of the corridor and rounds the corner without so much as a glance back. Pain radiates through my entire body, my soul crushed into a thousand pieces.
But it’s my fault.
I did this.
To her.
And to me.
I have no idea how long I stand there, staring off at the last place I saw the woman I’ve fallen in love with, willing her to come back so we can talk about this. Yet, knowing in my heart it’s over. There’s no coming back from this, even though the will and drive is there. I lied to her, plain and simple. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen, and maybe even, deep down, knew would happen all along. Maybe if I’d had told her sooner things would be different now. But fear is a powerful thing. It keeps you from doing what’s right, even when you know in your heart you should.
I knew, but I didn’t act.
That’s on me.
I’ll have to live with that pain and the hurt my actions caused for the rest of my life.
At least I’ll be able to wallow in my misery alone.
“Why’d you do it?” I find myself asking the only man still standing in the hallway.
Matthew sighs. “I needed the potential insurance to make sure the deal went through.”
Sighing, I lean against the wall and close my eyes, my body suddenly extremely drained.
“Well, let’s take a moment to give thanks that an intent to sell contract was drafted and signed. Otherwise, I’d be a little worried about the sale not going through on Monday,” my twin says, pulling me out of my own head.
I stand tall and turn to face him. We look the same, only a few minor differences that most wouldn’t even notice. But I notice. I see them all. “I don’t even know you anymore. A man who became so consumed with business and less about individuals. You’ve hurt people, Matthew, and don’t even seem to care. I can’t live like that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last few weeks, it’s that I’d rather have friendships and laughter surrounding me. Money is nice, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t keep you warm at night. Love does. You’ll never understand, and that makes me sad for you.”
I walk past him, heading for the exit.
“Mason,” he says, his words causing my legs to stop. “You and I, we’re just built differently. Always have been.”
I turn to face my brother. “Maybe, but we don’t have to be. We choose the roads we’re on, Matthew. If we wanted to have a better relationship, we could, despite our differences. Believe it or not, even after knowing what I know now, after seeing you in action, I miss my brother. Maybe it’s just a pipe dream or wishful thinking, but I miss him. The boy I grew up with, played with, and dreamed with about what our lives would be like as adults. I never thought there would be a divide. For all the things that make us unalike, I never saw us this far off course.”
I take a deep breath, wondering where all that came from. But do you know what? I don’t care. I said what’s been building for years and have no regrets now.
He stands still, his matching brown eyes boring into me.
“You know where I live, Matthew. Take a few days off every now and again and visit. If you want, I’ll do the same.” I head the rest of the way down the hall, ready to turn the corner when I add, “Oh, and go visit our parents.”
Then I leave. I walk straight out of the hotel and down the block. With my hands shoved into my pockets, I ignore the way my feet hurt in my fancy black leather shoes until I reach the end of the block. There, I wave at a passing taxi and jump in as soon as he stops. Sure, I could head to the valet and find George, but I’m done being Matthew.
From now on, I’m Mason.
Heartbroken rancher from Casper, Montana.
The man who lost his heart to a gorgeous woman with intoxicating hazel eyes on a lie.
And I’ll have to live with what I’ve done for the rest of my life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kyla
Longest night ever.
My eyelids are heavy and gritty as I indulge on my second cup of coffee of the morning, but when you’re going on only four hours of sleep, desperate times call for desperate measures.
The elevator dinging grabs my attention.