Page 77 of Rumor Has It

Chapter 16

Mackenzie

I hold my breath, praying he doesn’t wake Rumor when he leaves. Once I hear the door slam shut, I try to catch my breath. I don’t want her to see me this way, not after the other day.

His anger was almost tangible, he emitted it. I’ve never saw him so hurt, not even when I told him about Rumor. I suppose I had no right in hoping we could make our way back to one another.

“I’ve been fooling myself, he’s never gonna want me again.” A pain, deep in my chest, takes my breath and I struggle for air.

He hates me, and there’ll never be a chance to regain his trust. The look in his eyes spoke volumes, he’s done with me. I’ve always been honest with him, no matter the price.

But I never dreamed when I laid my heart at his feet, he’d walk all over it. His words cut like a sword, double edged and as deep as they were hard. My chest breaks open with a sound I can only imagine sound like the earth splitting into parts.

Hours pass, and I can’t sleep for thinking of Boone. I also can’t lay awake for replaying every word we said to each other, even the pain on his face is so fresh, it’s like it’s happening right now.

I lay here, watching the dawn of a new day. It doesn’t hold the promise it once did, when I dreamed of finding Boone and telling him how wrong I was for hurting him. That I love him, and the promise of a new day would lift us up.

*scene break*

“I’m fine, Ridge.” I wave him off when he hurries to my side.

He doesn’t listen, wrapping his arms around me until I can find a seat. “When the fuck is the last time you’ve eaten?”

“If I could remember, I’d tell you.” I purse my lips.

He shakes his head. “I bet it was Sunday, wasn’t it?

“I’m not sure.” I avert my eyes.

He gets in my face, pointing his finger at me. “It’s Friday, Mack. You damn well better eat or you’ll regret it.”

“I can’t, Ridge.” I clutch at my stomach. “He hates me so much, I deserve the pain and so much more. He should’ve broke my heart, I did it to him. I broke that beautiful man, and his perfect soul.”

He throws his arms around me, holding me like he has so many times over the years. And for the exact same reason; me, missing Boone. “Give him time, Mack. He hasn’t changed for you, he’s just being a jealous ass.”

“He’s been gone a week, he’s never coming back.” My body vibrates, wracked with pain.

“Hang in there, girl. You knew coming in this wasn’t going to be easy.” He rubs my back, soothing me.

“I never, in a million years, envisioned it would be this bad.” I tremble as I relive every fatal blow our words caused. “He hates me.”

“If I thought that, I’d tell you to move on, and you know it.”

I nod. “I do, but it’s been days. There’s still no word.”

“Time, Mack. It’s heals just about everything, that and love.” He squeezes me before letting me go. “Hang in, there.”

I get back to work after trying to eat, food is making my belly hate it. We lock up, and I trudge to my truck. I climb in, driving home on automatic. My grandpa stayed with Rumor today, dad’s coming to pick him up.

He pulls in right behind me. I wait on him, meeting him before we go inside. “Hey, baby. Are you feeling any better?”

“No, but I will.” I sigh heavily when he hugs me tightly.

He smiles, holding the door open for me. “Yes, you will.”

“I’m not sure why this stuff hurts so bad, it’s just a heart.” I shrug, turning to my grandpa, but finding more. I step back, gripping the door.

He waves, smiling warily. “Hey.”