Page 4 of The Only Road Back

JACK

The drive home is swallowed by silence. Beth stares out the window, eyes fixed on the shadows racing past, her hands twisting in her lap.

After a few miles, she finally speaks, her voice barely a whisper. “This morning was supposed to be my wedding day.” She doesn’t look at me. “I walked in on my fiancé and my cousin. Together. In a closet.”

A tremor runs through her.

“I still can’t believe it. My own cousin.”

The ache in her words cuts deep. She’s trying to hold herself together, but her pain hangs in the air between us.

I tighten my grip on the wheel. “I’ll never understand how anyone could do that to you.” I mean it. She’s strong and beautiful, even now, with her world falling apart. If she were mine, there wouldn’t be room for anyone else.

Headlights sweep across the dashboard as I turn onto my dirt road; a small, battered sign marks home and nothing more. The two-bedroom house isn’t much, but I like it.

I park. Beth doesn’t move, gazing into the darkness as if there’s a missing piece out there waiting for her.

I break the spell. “Come on. You look like you could use some food.”

She blinks, meeting my eyes for the first time, exhaustion etched on her face. “I don’t know if I can eat.”

“You should try.” I grab her duffel from the back. “I’ll order something. Let’s go.”

Inside, I drop her bag and flick on the kitchen light. “How about pizza?”

She pulls out a chair, arms wrapped tightly around herself. “Yeah. Thanks.”

I dial Marcy. “Hey, it’s Jack. Can I get a large pepperoni and garlic knots? Same address.”

Beth smirks faintly. “Do you have the pizza place on speed dial?”

I shrug. “Only so many choices in Riverdale.”

A ghost of a smile plays at her lips. That’s something.

I grab two beers from the fridge and slide one her way.

She eyes the bottle. “I don’t usually drink beer.”

“You don’t have to.” I twist mine open, the cap hitting the counter.

She hesitates, opens hers, takes a sip, and winces. “Not as bad as I remember.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I’ll take it.”

She shakes her head, her shoulders relaxing a little. Maybe she’s warming up.

I set my bottle down. “You want to talk about it?”

Beth draws in a breath, uncertain. “Where would I even start?”

“Just start.”

She studies the tabletop, tracing the ring left by her bottle.

“Clark always seemed too good to be true. My family adored him. He’s successful.

Polite. The perfect fiancé.” She looks away.

“I wanted to believe it. I ignored the red flags.” Her jaw tightens.

“This morning, I caught them. My cousin Stephanie and Clark. In a damn storage closet. Right before the wedding.”

Anger surges. “He’s a coward.”

She lets out a hollow laugh. “Coward. Liar. Take your pick.”

Her expression darkens. “And my family? They’ll probably take their side. Stephanie’s the favorite. I was always the one who played by the rules, kept my head down. Today, I finally did something for myself. That’ll make me the villain.”

“That’s not right.”

She shrugs. “Tell that to them.”

I lean forward, elbows on the table. “You didn’t do anything wrong. And if your family can’t see that, then screw ‘em.”

She blinks, caught off guard.

There’s a knock at the door before either of us can say more.

I exhale. “Pizza.”

I pay Marcy and set the box and knots on the table. Beth hesitates, but the smell is too much, and her stomach rumbles.

She frowns. “Guess I am hungry.”

“Told you.”

For a while, we eat without speaking. Each bite seems to bring her back a little. By the second slice, there’s color in her cheeks.

She widens her eyes. “This is really good.”

I grin. “Best pizza in Riverdale.”

“It’s probably the only pizza in Riverdale,” she counters, with the hint of a smile.

“Well…”

We finish eating, and I clear the plates and rinse them. When I turn around, Beth is lost in thought, fingers picking at the edge of the table.

“You okay?”

She jumps, as if she forgot I was even here. “Yeah. Just…trying to make sense of everything.”

“I’m sure it’s hard.”

She nods, staring at the wall. “I don’t even know what happens now.”

“One thing at a time.”

She glances at me. “Are you sure it’s okay I stay?”

“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”

She drops her gaze. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not. Never could be.”

She looks ready to argue, then sighs. “Okay.”

I step around the counter. “Come on. Guest room’s this way.”

She follows me down the narrow hall. I open the spare room door—a simple bed, dresser, window looking over the yard. Nothing fancy, but clean, safe.

Beth runs her hand across the blanket. “It’s nice.”

I stand in the doorway. “Bathroom’s across the hall. If you need anything, shout.”

She turns, her eyes soft with gratitude. “Jack…thank you. Really.”

I nod. “Get some rest.”

I should walk away, but I don’t. Instead, I step closer and gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her breath hitches. The world narrows to just the two of us, heat simmering, electric and undeniable.

Before I can stop myself, I kiss her forehead.

She closes her eyes and draws in a shaky breath.

I pull back, my voice quieter. “Good night, Beth.”

She opens her eyes, searching my face as if she wants to say something, but the moment slips away.

“Good night, Jack.”

I force myself from the doorway. I want her—God, I do—but she deserves all the time she needs.

And I plan on giving that to her.