Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)(77)

“Of course. I won’t say a word. And I’m here if you need me.”

“Thank you so much,” I said as I pushed to my feet and swiped at my face one last time.

He stood and hugged me. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“I will be. Thank you so much for everything. I’ll see you soon.”

I had to pull myself together before I went home.

I wasn’t ready to tell Finn what was going on.

Because I knew Finn. He’d cancel the trip. He’d worry about me being alone.

I needed to give him this time to make sure that he came back to me because he missed me, not because we were having a child together.

We were having this baby, but I needed to know that he loved me either way.

The way I wanted to be loved.

The way I needed to be loved.





twenty-seven





Finn





I was fucking fuming. I’d left Cage’s house after saying goodbye to everyone, and I drove through downtown and saw Reese’s car parked outside of Cup of Cove. I was going to surprise her and stop in, but the fucking joke was on me.

I’d parked my car and didn’t even make it across the street because there she was, right in front of the window, holding hands and crying with Carl fucking Barley. After everything we’d talked about, this was where she went on my last day home?

I got in my truck and told Siri to call Cage. I could have called Hugh, but I didn’t want someone talking sense into me. I wanted someone that would be pissed off right along with me.

“Miss me already?” he said over Bluetooth.

“Far from it. I saw Reese’s car parked at Cup of Cove and was going to go grab a coffee and surprise her, but she was sitting at a table with Dr. fucking Douche and crying. I can’t fucking believe this, man.”

He was quiet for a moment, which was very out of character.

“Maybe it was closure?”

“They’ve had closure. She’s been with me for months. I don’t know what the fuck to think. I’m leaving. She’s worried about me not being able to handle the distance, and she’s holding hands and crying with that dicksack while I’m still here? What’s she going to do when I’m gone?”

“Okay, first off, you don’t know what it was about.”

“Does it fucking matter?” My voice boomed through the cab of my truck. “She didn’t tell me she was going. She’s not being honest, so something must be going on.”

“You know, you could just ask her before you get all worked up. This is fucking Reese, brother. She’s your best friend, and you’re both clearly in love with one other. She wouldn’t be doing anything behind your back.”

“Yeah? Well, why didn’t she tell me about him coming by her office the other day? Why didn’t she tell me that she was meeting him today?”

“Ummm… maybe because you’d react like a fucking lunatic. You clearly hate the guy, and she has a history with him. Listen, I’ve done this shit before where I let my pride get in the way.” He cleared his throat. “Don’t do that. Just fucking talk to her.”

“Fuck, dude. I didn’t call you to be the voice of reason. I called you because you’re the cynical, irrational, bitter sibling.”

“Sorry to disappoint. It’s Reese. I think she deserves a chance to tell you what’s going on.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Fine. I’ll give her a chance to tell me where she was before I lose my shit.”

“That’s not exactly what I was saying you should do.”

“It’s the most I can do right now. I’m pissed. She’s never lied to me. I’ve poured my fucking heart out to her these last few days, man. And she’s doubting me? I’m not the one sneaking around with my ex.”

“You don’t have an ex.”

“Fuck you,” I growled.

He laughed. “All right, take it down a notch. This is not you. You don’t get all worked up and out of control. You’re Finn fucking Reynolds. Come on, brother. Get it together.”

I pulled into my driveway and stared out at the barn, white flakes falling from the sky. I was leaving tomorrow for Tokyo. This role was the biggest thing to ever happen to me in my career after the success of Big Sky Ranch. Things were taking off for me, and I should be fucking happy. But my stomach was twisted up over all of this.

I felt like a lovesick puppy.

This was bullshit.

“Got it. I’ll be fine. I’m going to go check on the horses, and I’ll call you when I get to Tokyo.”

“You call me before if you need me, okay?”

“Don’t get sappy. It doesn’t suit you.”

He barked out a laugh. “Good. Fuck off. Call me when you call me. Maybe I’ll answer. Better?”

“Much. I’ll talk to you later.”

I climbed out of the truck and made my way into the barn. Silas was there, and he’d just finished raking the stalls.

“Hey, you’re off tomorrow, right?” he asked.

“Yep. You’ve got my number. Text me if you have any issues. But you’ve got Cage’s number if there is any sort of medical emergency and Hugh’s number for anything else.”