11. Katie
11
KATIE
I hate Max Sheridan more than anyone else on this earth.
The feeling is mutual so I don’t even feel bad about it.
I don’t know what caused it, but when I moved to Kauri Creek he took an instant dislike to me.
Him and Olivia being friends before my arrival and no longer friends after it probably didn’t endear him to me.
Neither did me dating his brother.
Max and Toby were alike in so many ways. Being identical twins they had the same dark hair and eyes, but Max has a more severe look to him. Or maybe it’s just his expression hardening every time he looks my way.
They were both gorgeous and charming, but Max leaned towards arrogant and cocky where as Toby was gentler, more subtle.
It was that subtlety that ruined me in the end. Maybe if he’d been more like Max the truth wouldn’t have hit me so hard. The truth I didn’t learn until the day he was killed in a car accident .
I hate Toby now too, as much as I loved him, which is an interesting feeling to have.
But right now, my rage is directed firmly at Max. For the way he spoke to me, for what he said to Dallas, for making me remember Toby.
I stormed out of the function room moments after shocking Dallas into silence with the reveal that my ex is my ex because he’s no longer alive. I behaved like a bratty kid, spinning on my heel and stomping off, slamming the back door behind me.
Dallas, to his credit, didn’t follow me.
A huge relief since I don’t want him to see me like this, my face red and blotchy and unstoppable tears spilling down my cheeks.
I’ve done a lot of crying over Toby and our relationship. Tears of grief and pain, tears of anger and hatred. But none of them have hit quite as hard as these ones.
Being back at Wildflower Ridge, the place where it all started, has brought all the memories rushing back.
Coming face-to-face with Max and being reminded of how much he hates me was something I thought I was prepared for, but I don’t think I could have ever been fully ready for that moment, for seeing the anger and grief in his own expression.
He blames me for taking his brother and best friend away from him. I can understand that. But he doesn’t know the full story and I don’t think either of us will ever be in a place where we can have that conversation.
I haven’t been paying attention to where I’m walking, just knowing I need to get as far away from Dallas as possible right now, but when I reach the lake I manage to release a full breath .
It’s a bit fancier than the last time I was here. Obviously they’ve done some work to it so it can be used for wedding ceremonies and photo locations. I skirt around the gazebo on the water’s edge and slip into the shade of a massive Totara tree. The bark is rough under my fingertips as I trail them across the trunk. I glance up into the branches and falter.
Not this tree. This is the tree in which Toby and I hid during a game of spotlight. He was already in the tree when I started climbing it, unaware of his presence. When I realised he was there I tried to climb down again, but he grabbed my hand. Electric shocks had zoomed up my arm as he whispered, “stay.”
Until that point I assumed he disliked me as much as Max did, but after that night … I knew different.
I continue around the lake until I find a different tree with a solid trunk. I slide down and sit with my back against the bark, pulling my knees up to my chest.
In the peaceful quiet, I release the rest of my tears.
I have no idea how much time has passed when someone sits down beside me. Since my tears ran out I’ve sat here and stared into nothingness, my emotions exhausted and numb.
At first I worry Dallas has followed me, but this person isn’t big enough to be him, and when their arm brushes against my own it’s a soft warmth, not the blazing heat I’ve come to expect from Dallas’s touch.
Olivia tilts her head and rests it on my shoulder, not saying a word, but being there for me when I’m ready to speak .
“I shouldn’t have come back,” I whisper eventually, my voice scratchy and hoarse.
“I’m happy you’re here,” she says back, her voice soft, the love in it evident. Love for me. Love I don’t deserve.
“I’m so sorry, Liv.” My voice cracks. “I ruin everything.”
“Shush,” she scolds. “You do not. Max is a jerk.”
“How do you know about Max?”
“Dallas told me. He was worried about you. Said you saw Max in town and that you were upset, but he didn’t think you’d appreciate his presence right now.”
I snort. “He’s right about that.” I sigh and press my eyes into my knees. “Max told him to watch out for me. Told him he needs to protect Sadie from me.” My voice breaks properly this time and I’m sobbing again.
Olivia hisses through her teeth. “I’m going to kill that bastard,” she declares. “That fucking asshole !” She takes a deep breath and refocuses with a shake of her head. “He’s wrong, okay? You know that, don’t you?”
I shrug helplessly. “I can’t stay here, Livvie, not with him here.”
“Katie,” she says, her voice serious. She takes my face in her hands and forces me to look her in the eye. “We do not let Max fucking-bastard Sheridan dictate what we do. Do we?”
I shrug again but Olivia stares me down until I admit defeat. “No, we do not let Max fucking-bastard Sheridan dictate what we do.”
“Good,” she says, releasing my face after giving my cheek a gentle pat. “Why did you come home?”
“Because you needed my help,” I say, pulling out my line .
She scoffs. “Yeah, right. I know you love me, but you know we’d cope even if you weren’t here. That’s not saying I’m not happy you are here, but I know that isn’t your real reason.”
I sigh. I knew I couldn’t keep this under wraps for long, not with Olivia anyway. “I lost my job and ran out of money. I had nowhere else to go. Grandma’s house was my only option, at least until I’m allowed to sell it. Renting it was helpful, but it doesn’t bring in the kind of money I need to live in the city.”
“You lost your job?” She’s incredulous. I should have also known that I couldn’t slip that one past her.
“I filed a complaint that a manager was harassing a girl in my department.”
“You know they can’t fire you for that right?”
“Yeah, they didn’t fire me. They conveniently ‘restructured’ and my position was ‘no longer viable’.”
“Fucking bastards,” she mutters.
“I know, but there was nothing I could do. I needed a job and I needed somewhere to live. This was my only option.”
“But you don’t want to stay?” She looks disappointed.
“I want to stay, but only for Wildflower Ridge. I can’t stay, because of Kauri Creek. You know that, Livvie. This is a short-term fix, for both of us.”
“I know, I just wish you could stay. This place is your home. You could be happy here.”
I wish it were true. I really do. But this place isn’t my home, not anymore, and I’m not sure I’m capable of being happy anywhere. I don’t answer her, just lean my head against hers as we sit and stare out at the sunlight dappling the water of the lake .
Her phone buzzes and she pulls it out of her pocket, checking her messages.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s just Dallas checking in. Making sure you’re okay.”
“Dallas?” I ask, my voice sceptical.
“Yeah,” she says, smiling down at her phone as she taps out her reply.
“I feel like we know different versions of the same man.”
She looks up then, confused. “What do you mean?”
I shake my head. “I can’t even explain it. Everyone seems to think he’s God’s gift to man, but none of you are seeing that he thinks that too, about himself. He’s so arrogant and frustrating and … irritating.”
“You’re right. You’re seeing a totally different side to him. Arrogant is not a word I’d ever use to describe him. He’s totally down to earth, cares about nothing except doing a good job and looking after Sadie. He’s great at his job and an even better dad.” She’s not looking at me as she speaks, but out across the water, a funny smile on her face.
“Liv,” I say, not sure I want to ask the question I’m about to, but I have to know. “Are you into Dallas?”
She blinks—once, twice, three times—and turns to face me. “No,” she says, but I’m not sure it’s the actual truth or she’s in denial. “He’s a great guy and an excellent farm manager and I absolutely am not interested in him in any form other than professionally.”
“Sounds like you’re protesting a little much,” I say, teasing. But underneath I’m panicking .
I haven’t told her about my one-night stand with a random stranger who turned out to be my boss. I haven’t told her about it at all, let alone that the guy was Dallas. If she’s into him, I’m going to have to come clean, but that could mess everything up for them before they even have the chance to start something.
“It’s okay, Katie,” Olivia says, standing and reaching out to take my hand. I let her pull me to my feet. “I promise I’m not into him.”
“Why are you promising me?”
She shrugs. “I don’t want you thinking I’m into him and it getting in your way.”
“In my way?” I splutter. What the hell is she talking about? Does she know ? Oh, my god. If he told her, I’m going to throttle him.
She gives me a coy smile and turns away, making her way back around the edge of the lake, leaving me standing, dumbstruck under a tree.
“All I’m saying,” she calls back over her shoulder, “is maybe there’s a reason you find him so … irritating .” She giggles and sprints away as I chase after her.
“No, no, no, no,” I say when I catch up to her, grabbing her around the waist. “Absolutely fucking not.”
She pinches my cheek. “Who’s protesting too much now?”
Ah, shit.