She shrugged. “I couldn’t let him leave. That would ruin everything.”
“But he did leave.”
“Yeah, and Daddy isn’t happy about it.” She presses a hand to her heart. “Like it’s my fault or something. Do you see how I need to bring him back?”
I’m not sure what Caden’s side of the story is, or how he got entangled in this mess, but I do feel a sting of pity for this woman. She doesn’t understand that Caden isn’t the answer to her problems.
“Thank you for talking to me, Meredith. I appreciate your honesty.” I meet her gaze, leaning forward. ”I hope you’ll take this as well intentioned as I mean it, but Caden is never coming back.”
She’s already shaking her head. “He will as soon as I talk to him, convince him. Once he sees I didn’t follow through on my threat, he’ll forgive me.”
My head tilts. “What threat?”
“It was nothing, just one of those stupid things you say but don’t mean in the middle of a fight.”
“Which is?”
“I told him I’d ruin him and make it so he never worked again.” She rolls her eyes. ”But, God, I wasn’t serious.”
That must have been the final straw. I stand. “Thanks for your time. Stay in town if you need to, but you’re not going to get anywhere. You’ll be wasting your time, but obviously I can’t stop you from doing so.”
She blinks at me. “I have to fight for him.”
“You can do whatever you want. I have no control over you or Caden.”
Disappointment pinches her lips, and a scathing look transforms her lovely face. “He was sleeping with you and kept all of this from you. You know… Nothing about us. He kept me a secret. Aren’t you upset?”
She wants a fight. She’s geared up for it, but I have no intention of giving it to her.
I nod and say quietly, “I am upset. But this isn’t your fault. I’m not going to use you as a punching bag to deal with my anger and frustration at Caden.”
“But…” Her brow furrows. “We’re enemies.”
I shake my head. “No, we’re not. We’re the same, and I’m not about to tear you down because of Caden.”
“Oh…okay.” Her tone has lost its edge.
I walk toward the door. “Thanks for the time, and take care of yourself, Meredith.”
“Wait.” Her voice is urgent.
I pause, turning to look at her. “Yes?”
“I don’t understand you. Why are you being so nice?”
I give her the only answer that springs to mind, even though I don’t think she’ll understand. Just like I didn’t understand last night when Uncle Beau said it to me.
I shrug. “I want to be happy more than I want to be right.”
Not that I’m happy. Or know when I might be happy again.
But this is the path, and I’m walking it.
Caden
Italked to Wyatt, Jackson, and Gwen as best I could after Cat left. Maybe they don’t understand why I did what I did, but they don’t seem inclined to take any immediate action. I’m grateful, considering none of them are particularly pleased with me at the moment. I suspect if we weren’t preparing for the private event and Toulon’s opening, the story would end differently, but right now I will take what I can get.
I’m not ready to move on, not ready to climb into that old truck again and start over.