My phone buzzes in my pocket, interrupting my moment of silence and enjoyment. Reaching for the device, I open my eyes and flick my gaze down to the screen. I wince at the sight of the name.
It’s Piggy.
I can’t imagine that I’m someone he wants to talk to right now, but I slide my thumb against the screen and hold it to my ear anyway. I’m no pussy, and I’m not going to back down from him or anyone else. He clearly wants some answers, and I’ll give him what I’m willing to and nothing else.
“Viking,” I simply state as my greeting.
“Where the fuck are you?” he demands as his own.
Keeping my gaze on the darkness ahead of me, I inhale a deep breath, allowing the salty air to enter my lungs before I force it out in a long exhale. I wonder if the salt air is really healing. I hope it is. I feel like I probably need that shit.
“The beach,” I state. “I need some time away from the mountains.”
“Time away from the mountains or time away from my sister?” he demands.
I refuse to answer that. So I don’t, at least not the way he wants me to. “Mountains,” I state… which is a complete fucking lie. “I’m in South Carolina.”
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Paul didn’t stay long. He left only a few minutes after he got there. But Millie went over and talked to her. That fuck’s been watching her. Anything he could have seen?”
I know what he’s asking, but I refuse to fucking answer him. I’m glad Paul didn’t stay long. It means they didn’t fuck at least, or if they did, it wasn’t any fun. I shouldn’t be thinking like that, because they will be fucking in less than a week, and it’s none of my goddamn business.
None.
Even though I wish it were.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
LAINEY
My boxes are packed.I’m only bringing three with me. The rest are labeled with the marker my brother bought for me to donate to charity. I hope they can help someone else set up their own home. I am keeping cherished mementos so that when I’m all alone in my new home, I can look back and remember the happiest times of my life.
My doorbell rings, and I know it’s time for me to go. Today is my wedding day. I’ll be spending the rest of the morning getting ready for the ceremony and the reception. Getting ready for my future.
For my new life.
And I’ll be doing so with the underlying sadness that I don’t think will ever go away. I have a feeling I’ll be sad for the rest of my life. My brother, my sister-in-law, my friends… and Gunnar.
Everything will change.
I know that the contract I signed, the demand and compromise to be able to stay in contact with my family, wasonly to appease me in the moment. I know that those things will change. If not immediately, then eventually.
I’m not going to be part of this world any longer. My social circle will change, and with distance, there is just no way to maintain the relationships that I have here. The bell rings again, and I move toward the door, reaching for the handle.
Before I open it, I look over my shoulder and take in the place again. The boxes stacked, the emptiness. My life is all wrapped up and consolidated into three boxes and one overnight bag.
“Lainey, are you there?” a familiar voice calls out.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I unlock the door and gently tug it open. Millie is standing directly in front of me. I expect to see her smiling, but she’s not. Instead, her gaze searches mine, and I can see the concern etched on her face.
I open my mouth to ask her if everything is okay, but she beats me to it. “What is wrong?” she demands.
I could tell her the truth, but I’m not going to. Because lies or truth, it doesn’t matter what I give her. Neither of us can change anything. Even if Posey says there’s an out with the contract, I am not the person who will take it. I’ve made a promise, and I’m going to stick with it.
Even if it’s at the expense of my happiness.
Though, to be fair, Gunnar has never and will never make me any kind of promise, so it’s not like I have any other options anyway. If I got out of the marriage and stayed here, he’d probably just continue to fuck me in secret until he got tired of me.
And as sad as that feels when I think about it, I know that it’s the truth. He won’t claim me. He won’t marry me. He’s made it clear that he’ll do neither. So this is my only option. This is my future.