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Erin raised her head to find Abby standing in front of her, shielding her eyes from the sun.
“Austin called me. He thought something might be up.”
Erin motioned to the bench beside her. Abby sat down and wrapped her arm around Erin’s shoulder, triggering a new wave of grief. Abby just hugged her tighter and Erin cried tears she didn’t know she still had left in her.
Eventually she sat up and swiped her fingers under her eyes.
Abby gave her a sympathetic look. “What happened?”
“Jake broke up with me.”
A look of shock crossed Abby’s face. “What? You guys are so happy together.”
“He said he’s going back to Lindsay.”
Abby leapt from the bench and paced across the gazebo. “No way. She ripped his heart out and stomped on it before she left town.”
Erin laughed through the tears streaming down her face. “Nice visual.”
Abby sat back down. “It’s true. I don’t know what’s going on, but there is no way Jake is getting back together with Lindsay.”
Erin appreciated her friend’s defense of the situation but Abby didn’t know what Erin had witnessed. “I saw them.”
“Where?”
“At Las Brisas last night. Dad and I went out to dinner.” Erin thought back. Just twenty-four hours ago, her life had been normal. She’d been happy. Since then, she found out about her father’s recovery and relationship with Gladys, saw Jake with his ex-girlfriend, and then had her life turned upside down when Jake broke up with her.
“There has to be another explanation.” Before Erin could stop her, Abby had her phone out and Austin on the other end of a call. “Hey honey. Have you seen Jake today?”
Abby listened, nodding a few times at whatever Austin said. “But not since then, huh?” Another quiet moment passed. “Okay, thanks, honey. I love you.”
Abby clicked off and slid her cell phone into her purse. “Austin said Jake came in this morning to the office. But then obviously something happened, and he didn’t stay to talk. Austin thought something was up, and then when you didn’t come back after lunch, he called Jake.”
Erin’s heart wrenched. Did she want to hear what Austin found out? As much as she hurt right now, if there was a chance for them, she’d grab onto it with both hands. “What did Jake say?”
Abby lowered her eyes. “The same thing he said to you. That Lindsay wants to get back together. But Erin,” Abby reached her hand out and covered Erin’s. “Austin said something didn’t sound right with Jake. Maybe you should just give this a little time to shake out. See what’s going on. Maybe Jake’s just confused.”
“Then why didn’t he just talk to me? We didn’t need to break up.”
“I don’t know, honey. But who knows. Maybe this is for the best. You said you were worried about getting involved with him because of your plans to leave town.”
“Yeah.” Erin had forgotten she’d discussed her dreams with Abby.
“Did those plans change? I mean, when I’ve seen you and Jake together these past couple of weeks, you seemed so happy. You clicked, in a way that Jake and Lindsay never did. I figured you’d changed your mind about leaving.”
“No, not really. Oh, Abby, I don’t know what I want anymore.” She rubbed the tattoo on her wrist, the constant reminder of her dreams of adventure mocking her. The one thing she thought she wanted may have ruined the most important thing she had.
“Then maybe this is a good time to figure that out.” Abby stood and with a final hand on Erin’s shoulder, walked out of the gazebo, leaving Erin alone with her thoughts.
Chapter Fifteen
JAKE SPUN HIS glass, the amber-colored liquid swirling in circles. Around and around, again and again. Jake stared at it unfocused for he didn’t know how long. Eventually, he lifted the glass, tipped it back and poured the bitter liquid down his gullet. Harsh burning pierced his throat.
He welcomed it. He didn’t want to feel good. He hurt for Erin. What he did to her. But it had to be done, if she was to have any chance at happiness.
“Daggone it.” He slammed his hand on the table, rattling the bottle and glass. He’d hoped to gain relief from the drink, but instead, he felt as empty as he had since Erin ran away from him.
Bella leapt from her bed in the corner and barked.
