They’d provided her their friendship, their our bodies, their belief and their hearts freely, and neither man had pressured her for greater than she might give. She ached to elucidate to them why she needed to keep, however the phrases wouldn’t come. She’d by no means felt so torn, so shattered. She’d let so many individuals down within the final yr—Lyle, Rodney, and now Matt and Mark. Guilt consumed her, stealing her voice, breaking her coronary heart.

She closed her eyes and remembered the picture of Lyle’s lifeless physique, of Rodney mendacity on the pavement—each males lined in blood. They’d shed that blood for her. She owed them a lot. Every little thing.

“We higher get some sleep,” Mark stated. “Tomorrow shall be right here quickly sufficient.”

Mark was proper. The morning got here too quickly. Bridget sat at her kitchen desk, sipping a cup of espresso, whereas Matt and Mark gathered their issues. They’d known as for a taxi, and Bridget sat ready for the inevitable honking of its horn on the road down under.

Mark got here out of her bed room together with his duffle. “Effectively, I suppose that’s about it.”

She swallowed closely, combating to maintain the tears at bay. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t make this goodbye harder by crying. She might see the pressure in Mark’s face. His eyes mirrored each little bit of the distress she was feeling.

Matt got here out of the bed room subsequent. His carry-on bag gave the impression to be stretched to the restrict.

“What do you might have in there?” she requested. It hadn’t been that full once they left Wyoming.

Matt shrugged. “Only a few souvenirs for the parents again residence. Discovered a foam Statue of Liberty hat for Jessie, some golf balls with the Empire State Constructing on them for Caleb, and I received this actually cool music field for Jake. Appears just like the one in that film he likes a lot.” He glanced at Mark. “Crap. Forgot the identify of it. Has the dude within the masks.”

“Phantom of the Opera,” Mark replied. “Jacob thinks Gerard Butler is scorching.”

Bridget giggled. “Effectively, Jake’s proper. He’s uber-hot.” She checked out Matt. “You couldn’t consider Phantom of the Opera.”

Matt shrugged. “I don’t watch that shit. Jake turns it on and begins singing alongside to that opera music and I head for the hills. Give me some good old style rock and roll tune or a kick-ass nation track any day. Anyway, I assumed he’d just like the music field. Regardless that the sucker’s cumbersome and weighs a fucking ton.”

She stood up and crossed the room. She positioned a fast kiss on Matt’s cheek. “It’s a really considerate present. He’ll find it irresistible.”

A horn blared outdoors.

Mark walked to the window and appeared down. “Our cab’s right here.”

She’d provided to drive them to the airport, however they’d each refused, claiming they’d slightly say their good-byes in personal. She suspected they knew she’d crumble the second they left. They didn’t need her driving in New York visitors, sobbing her coronary heart out.

They’d each taken her once more in the course of the evening. Making like to her as if she have been as fragile as glass. Her lips have been barely swollen from their endless, stunning kisses. They’d left an imprint on her coronary heart and physique that she’d by no means be capable of wash away. Hell, she’d by no means wish to.

“Effectively, I suppose that is goodbye,” she stated, the phrases sounding thick even to her personal ears. Her throat was closing and shortly she wouldn’t be capable of communicate in any respect.

Mark nodded. Dropping his duffle bag, he walked over and gathered her in his tight, all-encompassing embrace. She clung to him for a number of great seconds earlier than forcing herself to launch him. He bent down and pressed a tough kiss to her lips.

“I really like you,” he whispered. “I all the time will.”

She sucked in a breath that turned to a gentle sob. She wished to talk the phrases, however she couldn’t make a sound. Nothing that wouldn’t break the dam. As a substitute she nodded. Mark smiled sadly and she or he knew he understood.

Matt claimed her subsequent, selecting her up as he hugged her, planting a number of gentle kisses towards her scalp. “God, Bridge. I’m going to overlook the shit out of you.”

She felt the primary tear fall when he stepped again. She struggled to swallow. Christ, she wanted to say one thing, however her voice was paralyzed.

Matt ran his hand alongside her cheek, wiping away the tear. “You’re stunning and I really like you.”

His phrases sealed her destiny. They needed to go away or she’d by no means allow them to go. Pictures of her sobbing and clinging to their legs flashed earlier than her. She wanted to get a grip.

She held her breath as an alternative.

They every picked up their luggage and headed for the door. Earlier than they departed, they turned and gave her one final equivalent, dimple-creased smile. Her beloved cowboys.

The door closed and she or he crumpled, releasing her pent-up breath. She held herself silent as she let the tears start to movement. It wouldn’t do for them to listen to her falling aside.

Strolling to the window, she watched as they appeared on the road under. They threw their luggage within the trunk. Earlier than they climbed in, each of them appeared up.

She smiled by way of her tears and lifted her hand to wave. Matt returned the gesture as Mark tipped his hat. Then they received within the cab they usually have been gone.

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