I hurried to explain, “If I put distance between us, then maybe whoever this is will back off Ery if they think she’s not important enough in my life to use against me.”
My brothers shared a knowing look that annoyed the shit out of me. “And what did Eredine say to that?” Lachlan asked.
“If you want to leave, Arran, leave. But never come back.”
I flinched. “She told me not to bother coming back. Ever. But that’s just the heat of the moment. I can convince her after this is all over to take me back.”
They were silent for so long, my already weak confidence crumbled.
“Right?”
Lachlan took a sip of beer before saying, “We understand more than anyone the guilt and need to protect the woman you care about. Thane and I have been there. But from our experience, all you’ll do is push her away. She specifically said she doesn’t want to be treated like glass. I think that infers she also doesn’t want to be treated as a problem that needs solving. You don’t want her to get hurt, and I understand that. But”—he laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed as he offered harsh words in a gentle tone—“you probably just hurt her more than anyone could. She probably feels more alone now than ever.”
* * *
EREDINE
When I woke, I had a moment of panic. The pillow didn’t smell like my perfume or Arran’s cologne, and the room was darker than it should be. As my eyes adjusted, I remembered where I was.
Arro and Mac’s guest room in the bungalow, currently filled with boxes. Their new house was almost ready, and they’d started packing for the move.
That meant Arran’s house was almost ready too. We hadn’t talked about anything as serious as me moving in, but the fact he’d wanted my opinion on fixtures and finishings had given me hope he was contemplating the idea.
A wave of profound sadness flooded me.
And with it, indignation.
Shoving off the duvet, I sat up and swung my legs out of bed. According to the alarm clock on the bedside table, it was just past five in the morning. Plenty of time to go for my morning jog.
I’d been beyond wounded when I’d returned home to the lodge to find Arran gone and Mac waiting for me. He asked me to pack a bag and pulled the “Arro is pregnant, and I don’t want her stressing about you being here alone” card. So I grabbed what I needed and spent the night here with them.
Not once did Arran call or text.
So I guessed he’d made a decision regarding my ultimatum.
I rubbed the pain in my breastbone, fighting back tears. Reaching for my phone, I switched the screen on, and I froze at the sight of Arran’s name on a notification banner.
Despite the fact that I sort of wanted to ignore him, I didn’t. I swiped open the text message. It was long.
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked out. I just didn’t want to be the reason you got hurt. I have a meeting this morning, but can we meet for lunch? Let me apologize in person?
The tears I’d been blinking back spilled over as relief flooded me. I’d never really been one to hold a grudge, unless the act committed against me was completely unforgivable. Kia had been the grudge holder between us, which was why I’d been shocked it had taken her so long to recognize Ezra Jefferson’s toxicity.
But once she’d made up her mind about something, she stuck to it.
And she’d made up her mind about Ezra. She was never taking him back. He’d killed her for that.
Arran Adair was Ezra Jefferson’s opposite in every way. While I was afraid he’d used the harassment as an excuse to get out of our relationship, that was just my own insecurities talking. It didn’t mean I wasn’t still hurt—I wanted an apology. But I didn’t want to lose him either.
I hit the reply box.
Okay. Let’s meet at my place, though. I don’t want to talk about this in public.
He didn’t respond right away, but he could be sleeping or showering. If he was already awake, maybe he was planning a run on the beach. Maybe I would bump into him there, and we could discuss everything so I wouldn’t have to wish my morning away.
As quietly as possible, I dressed and left the bungalow. When I pulled up to the car park on Ardnoch Beach fifteen minutes later, it was empty.
Arran’s SUV was nowhere in sight.
I tried not to lose hope because he could still show up while I was running.
Long summer days meant the sun was already well on the rise as I jogged onto the lonely sand. There wasn’t a person in sight as I ran along the shoreline. Today’s morning dawned brighter than yesterday’s, and I took that as a good omen.