"No." I shook my head. "Unlike you, I was faithful. But I should have left you years ago. For myself, not for anyone else. Because you never deserved me, Garrett. And I'm done pretending you did."
Silence. The whole bar held its breath.
Then Garrett grabbed his jacket from the booth and stormed toward the door. He paused at the threshold, turning back to look at me one last time.
"You'll regret this," he said. "When you're stuck in this dead-end town with your mountain trash boyfriend, you'll remember what you gave up."
"The only thing I gave up was four years of my life that I'll never get back." I met his eyes without flinching. "Goodbye, Garrett. Don't come back."
He left. The door slammed behind him as the entire bar erupted into whispers.
I sagged against Knox, suddenly exhausted. He held me up, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back.
"You okay?" he murmured against my hair.
"Yeah." I breathed out, long and shaky. "Yeah, I think I am."
Mae appeared at our side, having materialized from somewhere in the crowd. "That was the ex?" She looked toward the door with narrowed eyes. "Slick. Too slick. Never trust a man whose shoes are shinier than his soul."
I laughed, surprising myself. "Where were you four years ago with that advice?"
"Waiting for you to come home, sweetheart." Mae patted my cheek. "Now. You two need a drink. On the house. Sadie!"
She bustled off to the bar, and Knox guided me to a quiet booth in the corner, away from the curious eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said when we were seated. "I know you wanted to handle it yourself. But when he grabbed you..."
"You stopped yourself." I reached across the table and took his hand. "The old Knox would have put him through the wall."
"The old Knox didn't have anything to lose." He turned his hand over, lacing his fingers through mine. "I do now."
My heart swelled. This man. This impossible, perfect, infuriating man.
"Take me home," I said.
His eyes darkened. "Cal will be there."
"I know." I squeezed his hand. "I need to have that conversation. Tonight. Before I lose my nerve and before small town gossip reaches his ears."
Knox nodded slowly. "I'll drive you and wait outside while you talk, so I’m close if you need me there.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "I'm not going anywhere. Not ever again."
We left the bar together, Knox's arm around my shoulders, my head held high. I could feel people watching, and could already imagine the gossip that would spread through town by morning.
I didn't care.
For the first time in years, I felt like myself. Strong. Certain. Ready to face whatever came next.
Even Cal.
Chapter 11: Daisy
Cal's truck was in the driveway when Knox pulled up.
I sat in the passenger seat for a long moment, staring at the cabin, the warm glow of lights in the windows. Inside was the man who'd raised me. The man who'd made a choice eight years ago that had changed the course of my life.
"You don't have to do this tonight." Knox's voice was quiet. "It can wait."
"No, it can't. Not after tonight. The town will be talking about what happened and you coming to help me." I turned to look at him. "I've been waiting eight years to resolve why all this happened Knox. I'm done waiting."