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The coffee slips from my fingers, making a mess of the sidewalk. But I can’t bend or think or clean it up. I’m frozen.

Shane steps forward, clutching my arms. “He’s stable, Harloe. Your brother was there, and they called the ambulance right away. He’s going to be fine.”

“He had a heart attack?” It’s nearly a whisper as a wave of guilt moves through me. “This is all my fault. He told me to let it go, but I couldn’t stop pushing. I wanted to save the bar, not caring how much stress that was going to bring on him. Especially with this investigation. I’m killing him.”

“You didn’t do this. It’s not that simple.” Shane squeezes my arms, but I pull out of his grip.

“It is that simple. What am I doing?” Chasing dreams, lying to everyone, pretending.

I’ve been so distracted by this temporary relationship with Shane that I haven’t been paying attention to my father’s health. How long has he been getting worse? Why haven’t I seen it?

I should have been there. Instead, I was locked in a room answering questions about a fire I had nothing to do with, all because I pissed off my ex by having a temporary fling with a biker.

“Let me get you to the hospital.”

I’m frozen as Shane puts on my helmet. He grabs my discarded coffee cup off the sidewalk and tosses it into a nearby trash can before climbing onto his bike and helping me do the same. I’m in a haze, my mind swimming as we cut through town. With each turn, I’m surprised I don’t fall off.

When we finally pull up to the hospital, I spot my brothers’ trucks in the parking lot. Of course they’re already here. They’re not being interrogated for whatever role the cops think I played in a fire because of a vengeful ex.

I’ve been playing pretend. Leaning into this game with Shane like it wouldn’t all catch up with us. Like it wouldn’t piss Zander off even more. And now, look what it’s doing to my family.

My foot catches on a crack in the pavement, and I stumble off Shane’s bike, not waiting for his help. He catches my arm, but I pull away.

I’ve been selfish, choosing him when I knew it would make things worse for Will’s ranch and Ransack. I’ve been choosing him over the people who’ve been there with me my entire life.

All for what? So he can break my heart when he leaves?

I can’t do this anymore. I can’t risk any more distractions.

Shane pulls off his helmet and starts climbing off his bike, but I shake my head, holding a hand out to stop him. “You should go.”

“I can take you in there. I know what room⁠—”

“The nurses can tell me what room he’s in.” I wrap my arms around my stomach as Shane settles onto his seat again, frowning. “This is a family matter. I think it’s better if I go in there alone. I need some space to think.”

He huffs out a breath. “This isn’t just about your dad, is it?”

My fingers thread through my hair. “Everything is about him, Shane. He’s why I came home. He’s the reason I’m fighting for the bar. He and my brothers need me right now.”

“I understand that.”

“Then let me go.” It comes out louder than I intend, so I snap my mouth shut. I didn’t mean to say that, but I can’t bring myself to take it back either. “I think it’s time we call this what it was. We both held up our ends of the deal. The clubhouse is moving forward. Ransack is moving forward. I think it’s time we move forward too. This was never supposed to be permanent. You were always leaving.”

“Harloe—” He reaches for my hand, and I step back.

“I can’t let you finish that. I’m sorry.” I clutch my stomach. “If you say something, I’ll think with my heart and not my head, and my family needs me right now. We let this go too far, and I don’t regret that, but we can’t let it go any further. I have my responsibilities, and you have yours. It’s time we both get back to them. Please, for my sake, if you care about me at all, you’ll leave right now.”

The pain in Shane’s eyes is too much, so I look away. Like a coward, I back up. His mouth opens, and I wish he’d talk me out of this.

But what would he say?

We were always going to end.

Before he can convince me otherwise, I turn and walk into the hospital, washed in the artificial chill from the air conditioner as I step through the doors. I shiver, but it has nothing to do with the cool air and everything to do with Shane’s bike starting at the curb.

He leaves just as I asked.

Unfortunately, my heart goes with him.