Page 85 of Mended Fences

“It’s not my place to tell you, Chase. She’s had a lot going on lately. Maybe it’s time you two talked.” She sounded hesitant. I was, too, if I was being honest with myself. As much as I missed Elena, I still hadn’t forgiven myself for the way I’d scared her. The look in her eyes would haunt me. I hadn’t done what she’d asked, either.

“Yeah. Maybe.” I scrubbed a hand over my jaw before patting my sister-in-law on the back and heading toward the barn.

If I was going to face Elena—and find out who wasvisiting—I was going to need a little bit of a pick-me-up.

Six beersand two bumps later, I was golden. Loose, sharp, and ready to face the girl—to grovel and beg for her to take me back.

I was parked on the street in front of Elena’s little cottage. Flipping the visor down, I checked the damage. Pupils a little wide, but I looked good. No way she could say no to this face.

Breath smelled like the floor of a bar, but whatever. I dug through the glove box and found some ancient gum—cracked like drywall, still minty.Good enough.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a truck pull into her driveway, and my head whipped in that direction so fast I made myself a wee bit dizzy. Shaking my head to steady myself—which had the exact opposite effect—I squinted and watch some big, burly cowboy-looking douche climb out of the F-350.

Thiswas her company?

The plates were from Arizona, so probably a rental, because who the fuck did she know from Arizona? Actually, who the fuck did she know who wore a straight up cowboy hat and boots?Gross.

I watched asRip Wheelerstrolled up to Elena’s porch like he owned the place and knocked. The door whipped open, and a bright smile lit up my girl’s face. I winced at the sudden ache in my chest. I hated that this fuckstick had made her smile, thathegot to see that smile, and I couldn’t even remember the last time it was for me.

Their lips moved, but I couldn’t make out the words. They looked almost hesitant, standing there chatting on the porch. Then, the unspeakable happened. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Elena.MyElena. And she sank right into the embrace.

“Motherfucker.” I slammed my palm against the steering wheel and glanced back at the house.

Shit. She must have heard me, because our eyes met and held, but I couldn’t decipher the look. God damn it, I hated this shit. Hated this feeling. Hated missing her and wanting her and not knowing what the fuck was going on.

I turned over the engine, threw my truck in drive, and sped off back toward town.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

ELENA

Then, September 2024

“You okay?”Rhett asked, glancing behind him as Chase’s taillights disappeared around the corner.

“I’m fine,” I said, the lie landing like lead. “Come on in.”

He stepped inside slowly, eyes scanning the room like he wasn’t sure he was allowed to settle into it. I shut the door behind us and moved past him into the living room, trying not to fidget. My pulse hadn’t caught up to the rest of me yet.

“Thanks for coming,” I said, because it felt like something I was supposed to say.

“Thanks for letting me,” he replied, voice low, cautious. “I know this is…a lot.”

We both stood there for a second like we were on opposite sides of a river neither of us had any idea how to cross.

I nodded toward the couch. “Sit?”

“Yeah. Yeah, sure.”

We sat. Not too close. Not too far apart. Just enough distance to feel the space that had existed between us our entire lives.

“So,” I said, fingers twisting in my lap. “You said in your message you found out about me a few months ago.”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “I did.” His eyes dropped to his hands. “I caught my dad reading a file. Big one. Had your name all over it. At first, I thought maybe it was someone from work, but then I saw... the details. Stuff about the assault. The divorce. Medical notes. It was all in there, Elena. Like he’d been... tracking you.”

I stood, needing to move, grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge. Gave one to him just to keep my hands busy.

“I don’t even know his name. Just that he wasn’t around.”