Chapter 8 #2
I sigh heavily. “I really don’t want to see him right now.”
But I can’t leave Max wandering around loose either. What if he runs into traffic? What if he gets lost in the woods? Luke would be devastated, and despite everything between us, I can’t let that happen.
“Fine,” I mutter, picking up his leash. “But we’re making this quick.”
The walk to Luke’s cabin feels longer than usual, every step taking me closer to a confrontation I’m not ready for. Max trots beside me happily, completely oblivious to my internal turmoil.
When we reach the clearing, I stop dead.
There’s a silver BMW parked in the front and Luke’s truck is missing. Standing on his front porch in a designer coat and high-heeled boots that are completely inappropriate for a forest clearing is the last person I wanted to see.
Brittany Chase.
She’s even more beautiful than I remember—blonde hair perfectly styled despite the morning humidity, makeup flawless, everything about her screaming money and privilege. She turns when she hears my footsteps, and her face immediately shifts from surprise to something cold and satisfied.
“Well, well,” she says, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Max immediately moves closer to my legs, his body tense. I can feel the change in him—the way his muscles coil, ready to spring.
“I’m just returning his dog,” I say evenly, trying to keep my voice neutral.
Brittany laughs, the sound sharp and cruel. “Of course you are. Just like you’re only here for a ‘month,’ right?” She makes air quotes with her perfectly manicured fingers. “Some things never change, do they? Still chasing after what isn’t yours.”
“I’m not chasing anything. I’m leaving.” I turn toward the path, but Brittany’s voice stops me.
“Good. You should leave. Luke and I were just talking about you, actually.”
Despite myself, I turn back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means he’s worried about you. We both are.” Brittany descends the porch steps slowly, her smile predatory. “You seem so... lost. So desperate.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. “I’m not desperate.”
“Aren’t you? Coming back here, throwing yourself at a man who’s moved on?” Brittany’s voice drips with false sympathy. “Luke told me how uncomfortable you’ve been making him. Following him around, manufacturing reasons to see him.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” She takes another step closer. “The escaped dog routine? Really, Hazel. It’s a bit pathetic, don’t you think?”
Max growls low in his throat, but Brittany ignores him.
“Luke and I have been together for two years now,” she continues conversationally. “Ever since I moved back to town. We’ve been trying to be discreet, especially with your family being so... invested in the idea of you two.”
The words hit like physical blows. “You’re lying.”
“Am I? Why don’t you ask him yourself when he gets back from town?” Brittany’s smile widens. “Oh wait, you can’t. Because he specifically asked me to be here when you showed up. He was hoping I could gently explain the situation so he wouldn’t have to hurt your feelings himself.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t he? Luke’s always been too kind for his own good. But he’s tired of your little games, Hazel. We both are.” She tilts her head mockingly. “Did you really think you could just waltz back here and he’d fall into your arms? After the way you left him?”
My throat feels tight. “Stop.”
“He loves me, Hazel. We’re planning to announce our engagement at the Harvest Festival.” Each word is designed to cut, to wound. “I’m sorry if that hurts, but you needed to know.”
Max’s growl intensifies, his lips pulling back to show his teeth.
“In fact,” Brittany continues, pulling out her phone, “I can show you the ring he picked out. We went shopping for it just last weekend—”
That’s when Max lunges forward with a snarl, snapping at her legs. Brittany screams and jumps backward, nearly losing her balance.
“Control that animal!” she shrieks.
“He doesn’t seem to like liars,” I say calmly.
Brittany’s face twists with rage. “You’re calling me a liar? You pathetic little—”
She raises her foot like she’s going to kick at Max, and something inside me snaps.
My fist connects with her throat before I even realize I’m moving.
Brittany staggers backward, gasping for breath, her hands clutching her throat. “You—you psycho! You actually hit me!”
“Don’t you dare touch him,” I snarl, stepping between her and Max.
Brittany’s face is red now, whether from lack of air or fury, I can’t tell. “You’re going to pay for that! Do you have any idea who I am? What I can do to you?”
“I know exactly who you are,” I say harshly. “You’re a manipulative bitch who gets off on hurting people.”
“That dog is a menace!” Brittany spits, still rubbing her throat. “I’ll have it put down! I’ll call animal control and tell them it attacked me!”
“Good luck with that story.” I sneer.
Brittany bends down and picks up a thick branch from the ground, hefting it like a weapon. Her eyes are wild now, all pretense of sophistication gone.
“Maybe I should teach you some manners myself,” she hisses, raising the branch. “Luke isn’t here to protect you now!”
She swings the branch toward my head, but Max launches himself at her, snarling. Brittany diverts her attack toward the dog, and without thinking, I throw myself between them.
I brace for the impact of wood against my skull, but it never comes.
Instead, I hear Brittany cry out in pain.
I look over my shoulder to see Luke standing there, his face a mask of fury I’ve never seen before. His hand is wrapped around Brittany’s wrist, squeezing hard enough to make her drop the branch.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growls, his voice dangerous.
He throws her away from us with enough force that she stumbles and falls to the ground, her perfect outfit now dirty and disheveled.
“Are you okay?” Luke asks immediately, his hands hovering over me, checking for injuries.
I nod, still shaking from the adrenaline. “I’m fine. I was just leaving.”
“Good,” Brittany says from the ground, struggling to her feet and trying to look victimized. “She should leave. Luke, thank God you’re here. She attacked me!”
“Wait,” Luke says, reaching for my arm, but I pull away.
“You can tell my brother I was lying if you want,” I say bitterly, backing toward the path. “But I know what I saw. I know you kissed her. And apparently you’re engaged now, so congratulations.”
Luke freezes. “Engaged? What are you talking about?”
“Your girlfriend just told me all about it,” I snap. “The ring shopping, the announcement at the festival—”
“She’s not my girlfriend!” Luke’s voice cuts through my words like a whip. “And I’ve never gone ring shopping with anyone!”
I laugh, the sound hollow and broken. “Stop lying! I saw you kiss her eight years ago, and now—”
“I never kissed her!” Luke’s voice rises, raw with frustration. “Hazel, I swear to you, I have never kissed Brittany!”
“But I saw you!” The words tear out of me, eight years of pain behind them. “I saw you with my own eyes!”
“Then tell me!” Luke’s voice cracks with desperation. “Tell me what you think you saw because I’m losing my mind here!”
My hands are shaking now. “It was the day before I left. I was looking for you. I had gotten a job offer in California, and I wanted to tell you about it. I found you in the woods behind the school, and you were kissing her!”
Luke goes completely still, his face draining of color. “The day before you left,” he whispers. “The woods behind the school.”
“Yes! In the evening!”
“Jesus Christ.” Luke runs both hands through his hair, his breathing getting faster. “Hazel, I remember that night. But I swear on everything I hold sacred, I was not kissing her!”
“Then what was I seeing?” My voice breaks on the words.
Luke’s gaze snaps to Brittany, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes. “She followed me into the woods. Started talking about how we used to be together, asking me to give her another chance.”
“What did you say?” The question comes out as barely a whisper.
“I told her no. I told her I was with you, that I loved you.” Luke’s voice is getting harder, more controlled. “She kept pushing, getting closer, and then suddenly she looked over my shoulder, and her whole expression changed.”
Brittany’s face has gone white. “Luke, that’s not—”
“And then you pretended to feel faint, didn’t you?” Luke takes a step toward her, his voice deadly quiet. “Collapsed against my chest and looked up at me like you were going to kiss me.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brittany says, but her voice is shaking now.
“Don’t I?” Luke’s eyes are blazing. “You saw Hazel coming through the trees, didn’t you? You timed it perfectly so she’d see what looked like us kissing.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Brittany’s voice is getting higher, more desperate.
“Is it?” Luke’s voice is deadly quiet now. “You destroyed everything I cared about because you couldn’t stand that I chose someone else.”
Brittany scrambles backward toward her car. “You don’t understand, Luke. She left you! She abandoned you!”
“Because you made her think I betrayed her!” Luke’s voice is raw with eight years of suppressed anguish. “You destroyed everything good in my life!”
“I was protecting you from her!” Brittany reaches her car, fumbling with the door handle. “She would have left you anyway! I just—”
“You just what? Decided to play God with our lives?” Luke’s hands are shaking with rage. “Get off my property. Now.”
“Luke, please—”
“If I ever see you near me or Hazel again, I’ll have you arrested. That’s a promise.” His voice is deadly quiet. “And Brittany? If you’ve been telling people we’re together, you’ll correct that lie. Immediately.”
Brittany gets into her car, her face twisted with fury and humiliation. “This isn’t over,” she hisses through the window.
“Yes, it is,” Luke says firmly.
The car roars to life and she tears out of the clearing, gravel flying everywhere.