His eyes fill with tears. “I can’t.”

“Oh,” I say with pain layered on that one syllable. He can’t touch me? Me? I need his touch. I’ve fallen for him, and now he can’t bear to be around me. Everything is wrong. This isn’t how it’s meant to be.

It’s my worst fear come to fruition. I believe that at some point, Wyatt Hennington fell in love with me. I felt it every time he looked at me. But now he looks at me with something else. It’s not love and affection. He’s not hot and cold, he’s just . . . frozen.

“I’ll be back later,” Wyatt says as he turns away. “I have to check on the horses.”

I don’t think that’s true, but I’m too shocked to protest. I’ve pushed him too far. He grabs his sweatshirt and keys. Before he walks out the door, I finally reply. “I’ll be here.”

He pauses as he’s halfway out the door. “For now,” he says and then the door shuts.

The air is forced from my lungs, tears fall, and I lose it.

I’m not sure how much a heart can withstand before it gives out completely.

“Hey, Angie,” Grace says with surprise. “I didn’t think I’d see you already.”

I couldn’t sit in that house another minute. Wyatt was gone, and I don’t have a car, so when Trent came by to check in on me, I talked him into driving me here. Of course, he very indiscreetly made a phone call when I was demanding he take me to the bakery. The conversation lasted a few minutes with Trent whisper-yelling as I got ready. I couldn’t hear what he said, but Wyatt either didn’t care or didn’t argue with his brother. Seems he’s being a dick to everyone.

Trent tried to convince me to stay home, but I demanded he take me or I was calling his mama.

Here I stand.

“Yeah,” I say flippantly. “I was bored. I’d rather be here than staring at the same four walls.”

Grace nods. “I understand that. I can’t imagine sittin’ around all day. I’d go out of my mind,” she laughs. “How are you feelin’?”

“Still a little sore. I go to the doctor tomorrow for my post-op check-up. Otherwise, I’m breathing.”

“Wanna sit for a bit? I’ve been dreamin’ of these cupcakes for the last few days and would love to not have to eat alone.”

“Sure.” I smile and come around the counter.

“Presley tells me you haven’t decided if you’re headin’ back to Pennsylvania,” she says then sips her coffee.

“Presley has a big mouth.” I roll my eyes.

“Sorry, I guess I was just hopin’ that maybe you were going to stay.”

Grace is sweet, and I genuinely like her. She brought more food than anyone else over the last few weeks. She said when she’s emotional, she cooks. It was heartwarming to see a town reach out to us. Even though the loss was by far more of Wyatt’s and my own.

“You didn’t overstep. Things are . . .” I struggle to finish my thought.

“Wyatt isn’t handling things well, is he?” Grace takes a guess.

“No.”

She sighs and folds her hands. “I was afraid of that.”

“Why?”

Grace leans back in the chair and worries her lip. “We’ve all been close our whole lives. You don’t grow up in a town like this and not know everyone. Wyatt has always been the strongest of the Hennington boys. Zach and Trent have always relied on him in ways that many don’t see. Sure, Trent is supposed to be the law, and Zach was the star athlete with the girl of his dreams.” She waves her hand as if those two points don’t really mean much. “But Wyatt has been their rock. He stood back, watched them do what they do, and supported everyone. He’s the fixer. He’s the man who pushes them through all the messes they make. Now though, he can’t fix this. He can’t give you back what you lost, what he feels like he caused.”

“He’s not worried about fixing me.” I look away. “He’s too busy breaking me apart.”

Grace rests her arms on the table and takes my hand in hers. “I can see that. I don’t think he knows how to deal with that. You know what I mean?”

I do know what she’s saying. But I don’t know what to do about it. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”

“I’m sorry,” she says quickly.

“Nothing to apologize for, Grace. I need a break from my life. Tell me, how are you and Trent?”

“Trent.” Grace shakes her head and looks away. “I have spent my entire life waiting for the man to love me. It’s hard when you love someone like I love Trent. He’s hurt me so many times, but I can’t walk away from him. Even now.”

“What’s changed?”

“Cooper.”

I know that I have big issues in my own life, but for this minute . . . it feels good to talk about something else. I’m not worrying about all the shit rattling around in my own head, I can maybe help someone else.

“Do you like him that way?” I ask. The last thing I would want is Presley’s brother to get caught up in a love triangle.

Grace nods. “I really do. I never saw him that way. He was always my best friend’s brother.” She sighs. “Now though, I can’t stop thinkin’ about him. He keeps asking me out, but I can’t find a way to say yes.”

“Can I offer my advice?”

Her hand grips mine. “Please, I’ve been going crazy not havin’ anyone to talk to. I can’t talk to Presley about this, it’s her brother and then a Hennington. Emily, who you met once, is too busy bein’ a big country music singer . . . I could use a friend.”

I place my hand over hers. “If you think that Trent Hennington isn’t going to change his ways, then you follow your heart. Cooper is a good man. I don’t think he’d risk his friendship, family, and his heart if he wasn’t serious about you. A man fights for the woman he loves.”

And that right there is the problem I’m having. Wyatt isn’t fighting.

He’s letting me go.

He’s watching me drift away out to sea.

I’m losing him every day that passes, and it’s destroying me.

“EVERYTHING IS HEALING NICELY, ANGIE. I’d like you to take it easy for another week or so. No heavy lifting, and then we’ll start physical therapy for your wrist in about two weeks when we remove the cast,” the doctor explains. “Do you have any questions?”

I go over my list of things to ask, especially about travel. It’s been four weeks since the accident. All the bruises are gone and cuts are healed. Other than the wound still very deep inside my soul, I’m doing well.

I have to go back to Philadelphia sometime in the next week, Erin has been nothing but supportive while I’ve been healing, but it’s not fair to leave her on her own much longer. Presley offered to road trip with me and the boys. They’ve been begging to visit some of their friends, and I could use the company. Plus, she misses the bakery, so it’s something I have been thinking about.

I glance to the empty plastic chair that Wyatt should be sitting in but isn’t. He decided not to come in with me. Again, another show of his new attitude. Each little thing adds a new tear to my already annihilated heart. I don’t understand this at all. Maybe it’s my lack of relationships that has me so inept in dealing with this. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s never endured loss and I seem to be a pro at it.