somewhere to sleep. At least this time there was a reason for her to put up with his sense of entitlement.
She’d been able to at least insist on twin beds so it wasn’t as if he could try anything with her, even if she wanted him to—which she didn’t. It didn’t stop him asking though. But since the night in North Carolina a week or so earlier, when she’d told him she was in love with someone else, he’d stopped even trying. Misty refused to divulge any details, letting him believe it was one of the cowboys he met in Broken Jaw.
He handled her confession better than he did the news she would never tour again. Wade told her she lost her mind to throw her career away just as it had begun to take off, but she stuck to her guns. Misty didn’t need to remind him that he wouldn’t have been involved anyway, no matter what she did next.
Wade followed her into the room and threw his bag onto one of the beds. Misty ignored him in favor of taking a long bath and easing the ache out of her shoulders. When she came back into the bedroom, he hadn’t moved from where she’d left him.
‘Aren’t you even gonna bother to unpack. There’s dirty laundry in your bag, Wade.’
Over the last few weeks, she’d begun to feel like his mother. With the sexual chemistry between them dead, for her at least, Misty realized they had very little in common. She couldn’t help but worry for him though. She loved him once and even considering all he had done to her, she wanted him to be happy.
‘I don’t need to unpack. I’m not staying.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m gonna head back to Nashville. You don’t need me here tonight.’
Misty told him of her plans to invite Aiden and Seth to come watch her perform a few days ago, but didn’t think he’d taken much notice. ‘You don’t have to leave, Wade. If they show up, I’m gonna let you have this room to yourself tonight.’
‘Which one of them is it you’ve fallen for?’
His swift change of subject was a tactic she remembered from the many times they argued in the past. Back then, she’d have blurted out an answer, but somehow, Wade had lost his ability to manipulate her. Or maybe she just didn’t care enough for it to work anymore.
‘What difference does it make?’
‘None I guess. They both seem like decent guys.’
‘They are. You really don’t have to leave you know.’
‘Yeah, I do.’
Wade opened his arms, asking for a hug for the first time in forever, rather than just trying to take one. Misty walked into his embrace, genuinely moved by the thought she may never see him again. He pressed a kiss onto her forehead and pulled away.
‘The least you can do is let me do the honorable thing this one time. I’d rather leave you through choice than have you taken from me, Misty.’
Her stomach dropped when she saw the pain in his eyes and realized that he really did still love her. She’d dismissed his feelings for so long, assuming all she ever been to him was a meal ticket. Misty hadn’t believed he truly cared for her at all.
She grabbed his hands as he pulled away and gave them a little tug to force him to at her. ‘Do you have enough money for the bus?’
‘Yes. You’re not gonna have to pay me to leave you alone this time’’ He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a thick sheaf of papers. ‘I had these drawn up, and I’ve signed where I need to. You only have to add your signature and get them notarized, and you’re free.’
Scanning the document releasing her from the contract with Wade, Misty smiled at the irony of getting back the rights to her talent and career when she no longer cared about any of it.
‘Take care of yourself, Misty. Thanks for the ride.’
Wade kissed the top of her head and strode out of the room. Just like that, he was out of her life.
Misty sank onto the bed, stunned by another sudden development. She expected Wade to make things difficult for her when she tried to leave him after the tour.
She’d been able to at least insist on twin beds so it wasn’t as if he could try anything with her, even if she wanted him to—which she didn’t. It didn’t stop him asking though. But since the night in North Carolina a week or so earlier, when she’d told him she was in love with someone else, he’d stopped even trying. Misty refused to divulge any details, letting him believe it was one of the cowboys he met in Broken Jaw.
He handled her confession better than he did the news she would never tour again. Wade told her she lost her mind to throw her career away just as it had begun to take off, but she stuck to her guns. Misty didn’t need to remind him that he wouldn’t have been involved anyway, no matter what she did next.
Wade followed her into the room and threw his bag onto one of the beds. Misty ignored him in favor of taking a long bath and easing the ache out of her shoulders. When she came back into the bedroom, he hadn’t moved from where she’d left him.
‘Aren’t you even gonna bother to unpack. There’s dirty laundry in your bag, Wade.’
Over the last few weeks, she’d begun to feel like his mother. With the sexual chemistry between them dead, for her at least, Misty realized they had very little in common. She couldn’t help but worry for him though. She loved him once and even considering all he had done to her, she wanted him to be happy.
‘I don’t need to unpack. I’m not staying.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m gonna head back to Nashville. You don’t need me here tonight.’
Misty told him of her plans to invite Aiden and Seth to come watch her perform a few days ago, but didn’t think he’d taken much notice. ‘You don’t have to leave, Wade. If they show up, I’m gonna let you have this room to yourself tonight.’
‘Which one of them is it you’ve fallen for?’
His swift change of subject was a tactic she remembered from the many times they argued in the past. Back then, she’d have blurted out an answer, but somehow, Wade had lost his ability to manipulate her. Or maybe she just didn’t care enough for it to work anymore.
‘What difference does it make?’
‘None I guess. They both seem like decent guys.’
‘They are. You really don’t have to leave you know.’
‘Yeah, I do.’
Wade opened his arms, asking for a hug for the first time in forever, rather than just trying to take one. Misty walked into his embrace, genuinely moved by the thought she may never see him again. He pressed a kiss onto her forehead and pulled away.
‘The least you can do is let me do the honorable thing this one time. I’d rather leave you through choice than have you taken from me, Misty.’
Her stomach dropped when she saw the pain in his eyes and realized that he really did still love her. She’d dismissed his feelings for so long, assuming all she ever been to him was a meal ticket. Misty hadn’t believed he truly cared for her at all.
She grabbed his hands as he pulled away and gave them a little tug to force him to at her. ‘Do you have enough money for the bus?’
‘Yes. You’re not gonna have to pay me to leave you alone this time’’ He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a thick sheaf of papers. ‘I had these drawn up, and I’ve signed where I need to. You only have to add your signature and get them notarized, and you’re free.’
Scanning the document releasing her from the contract with Wade, Misty smiled at the irony of getting back the rights to her talent and career when she no longer cared about any of it.
‘Take care of yourself, Misty. Thanks for the ride.’
Wade kissed the top of her head and strode out of the room. Just like that, he was out of her life.
Misty sank onto the bed, stunned by another sudden development. She expected Wade to make things difficult for her when she tried to leave him after the tour.
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