Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2)

by Elsie Silver

for all the women out there who build other women up rather than tearing them down. We’re better together.

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

I’ll take a boozy brunch with my bestie and a dirty book in bed by eight for a thousand, Alex.

I’m not known for giving people the warm and fuzzies. Every time I’ve done that, I’ve walked away a little less whole than I started. Never again. I’ve got nothing left to give

I glance over my shoulder toward Luke’s room, where my entire world is sleeping.

“Eaton. You grumpy motherfucker. You just laughed,” I blurt. “Yeah, Red. I did.”

“Life lesson, shithead. Careful who you pick a fight with. Someone insane might love them.”

Willa might be a bit of psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.

The only people in trouble are the assholes who picked on her. I don’t care if it’s been a decade. I want names and addresses so I can set them straight.

“That’s the thing, Red. There are too many fuckin’ strings with you. Enough to strangle us both. So we’re going to be responsible and ignore whatever this is between us. Because a month from now, we’ll be parting ways. You’re going to live some fabulous, wildly successful life in the city, and I’m going to be here, taking care of this place for the rest of my days. We’re on different paths, you and me.”

“I watched her die that day. I watched my dad hold her. I watched him sob.” My teeth grind, and I drop my eyes for a moment. “I think my childhood kind of died that day too.”

Rhett: You know Medusa? Willa: Not personally, no. Rhett: Remember the part about not looking her in the eyes? Willa: I’ve always kind of liked Medusa. If I were her, I’d wanna turn men into stone too. Rhett: Pretend Talia is Medusa. But a version we don’t like.

everyone looked at Jasper like he might come apart at any moment. But Sloane looked at him like he hung the moon.

“And this one is yours.” He points at a heart that’s right next to one with the initials C.E., except this one says W.E. “My initials are W.G., bud.” I give him another squeeze and he giggles. Cluelessly. “I know. But dad made that one. I told him the same thing.” My head snaps around to Cade, who still hasn’t moved but is staring at me like I might disappear if he blinks. “But he said they wouldn’t be for long.”

“See, Dad? I told you not to be sad. I told you she’d come back. Our wishes came true! She loves us too much to leave.”

she pulls the black cowboy hat off my head and plunks it on her own. Leaning back away from me, she gives me a playful little smirk. I quirk a brow in her direction. “You know the rule, Red?” “You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.” She winks at me, looking fucking adorable wearing my hat. I should have put it on her forever ago.

And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.