Page 70 of A Fall to Remember

Pete grinned, watching them sneak a sweet little peck on the cheek or how Jim hovered protectively near her. He was thrilled that she had found love, and he could see Jim fitting in here.

To his surprise, Shelby kept her phone tucked in her purse.

She didn’t record any of it. Not the kiss or the wedding invitation, or even the celebration that followed. Shortly after Mark and Addie left, Shelby gathered her things. “I have a flight to catch, and I haven’t even started to pack. I was planning to leave yesterday, but after Jim told me everything, we had to make a new plan. Now it’s back to reality,” she said, sounding unusually formal, as she offered Pete her hand. “It’s been nice meeting you.”

He stared at her hand. Was he supposed to shake it? Kiss it?

Was this it?

“You too.” He decided on a shake. Awkward.

“Sorry about the Lacy thing.” She didn’t meet his eyes.

“It’s okay. Hey, at least now we know that I’m not a candidate for the next season of The Bachelor or Love Island.” He tried to keep his tone light, but he didn’t want her to go. He couldn’t just ask her to stay. The situation with Jim was different. He and Mom were established, set in their careers. He knew Shelby needed to get back to Seattle for work and to take care of her family situation. “I hope you can find someone else. I’m sure you will.”

“I’m sure I will, too.” She looped her purse over her shoulder, said her goodbyes to Mom, Jim, and Elise.

Pete watched her walk past the front window, feeling a pang of sadness.

Not a pang.

A pinch.

A pierce.

A deep cut.

He wanted to run down the sidewalk after her and beg her not to go, but instead, he walked behind the counter, washed his hands, and tied on an apron. He spent the next hour making sandwiches, pouring coffee, and boxing up pastries and muffins.

It was better this way.

Shelby belonged in the city.

She would never survive in a small town like Half Moon Bay, and he knew she needed her salary, the promotion, the potential raise, and the bonus. Now that he knew Jim wasn’t interested in the job, the odds were in her favor. He felt good about that. At least she was going to be okay.

Elise scooted behind him to refill her tea shortly after ten. Mom had opened the store early, and it had been buzzing for the last hour. “You’re looking pretty mopey, my guy.”

“Mopey?” He lifted one eyebrow, giving his cousin a flat stare. As usual, she had pegged him correctly.

“Yeah, what are you doing, Pete?” She clapped twice and then snapped her fingers right in front of his face like she was trying to wake him up.

“Uh, wrapping up a sandwich.” He pointed to the brown butcher paper and string on the counter.

“No. About Shelby.” Elise’s eyebrow rose a quarter inch.

“What about her?” Pete tried to play dumb, knowing full well Elise would see right through him.

“You’re letting her leave without telling her how you feel?”

“How I feel?”

“Pete, come on. You’re so obvious.”

“What?”

Elise sighed as she rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me spell it out for you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He snipped a piece of the string.