing fling.”
“Yeah.” I bobbed my head. I threw my arms around her for a hug. “Thanks for pulling me back from the ledge.”
She hugged me back but still looked concerned when she pulled back. “Are you going to be okay? I mean, for a fling, you’re really upset. His dick must have been incredible.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Incredible.”
Now what? I looked around.
“Want me to stay?”
I shook my head as I remembered she’d just gotten off a work flight.
“I’m good.” I wasn’t, but her sticking around wasn’t going to change that.
“Okay. I’ll get out of your hair. But if you need me, give me a call, okay?
” Casey looked like she was still worried for me even as she took one last look at me before she walked out the door, which didn’t make sense.
She came here to tell me not to go to Montana with Roy.
I heeded her warning. I saved myself from… myself.
I should feel relieved.
I slapped my hand over my mouth to smother a sob.
Why, then, does it feel like I broke my own heart in a million pieces?