Epilogue
Rory, Two Months Later
“Oh, hiiii, Rory!”
The sickly sweet voice is nausea-inducing all on its own, even before I turn to find its owner.
I refrain from rolling my eyes. Today I’m here for coffee, not gossip. And I’m definitely not here to be tortured by this woman.
“Hi, Yvonne. How are you?”
She flutters her eyelashes. God, I can’t believe this girl once intimidated me.
“Oh, I’m good. The usual, of course. Busy as can be with my business. You know how it is! Being your own boss is harder than working for someone else, am I right?” She lets out a high-pitched laugh.
“Good to hear.” I turn, ready to be done with the conversation, but Yvonne has other thoughts, as usual.
“I’ll admit, I’m so jealous that you just get to work for someone! It must be so nice to have someone make all the hard decisions.”
I will not let her get to me. I will remember that I am happy, living with Nate, and working with Mandy. Life is finally falling into place, everything working out.
Deep breath, Rory.
“And you and Nate! My goodness, aren’t you the cutest couple.”
Marge slides a cup of coffee across the counter to me, making eye contact that says she feels the same way I do about the shrill woman behind me.
“What can I get for you, Yvonne?” Marge asks, overly polite.
Yvonne taps an acrylic fingernail against her lacquered lips. “Oh, how about a latte? Skim milk, of course. Got to keep an eye on my weight. It must be so nice to not worry about your figure. Eat whatever you want, am I right?”
Marge looks like she wants to murder Yvonne. It would make for an interesting news day, at least. I’m pretty sure no one would miss Yvonne. Kaitlyn, maybe, but that’s about it. The rest of the town may throw a party.
If I were Marge, I’d spit in Yvonne’s coffee, but I think Marge has too much self-control for that. She adds steamed milk to the espresso and slides it across the counter.
Yvonne picks it up and blows delicately at the hot beverage. “Anyway, Rory, as I was saying, the two of you are so cute! I’m so happy you two are happy together. I mean, I don’t know if I could overlook it, but I’m glad you can!”
I try to ignore everything Yvonne says, all those nasty things she disguises as backhanded compliments, but a surge of anxiety blooms in my gut, and I can’t stop myself.
“Overlook what?” I force my voice to stay neutral, as though I’m not affected at all by her words, even though my heart is pounding out of my chest at her insinuation.
She waves a hand in the air. “Oh, you know. All those years he kept tabs on you. Men, am I right?”
My stomach bottoms out as my brain spirals into overdrive. Nate did what? Kept tabs on me?
Moments from the last ten years rush through my brain. The failures, one after another. All the relationships that didn’t work out.
Did Nate have something to do what that?
I thought all those breakups were because of me. Because I wasn’t enough somehow, or because things weren’t right.
Nate didn’t have anything to do with that.
Did he?
My heart beats even faster, all the possible scenarios warring for first place in my mind.
Did Nate do something to keep me single?
The idea is insane, but standing in front of Yvonne, I can’t think logically. Her smug smile taunts me as I try to figure out just what she’s saying. What it means for my relationship with Nate.
The only clear thought I can summon is: I need to get out of here.
And in the absence of any other logical thought, I stand up so fast the chair rocks, nearly falling to the floor. “Nice to see you, Yvonne. I’ve got to go.”
I leave my unfinished coffee on the table as I make a beeline for the door. I need to talk to my friends. Or Nate. Or really, anyone other than this snake.
“Byeee!” Yvonne calls, her voice high and shrill. “Give Nate my love!”
Continue reading the High Lonesome series with Book 2, Not His to Keep!
In the small town of High Lonesome, gossip spreads like wildfire… and it's about to send our relationship up in flames.
A second chance with Rory Kelley should have been the ultimate win. Ten years after she stomped on my heart and handed me my “freedom,” we were finally back on track... but thanks to the local rumor mill, now she thinks I’ve been keeping secrets.
And okay, fine, I have—but it’s complicated.
Like, “drag out my messy past, risk losing the love of my life, and maybe burn down my future” complicated.
And while I'm over here trying to work up the nerve to spill my guts, her family lobs their own grenade of a family secret into the middle of this circus.
Now, Rory’s drowning in drama while I’m stuck wondering if telling her the truth will bring us closer……or blow everything up like the finale of a bad reality show.