“Me too.” I stared at the whiskey in my glass. “I love my new job, but . . . I don’t know. Something just doesn’t feel right. I don’t feel right in my skin.”
She sat up straighter and rubbed my back. “I’m sorry. That was selfish of me to say. Give yourself some time to get used to things there, Win. It’s only been a couple weeks, and you’re coming off a shitty breakup. I’m not sure you’d feel right in your skin anywhere, even here.”
“That’s true.” I took another sip. “Seeing him yesterday sucked.” I’d told Ellie all about my run-in with him on the porch. “I can’t imagine still living next door to him.”
She tipped her head onto my shoulder. “Yeah.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t want to see him tomorrow.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Can I cancel?”
Ellie sighed. “I don’t know. That would disappoint the kids, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah. But I saw them this morning, right?” I shook my head. “And I just can’t face him and pretend my heart isn’t breaking.”
She sighed. “See? This is why love sucks. I don’t know why everyone thinks it’s so great.”
For once, I didn’t argue with her.
Just before Ellie and I left Cloverleigh Farms, I sent Dex a text.
Sorry to cancel on you, but I can’t make it tomorrow morning. I’ll email the girls. Take care.
I felt awful—like a coward—but told myself there was no other way.
Someone had to protect my heart.
Twenty-Nine
Dex
On the way home from the reception, the girls talked a mile a minute about everything—getting their hair done, seeing Winnie at the salon, their fancy dresses, the music and dancing, the cake . . . I was exhausted just hearing about it, but they were hopped up on so much sugar and excitement I worried they’d never fall asleep tonight. It was already after eleven, and they showed no signs of slowing down.
We’d just gotten in the house when my phone vibrated with an incoming text. I glanced at the screen and saw it was from Winnie. At first the name made me smile.
Then I read her message and panicked. “Shit!”
The girls finally stopped talking and twirling around in their dresses and looked at me. “What’s wrong?” Hallie said.
I made a split-second decision. “Come on, girls. We have to go somewhere.”
“Where?” asked Luna.
“To see Winnie.” I grabbed my keys. “And we have to hurry.”
“Yay!” Both girls cheered as we hustled back into the garage and got in the car.
“Do either of you two know where Winnie’s parents live?” I asked.
“Hmm,” said Hallie. “Somewhere by that horse barn?”
“Maybe they live at the bakery,” Luna suggested.
I pulled over and made a desperate phone call to Chip.
“Hello?”
“Thank God you answered.”
“Dex? You okay?”
“Yes, but I need a favor. I’m really sorry to bother you so late, but I need to know Winnie’s parents’ address.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I have to see her tonight. I promise to explain when I can, but I really need that address.”
“Okay. We’re at Tyler and April’s, so I can ask. Give me a minute and I’ll text it to you.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
The wait seemed endless. Every fiber of my being was radiating with nervous energy. My leg bounced. My thumbs tapped the wheel. My stomach tied itself in knots.
“What’s the big emergency?” asked Hallie.
“I have to tell her I was wrong about something. But she won’t want to talk to me.”
“So how will you get her to listen?” Luna asked.
“Good question.” I looked at them in the back seat. “What would the ogre say to Princess Minnie to get her to forgive him?”
“Well, he has to rescue her cat,” Hallie pointed out. “And to do that he would have to face his fear of heights.”
“Okay, but let’s say he’s ready to do that,” I said impatiently. “Let’s say he’s ready to face his fear, climb the tree, and rescue the cat. What does he tell her?”
Hallie tapped a finger on her lips. “He’d fall to his knees and apologize for being a jerk. He’d explain that he was only scared before but he’s going to be brave for her—like a knight. Then he’d rescue the cat and ask for another chance to be her friend. Because that’s what the ogre really wants—a friend.”