And here’s Joe’s,” Paige says, leading Jacob into the bar. She’s enjoying his company, and Parker can’t help but smile.

“You two weren’t kidding when you said the tour of the town wouldn’t take longer than fifteen minutes,” he laughs.

They walk in and pick a table close to the door. Parker can feel Ryder’s presence before she sees him. Their connection has always been electric, and three years apart hasn’t changed that. She looks at the bar and sees him, and his body tenses. He feels it, too.

After a few minutes, they’ve ordered their drinks, and Parker excuses herself from the table with a box she pulled from her purse. She walks up to the bar and sees Mason nod in her direction from behind the bar as a warning to Ryder she was coming. He turns around faces her.

“Helping yourself to the liquor?” Parker teases Mason.

“Great way to hide in plain sight.”

“What’s her name?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“And what did she do?”

“Lit his car on fire,” Ryder says with a smirk. He’s always enjoyed Mason’s love life fiascos.

“Geez.”

“I really loved that car.”

“Might’ve been part of the problem,” Parker laughs.

“What do you have there?” Ryder asks nodding at the box in her hand.

“You know what it is.” She slides it along the bar top to him.

“I gave this to you. You don’t have to give it back.”

“I don’t feel right keeping Tara’s necklace. She meant a lot to you, and I don’t. Not anymore. You should give it to someone special.”

“I did.”

“I bet Vanessa would love it,” she says ignoring his comment.

“About last night,” he starts.

“It’s fine. Really.”

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry. I was drunk. And angry. And hurt. And I wanted to hurt you.”

“You accomplished your mission.”

“I know now you were trying to warn me about Kane.”

“Yeah, I was. But it is what it is.” She’s looking at the bar instead of him.

“I have to ask because it’s killing me. Why’d you say yes to him?”

“Because he’s a good man. He treats me well.”

“And I didn’t?” He tries to keep his anger under control, but he’s not very successful.

“You broke me, Ryder,” she whispers.

“Because I proposed to you?”

“You only proposed to me to fix a problem. Marriage isn’t a band-aid. It should be something special, not a fix-all.”

“What problems were so bad you felt you were better off leaving me?”

“I never wanted to leave you, but you didn’t give me a choice, Ryder. The biggest problem is in your hand right there.” She nods to his hand holding a full glass of whiskey. “What number is that?”

“So you decided to leave without any word? I sold my truck for that ring. I gave away both of my prized possessions for you. And you left me that night and never came back. No word. No explanation,” Ryder says still trying to keep his voice low.

Parker’s head snaps to look at Mason. “You never told him.” Ryder suspected it should’ve been a question, but it was a statement.

Mason shakes his head in response, and Ryder looks at him. “Told me what?”

“I have to get back to my table. I’m leaving in the morning. I hope you can get things figured out, Ryder. I may not be with you, but I still care a lot about you. And you’re going to kill yourself one of these days if you don’t stop drinking. But that’s your choice, and I will have to live with it. Among others.” Turning, she walks back to her table.

“What the fuck were you supposed to tell me?” Ryder snaps at Mason.

“What do you remember about the night you proposed?”

“She was running late because of some test or something. I was nervous and had a couple of beers. When she got home, I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said no and left. And never came back.”

“Yeah, that’s not what happened.”

Ryder looks at the door as the three of them stand up and leave. Parker seems less affectionate with Jacob than he does with her, and he’s not sure if it’s because of where they are, or if there is something amiss with the relationship. He hopes for the latter. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t have a couple of beers. You had a twelve-pack.”

“Okay, so I had more than a couple.”

“When she got home, you woke up from the couch and went to stand. You tripped and fell at her feet. You were slurring something about selling your truck and you hope she’s happy.”

“That’s not what happened. And even if it was, that’s not a good enough reason for her to leave without so much as a note.”

Mason sighs. “That’s what you told me happened, Ryder. She helped you to bed, and she cried as she left. I was in town hiding out for the weekend, and she called me because she was worried. She said she couldn’t stick around and watch you do this to yourself again. Seeing you this way hurt her, and you didn’t seem to care.”

“I didn’t know it hurt her.”

“Well, when you’re drunk more than you’re sober around her, you’re bound to forget something she tells you over and over again.”

“She left because she felt I chose alcohol over her.”

“Oh, dude, we haven’t even gotten to the worst part yet.”

“What could be worse than this?”

Mason grimaces. “When I got to your place, you didn’t like that I agreed with her, and you kicked me out. And locked the door. I called her, and she turned back around. We were worried you’d drink yourself to death that night.”

“I wouldn’t have done that.”

“With the way you were acting, it was a rational fear. And that was a risk neither of us was willing to take.”

“She came back?”

“It was dark, and I didn’t see, but you must’ve had Vanessa come through the back sliding door. I’m not sure if she brought you the booze, or if you had it already, but you were obliterated. By the time we got inside, we honestly thought we were going to have to call an ambulance to pump your stomach. I have never seen you so bad.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Wonder why.”

“What did I do?” Ryder can feel his stomach start to churn with dread.

“I don’t know for sure, but when we found you, you were naked. In bed. With Vanessa. There was a condom wrapper on the floor.”

“No,” Ryder shakes his head. “I wouldn’t do that to her. No matter how drunk I was, I wouldn’t cheat.”

“I don’t know man, but it certainly looked that way. But we’re not quite done yet.”

“How could it get any worse?” Ryder groans.

“Vanessa was wearing the ring. The same one you threw at Parker earlier.”

Vomit rises in his throat as Vanessa slinks up and warps her arms around his waist. “Hey baby,” she purrs.

“Not today, V.” Ryder unclasps her hands from around his waist.

“What’s wrong?” Vanessa tries to look into his eyes. “Oh, I see. She comes back to town, and now I’m not good enough? Is that it?”

“No, it’s because of me.” He stands up. Placing a twenty-dollar bill on the bar, he turns to the door. “Leave her alone.”