There Goes My Heart (The Sullivans #20) - Bella Andre Page 0,72

“But even in my lowest moments, I knew lashing out at them, hurting them the way they’d hurt me, wouldn’t bring him back to me. And when I really looked at the situation—when I made myself push away the pain of betrayal and was completely honest with myself—I realized he was never going to be my right person.”

Chelsea looked at Rory, tears making her eyes glassy. “I thought you were my right person.” Her voice was smaller now. All of her looked smaller, actually.

He moved so that his back shielded Zara from Chelsea’s line of sight, then took Zara’s hands in his. “I love you,” he said softly. Then he kissed her and said, “I’ve got it from here.”

Zara stared into his eyes for a long moment before nodding. “You know where I’ll be if you need me—getting that long-overdue apology from my sister. Come on, Britt, let’s go up to my office.”

For once, Brittany looked less than wholly confident as she followed Zara out of his woodshop.

Zara was nearly out of the room when she stopped. “I’m glad you recovered from your accident, Chelsea. Really glad.”

Once Rory and Chelsea were alone, it was up to him to come clean with her in a way he never had before. “I’m sorry I did so many things wrong in our relationship. I’m sorry I didn’t know how to be honest about my feelings. If I could turn back time and do it all differently, I would. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“What’s the point in turning back time when I can see now that you never loved me? Not enough. Not the way you love her.”

He couldn’t argue with that, but he still needed Chelsea to know something. “I always cared about you. I was always your friend. And I will forever regret the part I played in your accident. I hope you can find a way to forgive me one day.”

Suddenly, she sat on one of his stools, dropping her head into her hands. “This wasn’t how this conversation was supposed to go.” Her tears started to fall in earnest. “I had this confrontation all planned out. I was going to be brave and tough and put you in your place. You were going to see that I don’t need you anymore and how much happier I am without you.”

“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that you’re happy, Chelsea. But I already knew how brave you are. And far tougher than you’ve ever given yourself credit for. I’ve always admired the way you rose above your childhood and created a new life for yourself. You never needed me.”

She lifted her head, tears spiking her eyelashes as she stared at him. He could almost see her synapses making connections, ones she’d never realized had been there all along. “Oh my God…you’re right. I did do all of that on my own. And more since then. So much more.”

He smiled at her. “I’m glad you came to see me. I’m glad we’ve finally talked.”

But she didn’t smile back. “I shouldn’t have done it,” she said, her voice trembling again. “It wasn’t fair to make you feel as though my accident was entirely your fault. I know the things Alexa said were really harsh…” She looked at him anxiously. “Will you forgive me?”

“Of course. You never even had to ask.”

She sighed. “Stop reminding me why I fell in love with you in the first place.” Then she shook her head as if to dislodge the thought while she slid off the stool. “Good luck with everything, Rory.”

And as she drove out of the lot, the guilt that Rory had been carrying around for the past year finally fell completely away. Were it not for Zara opening up his heart—and having his back, no matter what—he likely would never have been able to speak so honestly and openly with Chelsea.

Speaking of having each other’s backs…he strained his ears toward Zara’s office. There didn’t seem to be any yelling.

Though he was tempted to check on them, growing up with three sisters had taught him to tread carefully when it came to getting between women who needed to hash things out. Zara and Brittany’s heart-to-heart was long overdue.

Luckily for Brittany, Zara had the biggest heart in the world.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Zara meant what she’d just said to Chelsea about not wanting to lash out at her stepsister and ruin her happiness, and also that Brittany and Cameron were far better suited. But there was