Anger propelled Iris off the bed, sheet fisted against her chest. “You think I want a hero? I don’t care about that. In case you haven’t noticed, my track record with heroes isn’t so great. Every man I’ve ever loved died trying to be a hero. First my dad, then Jason.”
With his hands on his hips, he stared at her. “And now, me.”
Her head snapped back as though he’d slapped her. “What?”
His whiskey eyes turned cold. “My body is here, but that’s it. So unless you only love my body, the things you loved about me years ago are gone. Are you listening, Iris? He’s. Fucking. Gone. And he isn’t coming back.”
She moved closer until their bodies nearly brushed together, but her shudder wasn’t caused by the need she had for him in her soul. It was rage, fear. “I don’t need saving, Landon. By you or anyone else. Furthermore, I don’t want it. I can take care of myself.”
“I won’t burden you with someone to fix.”
To her horror, tears filled her eyes. “What was last night to you? A bucket list item? You finally fucked me so you can check it off the list?”
The color drained from his face, and the only sound in the room was the roaring in her ears. “It was like coming up for air. A balm for the heart I no longer have. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. But I love you enough to let you go. Find a man that isn’t broken beyond repair.”
“You’re scared, Landon Gray. And you’d rather be scared than be with me, so you know what? Fuck you. You’re not trying to save me. You’re just trying to save yourself.”
He held her stare for a moment before stepping back and gathering his things. All she could do was stand there and watch him dress, numbness paralyzing her. Landon stopped in the doorway and turned back. Her heart ripped in two at the sadness in his eyes, the slump in his shoulders.
“Broken people leave people broken. Trust me, Iris. I’m not worth it.”
A moment later, the front door closed softly, but it echoed in the room. She sank to the floor in a puddle of white cotton, tears running down her face.
It wasn’t the first time he’d walked away with her heart.
But it would be the last.
7
A Good Man in the Storm
Landon pulled open the door to Maggie’s Diner, his senses assaulted by the smells of coffee and greasy food. When his cousin Aidan Reynolds called and asked him to breakfast, Landon was tempted to say no. But even his parents had started to steer clear of him. Whether it was his surly mood or the fact he hadn’t showered in days, he wasn’t sure.
It had been ten days since he’d walked out of Iris’s apartment. Ten days since he’d ripped out the best part of his life. He wasn’t just in love with her, but her friendship had been everything to him. Now it was ruined.
Fuck.
He blew out a breath, his gaze scanning the diner. Of course, there were no threats on a weekday, midmorning in a small southern town, but old habits die hard. Aidan waved from the back, and a smile touched Landon’s lips for the first time in days.
Ten to be exact.
“Hey, man, how’s it going?” Aidan slid out of the booth and held out his hand. They shook and gave one-armed hugs in the way guys do.
“Good. You?”
Aidan smirked, but his eyes assessed Landon. “Well, I know I look better than you. You look like hell.”
Landon half smiled and shook his head. “Some things never change. Like your ego and the fact you’re still an asshole.”
Aidan laughed and gestured to the coffee cup in front of Landon. “I had Emma bring you some coffee. Drink it.”
“Thanks,” Landon said, sipping the rich brew. His cup hit the table with a thud. “Did you say Emma? As in our cousin?”
“One and the same.”
Landon’s mind raced. He’d heard Emma had run into some trouble with alcohol. “She works here? Since when?”
Aidan’s eyes glanced over before responding. “Here she comes now.”
A beautiful brunette in a peach waitress uniform stopped at their table. “Landon, it is you! Give me a hug.”
With joy in his heart, Landon stood with a smile and wrapped his cousin in a bear hug. “Been a while.”
She stepped back and looked him over. “I’ll say. What’s it been? Five, six years?”
“Something like that.” He tilted his head. “When did you get back here?”
A shadow crossed otherwise-clear eyes the same color as his. Judging by the look in hers, they also shared a broken spirit.
She looked down at her order pad, tapping the pencil against it. “About a year ago. After my mom passed away, I stayed. I’m working here until I can find a better-paying job.”
“Did the interview pan out?” Aidan asked.
Her eyes lit up. “It did. I’m meeting with the owner, Shane Kavanaugh, next week.”
“Congrats on the interview. I’m sorry about your mom,” Landon said, sitting back down.
“Thanks. Now, what can I get you guys?”
Emma took their order and walked off. Aidan caught him up on other family news for a few minutes before getting serious.
“Before I tell you why I called, you need to tell me what’s going on.”
Landon’s brow quirked. “What do you mean?”
Aidan leaned forward, his blue eyes serious. “I mean, two weeks ago, you looked like the old Landon. You looked happy, rested. Like a man ready to move on from the shit he went through. Now?” Aidan shook his head and leaned back with a thump against the booth. “You look like you’ve given up. What gives?”
Landon leaned forward, dropping his head in his hands. “I’m in love with Iris Armstrong.”
Aidan laughed. “Dude, it’s a running bet in Madison Ridge as to when the two of you will finally acknowledge what everyone has known since high school. This isn’t news.”
Landon raised his head. “Jesus. Well, I fucked it up good when I walked out on her after we slept together.”
Emma walked up on the last part of his sentence and, with a raised brow, set their plates down slowly. She hollered over her shoulder. “Maggie, I’m taking my break.”
“Shit,” Landon muttered and leaned back in his seat as Emma scooted in next to Aidan.
“Explain yourself. I got fifteen minutes,” Emma demanded.
Over the eggs and toast he barely touched, Landon told his cousins about how he and Iris had reconnected over the last few weeks and how it all culminated in a night he’d never forget—though he left out those details—but then fucked up a lifelong relationship in one fell swoop.
“Oh, Landon…” Emma and Aidan shared a look.
“What’s that look?” Landon asked.
“Well,” Emma started, “I think you can repair this. But you’re going to need a big grand gesture.”
Landon shook his head. “There’s no fixing this, Emma. I’m too broken to be anything but a burden to her.”
Emma leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Landon, I can’t imagine the terror and pain you went through. But I understand the guilt you carry. I have plenty to be guilty for. I’m an alcoholic. In recovery, yes. But I live with the guilt of letting down my family, the hundreds of people that worked for my company I had to sell, and myself. My mother never saw me sober. She was too sick to realize it by the time I got clean.”