Excerpt of Ride With My Heart by Meda White

Heath pulled back to look at her. “Reunion?”

“I know you dated her in college.” Maddie watched his reaction in the glow of the moon.

“How?” He squeezed her upper arms.

“Because I called you and she answered the phone. She was happy to inform me I’d been replaced.” A knot formed in Maddie’s throat, and she looked down.

“When? When did you call me?” His grip tightened.

“When I needed a friend—” Her voice broke, and she turned her head away, hoping he wouldn’t catch the tear rolling down her cheek.

He caught it in the pale light and wiped it away. “She lied. You’re irreplaceable, Maddie Baker. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. If I’d known—”

“It was for the best really.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I needed to learn to survive without you.”

“But it was hard just surviving each day.” He swallowed audibly. “Wasn’t it?” Heath’s hands moved to her back, and he pulled her closer to his warm chest.

Maddie nodded because she couldn’t speak. She wanted to put the past behind her, but if she didn’t talk to Heath about it, it would come between them more than it already had.