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“Abbi…” Josie sighs. “You can’t weigh your happiness on your parents. They’re adults. They knew what they were doing when they decided to invest in Hemington Holdings.”

“You’ve been hanging out with Rhett too much.” I can’t even say that’s completely accurate because Rhett has done everything in his power to help our parents too. Including working for our dad when he said he wouldn’t.

Josie laughs. “I wouldn’t say we’ve been hanging out.”

My heart beats harder and I swallow over the tightness in my throat. My stomach is still rolling, and every time I think about my situation, my chest feels like it’s in a vise grip. “How’s Jace?”

There’s a pause and I wonder if he’s there next to her. But then she sighs. “He’s Jace. Moody, ignoring everything his doctor tells him and on a second round of antibiotics because he has another infection.”

“Damn it. Is he keeping it clean?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk to me much.”

“Because of me?”

“No,” she’s quick to add. “He’s just… you know. Jace. He’s upset, and while I understand why, he doesn’t have a right to be angry with you.”

“He doesn’t?” I wasn’t sure Josie agreed with me on this one, because let’s be real, I’m not sure I agree with my decision to leave Amarillo.

“No, he doesn’t. How many times did you ask him to choose you, Abs? I bet it was more than once, and he’s never been one to make a decision until he’s made all the wrong ones.”

She’s right. He’s that way. And I did ask him to choose me more than once.

“Is he there now?”

“No. He’s out with Rhett and Morgan.”

“He won’t answer my calls or texts.”

“Um, yeah. He changed his number. You want it? I’ll give it to you.”

“No.” I laugh and take a sip of my tea. “I don’t want to make this worse. I think I’ve pissed him off enough.”

“Girl, he’s sad. Don’t let him fool you.”

Sad.Oh God. My heart hurts.

Josie and I hang up after that and I’m left in the apartment alone, sitting in the silence, listening to the rain hit the windows overlooking downtown Nashville. I think about Jace and wish I would have gotten his number. Maybe then I could explain that I want to be with him, but how do I get out of this?

Just before I’m falling asleep, Josie texts me. She gives me Jace’s new number.

CHAPTER24

Life in the fast lane

JACE

Shit or get off the pot. What a horrible saying. Literally.

“Have you heard from Abbi lately?”Barron asks, watching me attempt to work. Attempt should be used loosely here because nothing I do is the same. I have no use of my left arm and to say that’s difficult is an understatement.

“Nope. I changed my number.” Truth is, she might as well have taken a sledgehammer to my chest showing up here with Griff.

His eyes sweep to mine, a work order in his hand. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why’d you block her number?”