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“That’s too bad, Miss Olivia. I wish you could stay. We were hoping to get to know ya better.”

Peering over at the man, I meet his kind eyes and smile. Maybe it would be better to leave sooner rather than later. The longer I stay, the more people I’ll meet, and the more goodbyes I’ll have to say. Rachel. Marlene. Joe. Is it goodbye when you don’t really know the person?

Logan’s gaze warms me. “You’re not alone there, Joe. I think we were all hoping for that.”

And Logan. I don’t know him well, but it’s not a goodbye I look forward to.

Sixteen

“I know you just bought peanut butter. But do you want to grab lunch?”

“Yeah.” I study the little town passing by from the cab of Logan’s truck with no idea where one “grabs lunch” in Rendezvous.

Logan drives down a street I recognize, then turns into the school parking lot.

My brows pull together as I stare at the two small buildings in front of us. “What are we doing here?”

“Lunch.” He opens his door, not offering any more explanation.

I hop from the truck and peer at him around the hood. “Here?”

“I thought we’d go to Amelia’s favorite place to eat.”

I laugh. The high school is Amelia’s lunch spot? “Fine, but next time you’re taking me somewhere in town. I’ve never been anywhere but Farmer’s.”

With one hand on the front door, he looks back at me, a breeze whipping through his dark curls and a smile playing on his lips. “Will there be a next time?”

I bite my inner cheek—it felt like such a natural thing to say. But in truth, there most likely won’t be. “Sure. Maybe.”

“You’re still leaving this weekend?”

I won’t be able to talk Ben into a few more days. No matter what I tell myself. “Yeah. Probably,” I say, unable to read his reaction.

“Do you think you’ll ever come back?”

“Sure.” But I’m not convincing either of us.

He blinks, the sun streaming down, his lips flattening as if he’s disappointed. But I’m not sure why he cares. He loved my grandmother. And while I’ve had an idea of him for years, he hardly knows me. Logan runs a hand through his dark curls before sighing.

“Shall we?” I open the door, moving myself right out of this conversation. I don’t like being uncomfortable with Logan. Maybe we don’t know each other well, but to me he’s like a long-lost friend, one I’ve found easy conversation with.

I stride ahead of him, following the same path as Dad and I had before. I assume we’ll need to check in. This time, we arrive at the office without seeing another soul.

And there’s Amelia’s empty seat. I stare at it like I’ve seen her there before. Like she should be there now. Maybe she’d even smile. Maybe she’d show some of the spunk I felt in that journal.

All at once, Rachel Lemonade takes up my entire view. Her five foot two inches only reaches to my nose. She lunges at me, grasping both of my shoulders and pulling me down into a tight, overly friendly hug. Awkwardly, I pat her back, unsure how to respond.

“Hello, Rachel,” I manage through her affectionate strangulation.

“It warms my heart to see you.” Rachel pulls back, her eyes roving over every inch of my face. “Like a toasty marshmallow over the fire.”

“How are you, Rach?” Logan asks.

“Me?” she says, finally releasing me. “Fine as china. Not surprised to see you here.”

I stifle a giggle. Talk about spunk. Rachel has it in droves.

“Oh?” Logan’s brows lift.