“My grandmother was full-blooded Cherokee, and she always knew things,” Molly says. “I’ve always had a bit of that too. I’ve always just known things, if you catch my drift. And I knew from the moment I saw you that there was something special about you.”
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself here.” I step back, chuckling. “I know you want River to be happy and fall in love again and all of that, but I think maybe you’re projecting that onto me just a smidge.”
Molly laughs. “Fine. Maybe I’m getting carried away, but last night I had a dream that he kissed you. If that ever happens, you’ll know I’m legit. Anytime I’ve ever dreamt of two people kissing, it meant they were soulmates. You’ll tell me if he ever kisses you, right?”
My smile fades, and I can almost feel the color draining from it. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll let you know.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
River
I pass my brother’s place on the way out of town Saturday morning after stopping at the co-op, and not by choice. He lives just a block off the main drag in a house much too big for a single man, much too flashy for a small town, and renovated enough that the whole township of Bonesteel Creek knows Mama and Daddy McCray left the entirety of the inheritance to him when they passed a couple of years back.
But it’s all right.
I didn’t want their money anyway, and I do just fine on my own.
Coming to a stop at his corner, I spot a silver Buick parked in his driveway and watch as a blonde woman with tits up to her chin strides out in heels and a disheveled black dress. Upon closer inspection, I know her.
Missy Parker—wife of Seth’s childhood best friend, Ryan.
Following behind her is none other than the asshole himself, slapping her ass and pushing her up against the side of her car as he kisses her neck as if no one’s looking and they’re the only two around.
Disgusting.
I wish people could see him for exactly what he is: a lying, cheating, narcissistic piece of shit.
Only the people in this godforsaken town look at him with stars in their eyes, like he hung the moon. They hear “military hero” and they immediately worship him, refusing to believe anyone who looks that good and makes them feel that good could be inherently bad.
None of them know him like I do.
And none of them ever will.
He’s good at what he does. And he’ll never stop. His egomaniacal thirst for adoration and worship is an unstoppable force, and I’ve learned over the years that calling him out only makes him determined to make my life more miserable than it already is.
But sometimes I can’t help myself.
Taking a sharp left, I pull onto his street and into his driveway. Missy scrambles out from beneath him, sliding into her car and slamming the door, but it’s too late. They’ve been spotted. And I’m blocking her in.
“Missy,” I say. “Seth.”
Missy refuses to look at me, and Seth meanders up to my window, wearing his signature smug leer and the scent of last night’s sex and booze-filled fuckfest.
“Kindly move your vehicle so my friend can be on her way,” he says, hands shoved in his pockets.
“You’re pathetic.” I shake my head. “Fucking your best friend’s wife. Real class act, you are.”
“He doesn’t appreciate her like I do,” Seth says. “Why own a fast car if you’re not going to take her out on the highway and open her up every now and again, am I right?”
I glance toward Missy’s Buick. She’s hunched down in her seat, and I hope she feels the weight of shame sinking into her bones. I hope when she tucks her children into bed tonight, she finds it hard to fall asleep.
“Ryan’s out of town on business,” Seth says. “I expect you’ll keep your mouth shut about this.”
“Like I owe you any favors.” I grip the steering wheel, my vision washed in red.
Seth steps closer, leaning into my window. “Matter of fact, you do owe me. You’re going to owe me the rest of your life. I fucking own you, River. And I’ll make damn sure you never forget it. Now get the fuck out of here.”
“Consider me gone. But only because the sight of you makes me fucking sick.”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Leighton
“About damn time. Almost thought you left without me.” I rise from the kitchen table when River returns from town, my purse already slung over my shoulder. “I’ve been looking forward to this all morning. I used to go to the sale barn with my dad when I was younger. My sister and I would always pretend to bid on the horses, and we’d pretend like we each came with a set amount of money and we’d see who could buy the prettiest horse.”
River says nothing, but his face is flushed. He doesn’t seem to be listening, but that’s nothing new.
“Anyway, are we leaving now?” I ask.
He adjusts his hat, then adjusts it once more as he paces the kitchen.
“You okay?” I go to him, placing my palm on his shoulder. “River, stop. You’re scaring me.”
He releases a hard breath through his lips, his jaw clenching as he looks my way, and then he drags his hand down his face.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “You were saying?”
“Nothing.” I wave my hand. “It was just a dumb little story. We still going?”
“Yeah.” He seems completely out of it, but I don’t ask. Maybe he ran into someone in town who reminded him of Allison? Maybe he had some kind of flashback?
Following him to the truck, I climb into the passenger side. “I talked to my sister this morning. I guess my ex has been harassing her too. First my boss, now my kid sister. Can you believe that? How can you be with someone for seven years and not know that they’re a complete lunatic?”
River starts the engine, turning my way. “If he messes with you, I’ll fucking kill him.”
“What?” I laugh, slightly. “I’ve never heard you talk like that.”
He shakes his head. “Sorry. He sounds like a lowlife. I don’t want him messing with you. If he does, he’ll have to answer to me.”
“Th-thank you.” I buckle up, wrapping my head around his sudden protectiveness toward me. I’m flattered. And also confused.
Extremely confused.
“Love that shade. Taupe looks so good on you. I can’t pull off much else besides fifty shades of pink.” Karly examines her manicure Sunday afternoon before whipping out her debit card. She insisted on treating me to a girls’ afternoon once she found out I was still around, and after the number the farm chores did on my nails, who was I to turn that down?
“Sorry.” I grab my vibrating phone from my bag and check the caller ID.
“You’re frowning. Why are you frowning? Is it that asshole ex again?” she asks.
“No.” I shove the phone back in my purse. “It’s Seth.”
Her jaw hangs as if I’ve just committed treason. “You’re not going to answer it?!”
I shrug. “He doesn’t know I’m still in town. It’d be weird.”
“Okay so answer it and tell him.”
“Then he’ll want to hang out,” I say.
Her jaw drops even further. “You don’t want to hang out with him? Do you know how many women in this town would kill for a minute of his individualized attention?”