“Yeah, yeah.” Monica snatched the money and left the room.

Trevor turned his attention to Allie as he thrust his wallet back into his trouser pocket. “What’s your big plan?”

“None of your business.”

“You’ve made it my business, darling, by asking me to bail her out of jail. When you had your whole family move into my house, when you came to me to plead your father’s case. It was fine then.”

She crossed her arms and glared at him, her jaw tight. “We have new rules. I want you out of my life.”

“That’s a pity.” He brushed his sleeve and adjusted the cuff of his shirt.

She grabbed her purse by the strap and in short, angry movements, slung it over her shoulder. Without another word, she turned on her heel and rushed toward the door.

But Trevor was quicker. Even from his position across the room, he made it to the door before she did and stood with his back against it, blocking her escape. He couldn’t let her leave. Just looking at her wasn’t enough. He needed to touch her, smell her. “We’re not done here.”

“Yeah, Trevor, we are. I expected too much from you. You’re incapable of loving me, you’re incapable of change. And I need more. I need a man—” She stopped and pulled a shaky breath. “I need a man who loves me beyond reason, who wants to have kids with me, grow old with me. I love you so much it hurts.” Tears filled her eyes as she tapped her chest with a fist. “But I want what my parents had. And you’re not the man to give it to me. So please, let me go.”

He froze as still as a statue, his chest aching so badly he thought he might die from the pain. “Allison—”

“Please, Trevor.” Her gaze left his eyes and drifted toward the knot in his tie. “If I stay with you, it will destroy me.”

He rubbed his sternum. How could he let her go? But what reason had he given her to stay? He couldn’t give her what she needed. He didn’t do commitment, marriage, little league games.

Slowly, he shifted, then opened the door, and left. As he walked away from her, he’d never felt so hollow, so bereft. Not even when his grandfather passed away.

***

Allie stared at the faux wood door and blinked back tears. She was damn tired of crying. She was going to have to get used to life without Trevor. Might as well start now.

But how was she supposed to get through life without ever seeing him again? Touching him, hearing his voice?

She sat down on the bed, stared at the floor. The carpet was old, brown, and crusty with things she didn’t want to think about.

She wasn’t sure how long she sat, silent, hurting, but when the door opened, Allie finally remembered where she was. Monica. Right.

“Shit, Al, you look awful.” Monica parked herself on the bed.

“Thanks.”

“I tried to give you some time, but it’s been like, forty-five minutes. Sorry about Trevor.” When Monica reached out and took her hand, Allie choked back a sob. “You’re still breathing and everything, but inside, you feel like a zombie? I get it. When Brad broke up with me…well, I know you think he’s an asshole, but I really love him, you know?”

Allie squeezed her sister’s hand. “I do.”

They sat quietly for some minutes. Then Allie straightened her spine and glanced around the room. “This place is—”

“Disgusting. I know. But it’s all I could afford. I finally got a job, and it sucks ass.”

“Yeah, they usually do. Where are you working?” Allie asked.

“Taco Shack. And just a head’s up, don’t eat the Bomba Burrito. I’m not sure what they put in the sauce, but it looks like puke.”

“Thanks for the tip.” Allie squeezed Monica’s hand once more before letting go. “I’m sorry, Mon. I’m sorry for everything. I’ve been so busy trying to hold it all together that I became kind of mean.”

“I would have gone with ‘controlling bitch,’ but that’s just me.”

Allie shot her a glance. “I’ll admit to controlling. I just wanted what was best for you. Right before she died, I made Mom a promise to look after all of you. I was really terrible at it.”

“No, you weren’t.” Monica bumped Allie’s shoulder with her own. “I’ve been kind of a bitch too. And Brad never cared about me. Not like I cared about him. And that’s crazy painful.”

Allie could relate. After all this time, she and Monica finally had something in common. Trevor didn’t love her at all. And the reality of that was excruciating. If Monica was feeling the same way, Allie had nothing but compassion for her sister. No “I told you so.” Just empathy.

“So what’s next?” Allie asked. “Are you going to stay here? This neighborhood is pretty scary.” She didn’t want to be the first one to mention home. She was trying to respect Monica’s right to live her own life. Damn, letting go was hard. But Allie’d made such a crappy job of her own life, she didn’t have much room to criticize.

“Think Dad will let me come home?”

Allie donned her poker face and tried to play it cool, but relief coursed through her. She’d have been worried sick if Monica stayed in this dump. “Probably. If you go back to school and follow the rules. I know that’s not what you want to hear.”

“It won’t be so bad. And it’s not forever, right?”

“Just until you figure out what you want to do next,” Allie said.

“Are you moving back in too?”

Allie nodded. “Yeah. For a while. I need to figure things out myself.” As she rose from the bed, she wrinkled her nose. “I think this place smells worse the longer I’m here.”

Monica stood too. “Totally. And one more thing.” She winced, shoving her hands in the pockets of her shorts. “I’m going to have to take summer school. I’ve fucked up too much this semester.” She rubbed at her tear-filled eyes. “Mom would be so pissed.”

Allie threw her arm around Monica’s shoulders. “I think she’d be proud that you’re going back and getting your diploma. I’m proud of you.”

Allie helped Monica toss her clothes in a duffel bag and then drove her home. As soon as they walked in the door, Brian was waiting, ready to pounce.

“Where the hell have you been, Mon?” In three strides he stood in front of them, his eyes narrowed. “Do you know how worried we’ve been? Do you have any idea how terrified I was, not knowing where you were?” He reached out and pulled Monica into his arms. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, you hear?”

Monica buried her face in the crook of his shoulder and sobbed.

Allie left them and checked on Brynn. Her little sister sat on her bed with her laptop open and her earbuds in. She popped one out when Allie walked into the room.

“Did you find her?” Brynn asked. “Was she mad that I told on her?”

“No, she’s fine. She’s moving back home and going to summer school. Brad the Douche broke her heart. I’d really like to kick him in the balls for that.”

“What about you, Al? Are you staying home?” Brynn’s mouth twisted to the side.

Allie pushed at a lock of Brynn’s hair. “I’m staying for now. And I’m going to be all right. I promise.” Allie wasn’t sure how she’d get through this in one piece. But she had to try. Survive. That’s what the Campbell family did best.

“I was worried when you wouldn’t get out of bed,” Brynn said. “That’s not like you. And I’m going to miss them all. Even Trevor.”

“I know you will, honey. He’s a good man.”

Brynn frowned and pulled the other bud out of her ear. “How can you say that? He broke up with you. What Brad the Douche did to Monica, Trevor did to you. You should hate him.”

Allie patted Brynn’s leg and left the room. She wished she could hate Trevor. It would make things a lot easier.

Chapter 23

Allie handed the room card to the couple from Minnesota. “Here you go. Have a great stay, and if you need anything, just call the front desk.” She smiled and watched them walk to the elevator. Newlyweds. Sweet.

She’d only been here for a few weeks, but she liked it. The casino was one of the larger ones on the Strip, and it was much better than her last job. Better pay, better hours. Couldn’t ask for more than that.