The Weight Of Leaving by Riven Kade novel Chapter 8

All eyes swung to him, but no one blamed him–his status spoke for itself.

“Sorry, babe,” Landon said, putting on his sweet, apologetic act. “I couldn’t help it–you were too right.”

The way he acted cute to get away with it only made Carter burn hotter. “Landon, stop putting on an act. I know exactly how ruthless you can be.”

“Oh, so you’re the only one allowed to talk?” I said. “I don’t know if he’s ruthless, but I know you are, because

a man who can bail on his own wedding nine times for some pick–me girl isn’t exactly a saint.”

“Renee, that’s not–I told you, I already had the wedding venue arranged,” Carter insisted.

I looked at him with open contempt. “Save it for Lexi. Congratulations in advance–happy wedding, and may you two have a houseful of kids. Stay together and spare everyone else, and don’t come back out here and

ruin other people’s lives.”

Carter tried to explain, but the second he saw how close Landon and I were, every word died in his throat.

In the end, the circus only stopped because I kicked them all out.

Landon finally looked satisfied, because from now on, he could stand beside me out in the open.

“So happy?” I teased. “Guess you and your bros aren’t bros anymore.”

“What bros?” he scoffed. “They were just people I used to hang out with, and I only kept it friendly to be polite. With my status, I don’t need to borrow anyone else’s.”

It was such a humblebrag, but I couldn’t deny he was right.

The next day, the second I stepped outside, I ran into Lexi.

“Can you

divorce him?” she blurted. “I’ll give Carter back to you.”

She could handle Landon not loving her, but she couldn’t handle him marrying me.

“If you’re sick, go see a doctor,” I said. “What, Carter doesn’t want you anymore, so now you’re setting your sights on my husband? Do you only feel at ease if you steal whatever is mine?”

“I didn’t steal Carter,” she insisted, eyes tired and hollow. “He insisted on being good to me, and I couldn’t exactly shove him away, but I’ll stay far away from him from now on.”

“Just divorce Landon, okay?” she begged again.

She looked worn out, and for once it felt genuine.

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“How is any of that my problem?” I said, voice turning cold. “You’re way out of line, and you don’t get a vote.

in my marriage.”

“Carter, take her away,” I added. “Don’t let her show up in front of me again, or I won’t be nice about it.”

Lexi jerked her head around, and only then did she realize Carter was standing right behind her.

“Carter, I-” she started, reaching for him, but he stepped away from her touch with open disgust.

That surprised me, because it hadn’t even been a few days and the cracks were already showing.

That relationship really was paper–thin and flimsy..

Lexi was stuck pleasing no one, and she still couldn’t believe Carter was standing right behind her.

I turned to him. “Why are you following me around? Look at her, she’s about to cry.”

“I told you, I have nothing to do with her,” Carter said tightly. “I don’t feel that way about her.”

“I know you don’t,” I said. “You just like the rush of being fought over.”

Now that I wasn’t competing for him anymore, he didn’t get that thrill, and suddenly he wasn’t nearly as

heartbroken over Lexi either.

His expression froze, and for a second he looked embarrassed, like I’d yanked the curtain back on something

he didn’t want seen.

“I won’t contact her again,” he said quickly.

“That’s your business,” I said. “Whatever we had ended a year ago.”

He didn’t want it to end. “I didn’t agree to that.”

“I don’t need your agreement,” I said. “Nine times, from start to finish, you were the one who owed me, and I

never owed you anything.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice rough. “I know I was wrong. Renee, there won’t be a next time, so please don’t do

this, okay?”

Carter really was close to perfect on paper, and there was a reason I fell for him back then.

He didn’t have Landon’s background, but in a way we were the same, because we both wanted more, and we both had ambition.

What I forgot was that people like us are built to hustle side by side, not to be lovers.

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That’s how we burned through the last bit of tenderness we had until there was nothing left to spend.

So I didn’t blame him anymore. We just weren’t meant to make it.

“Honestly,” I said, “I should thank you.”

He knew exactly what I meant, and his face darkened. “He isn’t right for you, and you two won’t end well.”

I only smiled and gave him a casual little wave. “Whether it works long–term is future me’s problem, but I’ll

say this.”

“Young really is the best.”

It hit him like a slap, and he looked furious, even though he was only three years older than me.

Next to Landon, though, Carter couldn’t compete in any way, and that was exactly why he couldn’t let it go.

Who cared if I’d be happy forever, as long as I was happy right now?

I thought someone like Carter would finally stop after I’d made it that clear, but he called me in the middle of the night, and the timing couldn’t have been more awkward.

“Don’t pick up,” Landon murmured.

The phone kept ringing and ringing, ruining the whole experience, and in the end I couldn’t take it anymore.

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