Free Bring Me Home by Candi Wall

turned Chloe down. Not a huge surprise considering Shawn was just one of those good-to-the-bone-marrow kind of guys. She’d forgotten, or pushed it away to make walking away easier. It felt good to know even the mighty, man-eating Chloe Garrison couldn’t tempt him into bed. The tiny thrill turned into full-blown euphoria. “What did he say exactly?”
    Chloe’s smile could have lit up the town. “You see! You’re dying to know. But I’m not going to tell you.” She reached across the table and squeezed Miya’s hand. “You need to go talk to him.”
    Nothing like a little city-life badassness to shed light on her countrified fuck-up. “Yeah, I guess I really do.”
    â€œThat’s enough of that.” With a nod, Chloe pushed her dish away. “Now. Does this little town of yours have a naughty nightie shop? We need to get you something sexy.”
    Miya was confused, but she stood and followed her whirlwind friend to the door. “Why?”
    Chloe laughed and looped her arm through hers again as they set off down the street. “Well, with the way you booted Shawn out the other morning, I’d say you owe him a bit of an apology. And that, my simple friend, is where the fuck-me-senseless-then-give-my-silly-ass-another-chance lace or leather come in.”
    Miya slipped the receipt for her new negligee into the bag. Her fingers brushed the silky blue fabric, and she smiled. There was something about the outfit. It screamed forgive me , and even though it had cost a bit more than she’d expected, she had a feeling it would be worth every penny.
    She stepped out of the shop into the mall’s huge main hall. They’d had to drive an hour and a half into what Chloe had categorized as civilization, but the trip had been worth it.
    The drive had given Miya time to think, plan and tweak her strategy. She had a lot of making up to do, and Shawn was just now dealing with pain she’d had years to process.
    Chloe had gone on to another store and Miya had no idea where she might have wandered. A massive fountain that served as the center point of the tri-level shopping center offered a quiet respite from the busy building and she took a corner bench. Trailing her fingers through the clear water, she focused on her plan for the rest of the day.
    It would take a little over two hours to get back to her parents’ house. If she timed it right, she could grab a quick shower and drive out to Shawn’s before it became too dark. Not that she was worried about getting lost. She knew the route to his house by heart. Problem was, the roads outside of town were rutted after the rainy season. The potholes and washouts were big enough to swallow a small car. She didn’t want to take the chance that anything might mess up the evening.
    She had to make things right. Everything Shawn had told her made sense. She’d been a fool. Not as much for reacting to what she’d seen and heard, but for running away before she’d heard him out or given him a chance to explain. She’d been young and impulsive, scared out of her mind with the thought of becoming a mother well before she’d planned. Scared of losing herself to a small town and the life it offered, she’d given up everything over an anger she couldn’t even find inside herself anymore. It might not have made a difference then, but at least she would have known his side of the story. He’d deserved that much.
    Now, she knew she’d done him wrong. Letting him make love to her, even encouraging him while she held back. He’d admitted his feelings—and she’d been a real bitch. She hoped it wasn’t too late to say she was sorry. To tell him she wanted him, and that she still loved him, even after all this time.
    Frustrated, she glanced around. She’d never get the chance to speak with Shawn if Chloe didn’t hurry up. She reached into her purse for her cell