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Marley was all class. But I felt like there was this stain on my soul, one I’d never clear away.
“You’re not them, you know.”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You grew up in a loving family. You weren’t embarrassed by your trashy parents or picked on because you lived in a trailer.”
“Well, no, but you know that says more about those kids then it does you, right?”
I couldn’t see anything right now. Every muscle in my body ached. I felt like I’d run a marathon without drinking any water. My heart hurt, my back was tight, and I just wanted to disappear. “You brought my parents here. I can’t forget that.”
Fiona sucked in a breath, her eyes filling with pain. “You know I didn’t do that on purpose.”
“Do I?” My voice was cold, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I needed to protect her from me. I needed to push her away before her life was tainted too. “You’re just as impulsive as you were when we were nineteen, asking me to marry you.”
Her hand went to her chest, and pain flashed across her face. “You can’t possibly mean that.”
“You need to go. Back to your family and your job.”
Fiona had shrunk under the weight of my words, but then she straightened, seemingly gathering courage from somewhere deep inside of her. “I’m sorry about what happened. It was never my intention for them to see it.”
I shook my head. “Just go.”
Fiona let out a frustrated breath. “I’ll leave. But you’re going to regret everything you said tonight.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” I forced myself to say and do anything necessary to get her to leave. She needed to be as far away from me as possible. I wouldn’t rest until she was gone, until my parents couldn’t touch her.
I’d kept them away from her when we were dating as teens, and I wouldn’t let them near her now. She was mine to protect. But as she turned on her heels and walked away, I couldn’t help but think I’d just lost her forever.
I tried to tell myself it was for the best. We never had a future together. We had moments in time where we could enjoy each other, but we wouldn’t work long-term. My family didn’t make sense with hers. The inn didn’t elevate my worth. I’d always be trailer trash, just like my mom said.
Emmett walked into the kitchen a few minutes later while I was drinking ice water. “You okay? Fiona just walked out with a couple of suitcases.”
“You help her to her car?” I asked tightly.
“Talon helped her carry her things out.”
My stomach sunk even though it was what I wanted. “Good.”
“You don’t want to run after her, tell her you’re an idiot for whatever you said or did?” Emmett’s voice was gruff.
I snorted. “The best thing she could do is leave. She’s better off without me.”
Emmett sighed long and hard. Then he grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and a bottle of scotch I kept under the sink. He poured two shots, shoving one over to me.
I didn’t wait for him to take his; I just threw it back, enjoying the bite of the liquor on my throat. I slammed the glass on the counter. I welcomed the rush.
“You’re an idiot. You know that, right?”
“Fuck off.” I’d heard he was the asshole Monroe brother. The one who resisted change on the farm and fought his brothers and mother over everything. But right now, I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
“I was the first of my brothers to fall in love. When I met Ireland, she was engaged to someone else, but that didn’t stop me from wanting her.”
I lifted my head, the throbbing a dull ache now due to the alcohol. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because maybe you need to hear it.”
I gestured at him to continue.
“Ireland wanted to hold her wedding on my farm. I said yes, not because I wanted to see her marry someone else but because I wanted her to be happy.”
