Torrid (Whiskey Run Savage Ink 2)

He turns the truck on and pulls out of the parking lot. “I don’t want to say it, but one of us should. We need to end this now. You’ll never have everything you want if you stay with me.”

“You haven’t even talked about our future. I’m not even sure how you feel about me. You keep it all bottled up and never talk about it, so I don’t know what to say.”

His knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel. “This is over, Katie. I can’t do this anymore.”

I brush at the tears forming in my eyes. Over and over in my head I tell myself, Don’t cry, Katie. Don’t cry. But no matter what convincing I try, it doesn’t work, and my vision blurs.

I silently sob the whole way home. I want to beg and plead, I want to throw things and cuss, but when it all comes down to it, I don’t. When he pulls into my driveway, I get out of the truck and look at him. He’s not looking at me, but at least he’s not driving off.

In my steadiest voice, I tell him, “If you cared about what I wanted you wouldn’t do this, and since you’re not going to ask me what I want, I’m going to tell you. I want you to tell me you love me. I want you to be with me and know that you are exactly what I need. You love me, even though you haven’t said it, you love me like I’ve never been loved before. If it was just you, me, and Lane for the rest of our lives, I would be happy. If you wanted to have more kids, I would love our adopted child as if he or she was our own. That’s all I want, Trey. A family to belong to... a family with you.”

I slam the door and take off running into the house. I lean back against the closed front door and hold my breath, hoping that he will follow me. Seconds later, I hear him pull out of the driveway, and my heart completely shatters into pieces.

Treyton

I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the right thing. I keep saying it, hoping that I’m going to start believing it. Katie deserves to be happy. She deserves way more than I can give her, and knowing that is the only thing that stops me from turning around and begging her to take me back.

I hurt Katie. Lane is going to be upset when I don’t come to pick him up. I’m hurting both of them, but in the long run, it’s for the best. They’ll see it soon enough. They don’t need me. They need someone that can make their dreams come true, and obviously I can’t be that guy.

I saw her with AJ, and Gracie was right. Katie is a natural. She deserves to have more children if that’s what she wants, and I’d give anything to be a part of it, but that’s not in the cards for me. And who knows, she says it’s fine now, but one day she’ll regret it and then where will we be? I don’t want to let her go now... I can’t imagine doing it later.

12

Katie

He’s a stupid man. I say it in my head and even though I know he’s not really stupid, I still feel better.

Gracie called me this morning and begged me to come talk to Treyton. I guess he’s having a hard time. I harumph and roll my eyes. He’s having a hard time? Good. He deserves it. He threw our relationship out the door without a second glance. I hope he is having a hard time.

“You look like shit,” Jamie says as she walks into the break room.

I close the lid on my uneaten yogurt because just looking at it makes me sick. “Thanks,” I mutter.

Jamie sits in the seat next to me. “It’s been weeks, Katie. Just call him.”

I sit up straighter in my chair. “I’m not calling him.”

She turns in her seat and stares at me. “Really? You think you can just keep going on like this? You’ve lost weight. You’re pitiful. You said Lane is missing him something awful. You said Gracie called you and told you that Trey is miserable. It’s time you work this out.”

“I can’t, Jamie. He doesn’t see it from my side, and let’s face it, if he really loved me, nothing would keep us apart. I’m not getting into another relationship with someone that doesn’t love me. I’ve been there done that. Plus, you’re the one that said I should just treat it like a rebound guy or something, remember?”

She rolls her eyes and pulls out her tuna fish sandwich. As soon as the smell assaults my nose, I start to heave. I take big gulping breaths. “Oh my God, put that away,” I beg of her.