Page 99 of With This Ring

“And you’re okay with that?” she asked. “She’s your sister, Hud.”

His eyes narrowed, and his anger sparked. “I’m aware of that, Dakota.”

“You should be doing everything in your power to work things out with her before you lose her forever. She’s positively heartbroken.”

His posture wilted and his throat thickened. “I know. I messed up, so the best thing I can do is leave and get out of her way. If I stay, I’ll just make it worse.”

“That’s what you think?” She pointed a finger at him, her voice rising. “Your solution is to just run away from your problems like you always do.”

“What doesthatmean?”

“You heard me,” she insisted. “You’re running toward more money because that’s all you care about, Hud.”

He stood to his full height and shook his head, glaring at her. “I’m so tired of hearing that all I care about is money. That’snottrue.”

“Isn’t it though?” Her voice cracked. “You told me you couldn’t possibly make it here in this tiny, dead-end town, so you had to leave. But you never even asked me what I wanted.” She sniffed. “You never asked me where I wanted to live. You assumed we wanted the same things, but we didn’t.”

He studied her for a long moment, his thoughts whirling as silence swelled between them. The words hit him so fast and hard that he couldn’t quite comprehend them. The past filled his mind, and he felt his heart break all over again when he remembered how she’d thrown the ring in his face and said,“It’s over. I’m done. Go to New York without me.”

Finally, he took a step toward her. “So that’s what you think happened between us?”

“Yes, it is.” Her words wobbled, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You never considered me or what I wanted. It was always about you.”

He kept his expression solemn, hoping to hide how deeply her words cut him. “No, it wasn’t always about me, but you made it clear when you broke off our engagement that you never really loved me.”

She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “You’re so wrong, Hud,” she whispered, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

He swallowed as the lump in his throat expanded.

“I’vealwaysloved you, Hud, but you chose your career and money over me.”

Shock rocked him to his core. “That’snottrue, Dakota.” His words vibrated with his heartache.

“Itis, Hud. You’ve been obsessed with making money ever since you got your first job. You’ve made it the focus of your entire life.But when will you have enough?” Tears spilled down her face, and she brushed them away. “Make things right with your sister. She’s devastated, and running away won’t fix this.”

She pointed to the suitcase. “Layla is convinced she’s lost youandShane, and you can’t abandon her this way.” She wiped away more tears. “She’s your only sister. Do the right thing. If not for her, then do it in memory of your parents, Hudson. They wouldn’t want you and Layla to be estranged. Your sister and your aunt are all the family you have left in this world.”

She started toward the front door, and he took off after her. He couldn’t leave things like this. He cared about her too deeply.

“Dakota,” he called after her. “Please wait.”

When she reached the door, she spun to face him.

“I need to know something,” he said, holding up his hand.

She blinked. “What?”

His hands fell to his sides. “I never understood why you broke it off with me. You said we wanted different things, but tell me what I did wrong. How did I drive you away?”

“That’s the past, which doesn’t matter anymore,” she said, her words barely audible. “What matters is your sister and her happiness, which you’re destroying.”

“Dakota.” He moved closer to her. “Tell me why you broke up with me. Please. I need to know the truth.”

“I thought it was obvious, but my brother recently told me it was time I had an honest conversation with you. And you know what? I think he’s right.”

He tilted his head. “I hope you’ll always be honest with me.”

“I broke up with you because you insisted on moving away,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to New York. I wanted to stay here and live my dream of owning a business in Flowering Grove, and that’s what I did. But now that dream is falling apart too.”