Chapter 35
Rachel
Rachel was cataloging new arrivals when Mrs. Henderson approached.
"You're glowing," Mrs. Henderson observed, setting down her books. "Even more than usual. Something happened."
"Mac asked me to move in with him. I said yes."
Mrs. Henderson's face lit up. "Oh, that's wonderful, dear! When?"
"This weekend. We're making it official."
"I'm so happy for you." Mrs. Henderson paused, her expression turning more serious. "And don’t let that unpleasant man at the wedding. He won’t win."
Rachel's happiness deflated.
"I hope you're right."
"I'm always right." Mrs. Henderson patted her hand.
Rachel tried.
But her phone buzzed during her break.
Unknown: Rachel, this is Derek. I understand you're happy right now. I understand that this Mac-person can be very charming when he wants something. I hope you know what happened with his last relationship.
Rachel's gut clenched. What relationship? How did Derek know about it? Mac hadn’t had one. Had he?
Unknown: I have her number if you'd like to hear her side. Not trying to interfere, just thought you deserved the full picture before you get in too deep. She left town after Mac was done with her. I'm at the Riverside Inn if you want to talk.
Rachel stared at the texts, her hands shaking.
This was how it had started with Brad. Derek showing up with "concerns" and "evidence."
But what if there really was a previous woman? What if Mac did have a pattern he hadn't told her about? She was moving in with a man she barely knew after all. Had she made a mistake agreeing to it so soon?
No. She knew Mac. She knew the way he looked at her, how careful he'd been with her boundaries.
But Derek's words kept echoing: She left town after Mac was done with her.
Rachel deleted the texts.
But she didn't block the number.
And when she got to her car after closing up the library, her hands were still shaking.
Sophie had texted asking Rachel to come by the café after work. When Rachel arrived, Sophie had their usual table ready, but no food. That was the first sign something was wrong.
"What happened?" Rachel asked, sliding into the booth.
"Matthews filed a formal complaint against Ellie with the Vermont Hockey League. She told us at the emergency meeting." Sophie's hands curled at her sides. "Ellie's devastated."
Rachel felt ice in her stomach. "And now Ellie. He won't stop until he's destroyed everyone."
"What do you mean?"
"This is how he destroyed my relationship with Brad. Not all at once. Slowly. Systematically." Rachel's hands were shaking again.
"Rachel, breathe." Sophie reached across the table.
"You can't stop him. Nobody can stop him."
"Rachel." Sophie said it like it was fact. "This is not your old town. This is Evergreen Cove."
"He texted me," Rachel said quietly. "Asking to meet. To 'talk' about things I should 'understand' about my relationship with Mac. About some ex girlfriend that left town."
Sophie's eyes flashed with anger. "Mac doesn’t have an ex girlfriend, not since high school. What a snake! What did you answer?"
"I deleted it. Didn't respond."
"Good. Don't engage with him. That's what he wants. We will fix this."
Rachel wanted to believe her.
I'm surprised you'd risk another hockey player. Given your history.
And she couldn't shake the terror that he was right.
Mac
Mac came to Rachel's apartment straight from practice, carrying Chinese takeout. He found her sitting on the couch, Mr. Darcy in her lap, staring at her phone with an expression that made his heart hurt.
"Hey," Mac said softly, setting down the food. "You okay?"
"Derek texted me again.”
“What did he say?”
“Asked me to meet him."
White-hot rage surged through Mac before he could control it. "That bastard shouldn’t talk to you, the nerve!"
"I deleted it. Didn't respond."
"Good." Mac sat beside her, pulling her close. Mr. Darcy protested being squished but didn't move. "Rachel, listen to me. Derek is going to try everything."
"I know. But Mac—" Her voice broke. "What if he's right? What if I am bad for you?"
"Stop." Mac turned her face toward his.
"But what if he convinces your team—"
"He won't. They love you. They're thrilled we're together." Mac kissed her forehead, the gesture automatic now. Reassurance. Comfort. The same words he'd said a dozen times before.
Rachel nodded against his chest, but Mac could feel her trembling.
He held her until she fell asleep, her breathing evening out, her body finally relaxing against his. But Mac stayed awake, staring at the ceiling in the dark.
This was the third time this week. The third time he'd talked her down from the same spiral. Matthews hadn't even done anything yet, and he was already destroying what Mac and Rachel had built.
Later, alone in the bathroom, Mac gripped the sink and stared at himself in the mirror. His eyes were shadowed with exhaustion.
He loved her. God, he loved her so much it physically hurt sometimes.
But he was tired.
How many times? he thought. How many times do I have to prove the same thing? How many times do I have to tell her I'm not leaving? That I'm not Brad? That I'm not going to hurt her?
His knuckles were white where he gripped the porcelain.
Cole had taken Ellie on a weekend trip to Portland last month. Normal relationship things. Easy things. He wanted that with Rachel, without her second-guessing whether she should be there, whether she was hurting his career, whether Matthews was watching.
He pushed the thought away. Rachel needed patience. She'd been through hell. She deserved someone who would stick it out, who wouldn't give up on her when things got hard.
He could be patient.
He would be patient.
He had to be.
But somewhere deep down, a small voice whispered: When does she start trusting me without proof? When do I get to stop fighting for something that should already be mine?
Mac turned off the light and went back to bed. Rachel was curled on her side, Mr. Darcy pressed against her back. She looked peaceful in sleep, younger somehow, without the weight of fear on her face.
He loved her.
He just wished love was enough.