LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

      Abby

      I DABBED AT the moisture under my eyes with my pinkies, not wanting Remy and Tanner to interrogate me about the reason behind the tears when I re-entered the kitchen.

      I couldn’t believe it. Mum making a grand gesture. Seeking forgiveness. Re-establishing contact without trying to direct my life. Despite blaming them for so much, I’d missed my family and after our last confrontation had given up all hope of ever being part of the Prendigasts. But if Mum had made an overture, I hoped Dad would follow and, eventually, we’d be a family again.

      Not like before, with me afraid to voice an opinion or following their lead for everything, but in a mature way where we respected each other.

      I could live in hope.

      I paused at the kitchen door, breathed in and out a few times, before fixing a smile on my face and striding in. Only to find Remy slumped at a bench, head in hands, looking like he’d received devastating news.

      Tanner was nowhere to be seen.

      Foreboding strummed my spine as I approached him. ‘Hey, everything okay?’

      When he raised his head and his agonised, bloodshot gaze met mine, I knew it wasn’t. In fact, something bad had happened in the few minutes I’d been out front, and I rubbed my bare arms against the sudden chill sweeping over me.

      ‘Where’s Tanner?’

      He shook his head, his expression so morose I wanted to hug him. ‘Gone.’

      ‘Did you two fight?’

      ‘No.’ He swore, something he never did, and I pulled up a stool alongside him. ‘There’s no easy way to say this, but he’s not coming back.’

      Confused, I leaned closer. ‘What do you mean? Not coming back to help here? That was inevitable, but—’

      ‘He’s gone, Abby.’ He spoke softly, barely above a whisper. ‘And he asked me to say goodbye to you.’

      It took a second for understanding to dawn, and when it did I slumped against the bench too, filled with horror and disappointment and eventually numbness. An icy, debilitating chill that spread from my chest out, making my arms and legs tingle then shake.

      It did little to anaesthetise the pain twisting my gut, making me want to vomit.

      ‘What happened? I was only gone a few minutes.’

      I couldn’t comprehend it. This morning in bed he looked like he cared way beyond casual. Now he’d walked away from me without even saying goodbye? It didn’t make sense. Sadly, I had a feeling nothing Remy said would clarify my confusion.

      ‘Tanner’s in a funk and when he’s overwhelmed, he runs.’ Remy pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘It’s what he’s always done.’

      ‘Am I the cause of that funk?’

      Remy had the decency to meet my gaze when he nodded. ‘I think so. I’ve never seen him so happy. It’s why I thought this time would be different.’

      A stab of jealousy pierced my sadness. ‘So he’s done this before with other women?’

      ‘No, he’s never let other women get this close.’ A deep frown slashed Remy’s brow. ‘You’re a first, which is why I thought he’d make a stand and fight.’

      ‘I don’t understand. He’s in a funk because he’s happy?’

      Remy nodded, sorrow turning down his mouth. ‘He thinks he’s not good enough for you.’

      ‘What?’ Incredulous, I pressed my fingers to my temples to try and make sense of all this. ‘He’s successful, rich and hot. Why would he think he’s not good enough?’

      A slow-burning anger overtook my indignation. ‘And I’m not going anywhere, so why would he think I’d leave?’

      Remy faced me, his expression morose. ‘Has he mentioned our parents?’

      I nodded. ‘Yeah. Sounds like he idolised your mum but your dad was awful.’

      ‘Okay, so you know some of it...’ Remy shook his head. ‘It’s not my place to tell you everything I just learned, but let me say this. Tanner has been through a hell of a lot and he’s hurting...’ He shrugged, a simple gesture filled with helplessness. ‘It really messed with his head. Explains why as soon as he inherited his trust fund he rebelled, determined to do his own thing and prove himself to the world.’

      A picture formed in my head that broke my heart. A boy losing his parents too young and becoming emotionally stunted because of it. A child with an inherent lack of trust for anyone other than the brother who stood by him through everything. Now that boy had become a man who shunned intimacy because of that lack of trust.

      But I’d never given him any indication that I would hurt him.

      Other than the clearly articulated short-term nature of our liaison.

      Hell. I’d basically told him at the start that I was one of a long line of people in his life who wouldn’t stick around. No wonder he’d bolted when he’d thought we might be getting serious.

      I muttered a curse under my breath. ‘What can I do?’

      Remy patted my arm. ‘Honestly? Nothing. I know from experience that once Tanner makes up his mind, nothing or no one can change it.’

      He glanced away, his furtive look not filling me with confidence. ‘He thinks that once you’ll open your own patisserie, you’ll be absorbed back into your old life and you won’t want him cramping your style.’

      ‘What the...?’ I shook my head, confused again. ‘But I’m not opening my own patisserie. I mean, maybe one day, but I’m happy here.’

      Remy’s expression lightened as he eyeballed me. ‘But he overheard your mum’s offer and thought you’d accepted?’

      ‘He misconstrued.’ I made crazy circles at my temple. ‘That’s what happens when you listen at keyholes.’

      He managed a wan smile at my dry response. ‘So you’re staying?’

      ‘For as long as you’ll have me.’ I leaned over and gave him an impulsive hug. ‘You saved me when I needed it most. I’d never betray you.’

      ‘It’s not

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