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A feelingof dread settled into the pit of my stomach as I saw the Nashville skyline in the distance. I’d driven three hours, and the closer I got, the less like myself I felt. I’d gotten used to Strawberry Springs, and it was obvious my worst day there was far better than my best day here.
It wasn’t like I had a lot of bad days anyway. Ever since Cain and I had first slept together, they were good. Great, even. It had only been a week, but we’d settled into a rhythm of sharing the house that I could only have dreamed of.
He would either come to my room or I would go to his. Rarely did either of us sleep alone. It was completely different than the last time I’d shared a living space with someone I was with.
Which made the drive to Nashville all the more difficult.
Cain had tried to hide it, but I knew he wasn’t thrilled that I was coming. I’d considered backing out, but then I remembered Mom’s hopeful voice on the phone.
I was telling myself it would be fine when I pulled into the driveway that was full of cars.
But then I saw one I recognized all too well.
Trevor’s.
“Fuck,” I groaned once my car was in park. I closed my eyes and tried to channelcalm.Instead, I got a mix of rage and fear.
Slowly, one inch at a time, I fought my body and got out of the car.
Trevor was waiting for me.
“I’m surprised you showed,” he said, and his eyes dragged over my body. “You don’t look as bad as I thought you would.”
“As bad as—excuse me?”
“You’re ...feisty.” He laughed. He’d used that word on me a lot early in our relationship, and it had always felt like aninsult. “We’ll see how long that lasts. Welcome back home, Mollie.”
“Some welcome. You immediately gave me a backhanded compliment.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t kind. “It’s all you deserve.”
I remembered Cain’s words about Trevor, about how all of this was so dangerous, and I steeled myself.
“Don’t you have people to suck up to?” I asked.
“I’m trying to check on my ex-fiancée who left me for a dump in the middle of nowhere.”
I hummed. “It really says a lot about your relationship skills, doesn’t it?”
He stepped close, making my heart jump into my throat. “Let’s get one thing clear, you don’t?—”
“Mollie!” My mom’s voice interrupted us as she bounded out of the house. “It’s so good to see you!”
I was pulled into a tight hug, one that gave me much-needed breathing room from Trevor. “Hey,” I said, hugging her back.
“Was your drive okay?”
“Yeah, it was good.”
She pulled away and looked between Trevor and me. “Oh, I was excited for this reunion. What were you two talking about?”
I should have told her what he’d said. I needed to be open about it, but the same ball of cotton that had stopped me with Cain made its way into my throat.
Trevor used that to answer first.
“Just pleasantries,” he said. “I think the people of Strawberry Springs have few manners. She forgot a few of them.”
“Oh, trust me. They havenomanners.” Mom rolled her eyes. “The only thing that matters to them is gossip.” She turned to me. “Which is why I’m glad you’re here.”