Broken Hill Hearts (Broken Hill High 4)

Nate’s eyes narrow as I begin heading their way and I see nothing but a clear message within them. He wants me to back off, but guess what? No way in hell.

If he wants me to start respecting his wishes, then he should have thought about that before he broke up with me. I’m a free agent and right now, Ashley Samuels has pissed me off… again. I guess this is what you get when you leave me out of your big plan. Tora Roberts does not handle being left out of the loop, not one single bit.

Ashley’s eyes grow wearier the closer I get. A week ago, she would have looked smug, but after I kicked her ass, she seems cautious. She doesn’t want me to go apeshit on her in public. Damn, I should have been raised in Haven Falls maybe then I’d know how to throw a half decent punch.

“What the hell do you want?” Ashley says when I reach their table.

I can’t help but grin as I purposefully avoid looking at Nate. “Oh, I was just coming to let you know your new bald spot it showing,” I tell her. “I’m sure I have your chunks of hair somewhere.”

Her cheeks flame bright and I grin at the way she adjusts her hair. “I’m going to get you for that.”

“Ha,” I bark out “I’d like to see you try.”

Ashley flies up out of her chair and rocks her table in the process. Nate’s hand flies out, catching his open bottle of water, but Ashley isn’t that lucky. Her coffee mug tips straight over, instantly drenching her phone and splashing right up all over her outfit.

“Fuck,” Nate grunts as he pushes back from the table, trying not to get covered.

Coffee rushes off the table and soaks through Ashley’s white top and skinny jeans. She shrieks as she hastily grabs things and I can’t help but laugh. “Damn,” I chuckle. “That drowned rat look suits you.” With that, I ignore her screams and Nate’s furious glare and take me and my drinks back home.

As I push my way back through the door of my home, I don’t know what to feel. Anger? Betrayal? Hurt? Happy that bitch just embarrassed herself in public? I don’t know. None of it seems right because no matter what, Nate didn’t have my back and all I know is that feeling cuts me down to the bone.

He should have come to me the second he saw me walk through the door. He should have left her side. He should have stuck up for me, for us and our relationship. It was clear as day she was gloating about them being together and nothing hurt worse than Nate not correcting her.

I let out a heavy sigh and walk around this big house until I find mom in the study. I walk forward and she graciously takes her coffee out of my hands. “Thanks, sweetie.”

I can’t help but look at the computer screen and see house listings. “What are you doing?” I question, looking over her shoulder as she continues to scroll.

“Looking at places for your father to stay.” The second the words ‘you father’ comes out of her mouth, I practically shut off. After all, he’s the one who planted the seed that Nate and I shouldn’t be together. To me, this is all on him and that’s something I’ll never be able to forgive him for. He truly believes he was doing the right thing, but how could he know what was right for me when he’s never here?

“Why?” I grunt, hating that the topic has managed to draw my attention.

“He’s not fond of the hotel his work has put him in. He wants to rent a place to stay for the remainder of his time there.”

“But, isn’t it only a few months?”

“Maybe,” she says. “But remember that letter said a minimum of six months. It could be longer.”

A door slamming within the house has us both jumping and looking at one another in confusion until I hear his voice. “Tora?” Nate demands throughout the house. “Where the hell are you?”

Mom sighs. “Do those Ryder boys not know how to knock?”

“Nope,” I grunt. “It’s not wired into their DNA.”

“Clearly,” she scoffs. “Why does he sound so pissed off?”

“Tora?” Nate yells again.

“Doesn’t he always?”

Mom grins as I decide it’s time to go face the music. I walk out of the study and start heading for the stairs. My guess would be that he’s probably searching my room or the den. I get halfway up the stairs when I watch him emerge from my room.

He pauses in the hallway and for the first time ever, he freezes. He looks unsure but I can’t even begin to process that, as all I can think about was the way he was happily sitting in the dark corner of a coffee shop with the one girl who nearly took him away from this world, looking as cozy as ever.