Chapter Three

Karmen Jones

When you’re drinking it seems like the best

idea in the world. When you wake up hungover, not so much. Lying in

my bed I wait for the worst of the nausea to pass before sitting up

against the headboard. My brain feels like it is being split by a

railroad spike and my mouth feels like it’s been stuffed with

cotton wool.

The message tone on my phone sounds in the

silence, sending a new round of throbbing pains through my head. I

glare at the offending device where it lays on my bedside table but

don’t pick it up. I have priorities now.

First things first, I need to empty my

bladder and brush my damn teeth. Then, I may be able to face my

phone if not the world. It doesn’t matter how shitty I feel today

or how much I drank last night, I can remember every single thing

that happened.

Walking out of the bathroom, I rub at the

center of my chest where the pain still resides. Tears well in my

eyes but I fight them back. Last night was enough. I cried for

hours until I was sober and finally my spent body fell asleep.

Heartbreak sucks but at least now I know where I stand. Today, it’s

time for a new me. To move on from Wesley and start living.

Grabbing my phone, I unlock the screen and

stare at the messages. All fifteen of them. And they are all from

Wesley. Taking a deep breath, I clear my inbox, not opening a

single one before I do. Scrolling down to his contact information,

I block him. I need a clean break.

He is going to try to fix this with words,

but he can’t. There isn’t a single thing he can say that will

change the truth. I love a man who doesn’t love me.

Looking around my bedroom I make a decision,

one that will change everything. Jumping from my bed once more, I

quickly shower before getting dressed. Glaring at the bright

morning sun, I slide my sunglasses onto my face and walk the three

blocks into town. I could take my car, but walking gives me time to

think through my plan and I need to make a mental list of all the

things I have to do today.

Main Street is busy. People are milling

around, making their way in and out of stores or sitting in the

diner with friends and family for breakfast. I don’t stop and chat

with anyone, letting my feet carry me to my destination. Pushing

open the glass door, I enter the air-conditioned building, three

sets of eyes immediately drawn to me.

“Who wants to sell my house?”

“What?” Shane Blake asks with a frown.

“You’re selling the house?”

“Yes,” I reply, taking a seat across from

his desk. “My parents are in Florida and there’s nothing for me in

Severn. It’s time for a change.”

“Are you sure?” he asks softly.

“If you don’t want the commission, I’m sure

I can find someone else to do it.”

He snorts. “This is the only agency in town,

sweets. And I own it.”

“Then just do your damn job, Shane!” I

counter loudly, frustration bubbling up inside me. “Please. Just do

this for me.”

“Fine,” he sighs, typing on his laptop. “Do

you have a minimum threshold?”

“I don’t care,” I say honestly. “It’s just a

house. I have savings so I’m leaving as soon as I’m packed, and you

can let me know when it’s sold.”

“Karmen, I don’t know what is going on but

are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

Standing, I glare at him. “I need the Blake

brothers to stay out of my business. Just treat me like any other

customer.”

He nods even though I know he still has

something to say. “I’ll get the listing drawn up. Don’t go too far

because once the sale is finalized, you’ll need to sign the

paperwork.”

“Fine.”

Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I pull

up Lenor’s number and wait for her to answer.

“How are you feeling?” she asks. “Because I

don’t remember being run over by a truck.”

“Fucking great,” I reply with a chuckle.

“I’m moving to Boston. Do you want to go with me?”

A beat of silence passes between us before

she speaks. “When do you want to leave?”

And that is why she is my bestie, my ride or

die.

****

Wesley Blake

It’s been eight hours since Karmen walked

out of my life. Eight of the longest goddamned hours of my entire

life. I have sent message after message and even tried to call. But

she must have blocked my number because I can’t reach her.

I pace the length of my kitchen as I try to

decide whether I need to drive to her house or give her some more

time to calm down. I know her well enough to know she is probably

pissed off and likely to rip me a new one the moment she sees me.

But I also don’t want to let her marinade in the thoughts currently

running through her mind.

Last night, I should have said the words

I’ve been holding back for far too long. Because my brother is

right. I am in love with Karmen Jones and hiding my feelings is

hurting us both. Keeping the promise I made to Tommy all those

years ago isn’t worth the havoc and pain it’s causing. We’ve argued

and fought before but nothing like this. She told me she loved me,

she kissed me, and my dumb ass didn’t do a damn thing.

Someone knocks on the door, and I almost rip

it off the damn hinges I open it so quickly. The woman standing on

my threshold is not the one I was hoping for.

“Lenor?”

She shoves me harshly in the center of my

chest. “You fucking idiot!”

Now I understand. She is here as the best

friend to lay into me for making Karmen cry. I want to explain but

I don’t get a chance as she shoves me again.

“Do you know what Karmen just did? What she

is busy doing?”

Fear explodes across my senses, and I grab

Lenor’s arms to keep her from pushing me again.

“What’s going on? Is Karmen okay?”

“No, you fucking shmuck!” she yells in my

face. “She put her damn house up for sale and is packing as we

speak.”

“Packing?”

I hear the words but it’s like I forgot how

the English language works. The things she is saying don’t make

sense.

“Yes, Wesley. Karmen is moving to

Boston.”

It’s like falling through the ice covering

the lake in the heart of winter. First, the numbness and then the

shock followed by intense pain as my entire world is thrown into

disarray.

“You need to do something,” she says.

“I don’t know what you want me to do,” I

say, repeating similar words from last night. “She is a grown

woman, and this is her decision.”

It physically hurts to push the words past

my lips. Maybe this is a sign that I need to let her go. I’m not

the type of man she needs in her life, and letting her go to Boston

will give us both a chance to move on from whatever this is.

“You’re really going to let her leave? I

never thought you were a coward, Wesley Blake.”

She doesn’t stick around, slamming the door

as she walks out. Falling onto the couch I hold my head in my

hands. Am I being a coward? Am I allowing her to walk away so I

don’t have to put my heart on the line? Or am I doing the right

thing by letting her go?

Tommy wanted the best for his sister. He

always said no one was good enough and that includes me. I may not

be good enough for her, but I can stop her from making snap

decisions that will haunt her later. Grabbing my phone, I call my

brother.

“I’ll buy it,” I say the moment he picks

up.

“Buy what?”

“Karmen’s house.”

“You’ll buy her house, but you won’t tell

her how you feel? Why do I get the feeling that all of this is

somehow your fault?”

“I didn’t call to ask your opinion on

matters that have nothing to do with you.”

“You sound just like her, you know?” he says

softly.

I know my brothers love me and they only

want to help but I wish they would stay out of my fucking

business.

“Let me know when the paperwork is

ready.”

I end the call without listening to whatever

else he has to say. I have the money and I don’t care what it

costs. I was saving to buy a house, so I don’t have to live over

the bar for the rest of my life. Now I have a house, even if I

won’t ever live in it.