Page 80 of Manors & Mischief

“You just don’t want to admit it’s over. I should’ve known nothing ever works out for me, so I don’t know why I thought you and I could be different.”

I step back. “But the manor and the well…”

“Fuck the well.”

I blink. Gone is the hopeful guy who stood in front of me and told the story about the well. Plus all the other stories he heard through the grapevine about Mr. Lewis and his grandfather who’d wished for his grandmother. He made it sound so magical. He made it sound as if his grandparents had the best relationship because of the well.

I shake my head. “I hate to break it to you, Devon Lachey, but the well doesn’t make great relationships, people do. Your grandparents stuck together because they made it work. Even when times were difficult.”

“You don’t know anything about it.”

He’s right. I don’t. I’m a girl who had a dream and even screwed that up, but I was beginning to think if I lost the manor, I’d still have Devon. I thought he might be able to be my savior in some way, but all this time, he was looking for an easy out.

He found it with his leg.

I swallow hard. “You’re right.” Shrugging my shoulders, I take another step back, then another, wishing he would stop me at any point. It’s hard to justify his reaction. I know he’s hurt and all these words are coming from someplace dark inside him, but he’s still the one saying them. He’s the one giving up on us the moment something goes the least bit wrong.

Had I started this? Should I have let him spend the night last night even though I just wanted space to be in my feelings?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

All I know is he’s choosing this right now, and I can’t do a damn thing about it.

“Thanks, Devon, for all of your hard work on the manor. Make sure you send me an invoice for what I owe you.”

Before he can respond, I twist on my heel and walk out. The walk turns into a jog, and then the jog into a run as I try to make it outside before the waterworks turn on. When the automatic doors open in front of me, I run right past Mrs. Lachey who tries to stop me. “Not right now,” I call out, and then I get in my car and leave.

These have been the worst two days. First, my dream gets squashed, and then…my dream gets squashed.

Somehow, Devon has taken on the role of my parents. He doesn’t think I can save this. Save us.

Maybe he’s right.

Looks like I won’t be meeting with the mayor today, or maybe ever. Because right now, the last thing I want to do is be in a town with the person I love but can’t be with. I always thought it would be the manor that would kick me out of Harvest Falls. I definitely didn’t see Devon doing it, and I certainly didn’t see him breaking my heart while he did.

29

DEVON

“You’re home,” my mom says cheerfully as I settle into the recliner in the living room. Sun streams in from the windows, lighting up the space. I used to love sitting here at this time of day, staring out the window at the little town street always bustling, but somehow not busy at all.

Home, though, has held a different meaning for me lately. Finally working at Sleepy Hollow Manor and being around Ember, that’s home. The rays of light coming in from the window don’t do anything for me right now.

I peer down at the brace on my leg. The pain killers are warding off any true pain, but I’ll need surgery sooner rather than later. Laid up for even longer. Again, I am sidelined while in the midst of trying to fulfill a dream, and I don’t think anyone should have to carry that weight around once, let alone twice.

We’ll have doctor’s appointments this week, hearing out a couple of different surgeons so we can make a decision on who to go with. I’m tempted to go with whoever tells me I can get back on my feet first. Why? I don’t know. It’s not like it matters anymore.

Mom sits on the couch after getting me a drink, placing her purse next to her. Her coat is thrown over the back of the sofa like she’s saddled up to stay a while. “You don’t have to stay, Mom.”

“I want to.”

“I’m sure you have more important things to do. Like figure out who’s going to do all the last-minute fixes on all the Fall Spectacular things that inevitably go wrong. Good luck.”

“My but you’re cranky.”

I shrug because I have no excuse to give her. I am cranky. I want to scream into the void. I want to throttle something, but most of all, I just really hate myself. For getting hurt. For letting people down. For being the most stubborn jerk.