Page 94 of More Than My Hometown

25

MAISEY

“No…”

“No?” Seth questions.

I look at him, realizing I said it out loud. Shit.

My chest tightens, my lungs constricting, and I know that no matter how many deep breaths I try to remind myself to take, it’s not going to help. All the breathing techniques in the world aren’t going to make a damn bit of difference. Not now that I’m doing that math.

We'll make it work.

No. No…no, no, no…

“Maisey?” Seth steps forward, placing his hand on my arm again.

The touch shocks me back into the moment and I flinch, pulling away instantly. I don’t need his comfort—which is anything but comforting in this moment. I need air. Space. Room to think.

I don’t say anything. Simply turn on my heel and go, weaving my way through the crowd that formed around us. I don’t know where I’m heading, but it’s somewhere that doesn’t involve Seth Jennings.

Back to Grandma—that’s where I need to go. I need to sit back down and wait for Ewan to come find us with those drinks. Let myself take a moment to wrap my head around this.

Ewan is going to give up his dream so that I can have mine.

No, not give up. Destroy. He’s about to take everything he’s worked for and built and light it on fire. All so that we can be together and I can move to a country that I randomly fell in love with.

So that we can hike the volcanoes and waterfalls. Visit the Blue Lagoon. Fall asleep under the northern lights in a glass igloo. And all the other things that have held a special place inside me for so long.

Only now, the thought of all that leaves me feeling hollow.

Slipping around the outside of the tent, I rush back toward the table where I left my grandmother. Anxiety builds inside with each step, still not finding Ewan along the way. Where the hell did he disappear to?

Oh…

I stop dead in my tracks, my grandmother’s laugh cutting me off. She’s leaning forward, clutching her chest, her smile as big as I’ve ever seen it, with Ewan on one side and Hux on the other, the two of them cutting it up, keeping her laughing.

In any other moment, this scene would be perfect. I’d pull out my phone to secretly snap a photo and send it to everyone we know. Possibly consider printing it and framing it. I’d for sure text Dolly to get her ass over here so we could stand here, watching our men and swooning over how absolutely adorable they are—and then giggle about all the dirty things we were going to do to them later.

Instead, all I can think to do is cry.

Because this moment really is this perfect. Our future could continue to be this perfect.

And I’m the one who is about to ruin it.

I can’t let him do this.

I also can’t walk over there right now and demand an answer. This isn’t the time or place, for a number of reasons. Still, I have to figure out a way to stop this.

“Maisey.”

The deep, jovial southern drawl treats my name like it’s the chalice that Indiana Jones went looking for. It sends a rush of warmth through me, feeling like a hug, making me realize just how much I need one of those right now. Turning toward the voice, I exhale harshly, letting my tears escape.

“Oh, darlin’…” Auggie coos, wrapping me in a massive dad hug like only he can. I let myself fall into him, knowing that this is about as safe a place as any to break down. The only safer place would be in Ewan’s arms. “What’s going on?”

“Is he really doing this?” I look up at Auggie, hoping to find some answers. His familiar features are older now, but somehow still exactly the same as my childhood. Ewan favors Miss Belle with his lighter hair and blue eyes, instead of Auggie’s slightly darker features, but there’s still no denying they’re father and son. “Please tell me no.”

Furrowing his brow, Auggie takes a half step back, careful not to fully let me go. Just as I did him, he silently searches me for answers, although I don’t have any more than he does.