Trevor sat back, contemplating. “The high road,” he said, his gaze darting between Taryn and me, like he couldn’t believe we didn’t comprehend his shorthand. He tossed his pen on the table. “As in ‘take the high road.’”

Pleased with himself, he took a sip of bottled water while Taryn muttered something under her breath that sounded like “arrogant fat boy.”

“What?” I mouthed, to which Trevor laughed and said, “She called me an arrogant frat boy.”

While this made better sense, as Trevor didn’t have an ounce of fat on him, I was still surprised by Taryn’s lack of professionalism. Until I noticed her eyes bouncing to my phone every few seconds and her nose twitching like she’d smelled something bad. She hadn’t mentioned Logan since we’d walked into Trevor’s building, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still smarting over yesterday’s revelations.

“How exactly do you want me to take the high road?” I asked.

Trevor mussed a hand through his hair. “Keep quiet. No scandals. Basically, you need to keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll hit Mac’s team with a carefully worded letter. Warn them that we’ll countersue for inducement if he even thinks about tempting one of your clients into breaking an NDA.”

I sighed. “Okay. But what if he doesn’t know about Harper’s tape?” Trevor and Taryn exchanged a look. The one that said, “Isn’t she cute?” Irritated, I snapped, “I know it’s unlikely, but the bastard already has the gun. Let’s not give him the ammo.”

My phone buzzed, eliciting another series of facial twitches from my best friend.

Screw this.

Lifting my backpack into my lap, I said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ve got a plane to catch.”

Taryn didn’t bother to hide her eye roll. She knew I was flying private, so I had no reason to rush. But honestly, I just wanted to get out of there.

“Wait,” Trevor said, his brows diving together as he shifted his focus to Taryn. “Didn’t you say that Dylan was coming by?”

My head whipped in her direction. “What?”

Taryn stopped shooting daggers at Trevor’s head long enough to meet my gaze. “Dylan flew in yesterday. He’s meeting with Miles this morning, or did you forget?”

Awkward silence swirled between us as Taryn pressed her lips together and went to work picking imaginary lint off her linen skirt.

“Well,” Trevor drawled, pushing back from his desk. “Obviously you two need a minute. Can I grab something for y’all from the break room? Water, soda?” Smirking, he hauled to his feet. “Dueling pistols?” Taryn and I swiveled our heads in his direction and scowled. “Just don’t get any blood on the carpets.”

When the door slid shut behind him, Taryn held up a hand, one corner of her mouth ticked up in irritation. “Don’t lose your shit, Belle. Dylan was coming anyway.”

For the last year, since she’d returned from California, I’d been walking on eggshells because I was afraid of driving her away with my bad attitude. But, I was done.

Pushing out of my chair, I glared down at her. “Look, Taryn, whatever’s up your ass, you’d better pull it out. You’re the only one I’ve told about Logan. And I can’t afford for this to be made public right now. It’s not good for Twin Souls or Caged or me. So don’t go getting it into your head that you’re going to tell Dylan. He’ll find out after the tour ends.”

Her mouth fell open. “You think you’re going to be together after the tour ends?”

Did I?

Sliding a hip onto the desk, I considered it for a moment. “I’d like to be.”

Shock painted her features. “Shit … you’re in love with him.”

It wasn’t a question, but she scrutinized me carefully, waiting for confirmation.

“T-Rex …”

“You are.” Her voice rose, and I wasn’t sure if it was concern or surprise. “I can see it.”

I met her gaze, suddenly serious. “This isn’t high school. You can’t tell anyone.”

A smile quirked her lips. “That you love Logan? And you want to have a million of his babies?”

She’d meant the joke as a peace offering, a way to ease the tension, but she’d hit too close to home.

Gripping the side of the desk for support as the air squeezed from my lungs, I tried to keep my features schooled, but Taryn caught on, and the light drained from her eyes.

“Belle, what is it?”

Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “Nothing.”

Anyone else, it may have worked. But this was Taryn, and she was on her feet in an instant, her hand gripping mine. “It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

“I can’t … I won’t be able to have kids.”

Now that Taryn knew, it somehow made it real. Which is probably why I’d kept it to myself. But it was out there now, taking up space in the world. Another tiny tragedy.

Taryn dropped back into her seat, still holding my hand. “Are you sure?”

I tried to smile, but it didn’t feel right. “The doctor said it’s too risky.”

She looked down, nodding. When we were younger, we’d always talked about raising our kids together. Taryn, Paige, and me. And now we had to grieve the loss of that dream as well.

But not today.

Today, Logan was waiting for me, and I didn’t want to think about the bad things.

“I have to go,” I said. “Give me a hug.”

Tears lined her eyes as she wobbled to her feet, throwing her arms around me and holding on tight. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

I pressed my cheek to her shoulder. “Yeah … I think I do.”

I have to make a stop. I’ll be there soon.

I sent the text to Logan, then took a deep breath and climbed out of my car. A gentle breeze smelling of fresh cut grass rustled my hair as I made my way up the sloping hill, willing myself to take the one-hundred-and-thirty-seven steps.

Sinking onto my knees in the shade of the oak tree, I laid the large spray of roses, lilies, and daisies in front of Rhenn’s headstone. An offering to go along with the tears that were flowing freely now, and the note I’d scrawled last night.

Hugging my sides, I rocked gently and spoke directly to him.

“I wrote you a little poem.” Sniffling, I placed my hand flat over Rhenn’s name, then let my fingers glide over the Beauty and the Beast quote as I tried to find the words. “I wanted to tell you … to explain …” My stomach pitched, and I dug my nails into the stone. “I have to move on now, baby. It’s time. I’ll miss you every day.” Blowing out a shaky breath, I straightened up and smiled. “Thank you for loving me. And for showing me how to love. Sleep well. I’ll be back really soon to visit.”

I kissed the scrap of paper with all the words and all the thoughts and all the gratitude I could never express. And then I carefully tucked the note inside the stems of the bouquet and placed the flowers in the urn attached to the stone.

Snapping off a stargazer that had yet to bloom, I rested the bud on the grass in front of Paige’s memorial. “Take care of him, ladybug. Take care of each other.”

As I wobbled to my feet, I committed every sight and smell to memory before pressing one final kiss to my fingers and releasing it on the wind.

I’d be back. Of course I would, but this was different.

This was goodbye.

“I love y’all. Always.”

Tears blurred my vision as I raced down the hill. But for the first time in nearly six years, when I drove away, I didn’t look back.