Page 29 of Adoring Ink

A single rose for her last name and so she’d remember that each petal stood for something she’d fought for, and perhaps, something she’d lost.

She’d thought of the idea after Brody had left the first time, and had wanted to talk to him about it before he’d walked out of her life forever. Now, she was kind of happy she hadn’t told him so he couldn’t ruin that as well.

There was nothing like getting your love thrown back in your face, no matter how hard you tried to not let it break you down.

Maybe if she was a different person, she’d have tried to find another way to make him see her, to help him heal, but she’d spent her entire childhood and high school years doing that for other people, and she’d promised herself she’d never do it again.

Not even for the man she loved.

Because he didn’t love her back.

And no matter what she said, what she did, those facts would never change.

So here she was, about to go down the beginner’s course of a river and trying not to break down and cry. Brody should have been by her side; he should have been there to help her cross the last two things off her list.

Then he should have been by her side when she made her second list.

Or even a list she could share with him and him alone.

But he wasn’t, and she needed to get over it. She rolled her shoulders back and made her way to the others. They’d gone through the training, and now she was ready to get this over with. Not the best outlook when it came to her adventure-filled list, but she wasn’t the same woman she was when she’d started the darn thing, and there was no going back now.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

She turned on her heel, her heart in her throat. “What are you doing here?”

Brody had his hands in the pockets of his shorts, his life vest securely buckled, and a helmet on his head. “It was on your list, and we scheduled this together, remember? I’m certified and went through their training already. Sorry I’m late, though; I had to pick up something.”

She raised her chin, annoyed with herself for liking the fact that he was here even for a moment. He’d hurt her, darn it, and he didn’t deserve anything from her. Not anymore.

“You left and were pretty clear about why you were going. Do you think you’re just going to walk back into my life and start up where we were before? Because I don’t think so.”

A crowd was gathering around them but she ignored it. She was done being the sweet and happy Holly. Done. Brody could go fuck himself for all she cared.

Not that she said that, but she was sure thinking it.

“I…I want to explain.” He didn’t give her that dimple of his that let him get away with so much, and she was glad for it.

“You explained enough yesterday.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Okay, crew, we’re ready to head out. Get in position.”

Holly glared at Brody as their guide called out instructions, and she huffed out a breath when the guy said Brody’s name.

“And I take it if you stay behind, it screws up the whole trip.”

Brody winced. “There’s the weight issue to think of.”

She growled, and his eyes widened. Good. He should be scared, or at least surprised. “Fine.”

She stomped off to her side and took the paddle, going over the instructions she’d been given in her head and firmly placing Brody out of the way in her mind. Why was he here? It didn’t make any sense. He’d said he wanted to explain, and now he was here, about to join in on one of the last things on her list. The list that should have made her feel better about herself, and instead, would only remind her of Brody and the fact that he didn’t love her.

Another slice of pain echoed in her heart, but she ignored it.

She needed to get her head in the game. Not only was her safety and well-being on the line, but so were the lives of the people in her raft. She couldn’t be thinking about Brody when she needed to worry about the dangers in front of her.

And if she’d thought about that before she’d fallen in love with him, maybe it wouldn’t hurt this much.