Page 46 of His Small Town Girl

For my small-town girl, you made me see the world in color again.

For Hannah, this story wouldn’t exist without you.

For Hannah, my story doesn’t exist without you.

For STG, with love. -CB

For Hannah, no what ifs.

For Hannah, happy birthday.

For my STG, there is no one else like you.

For Hannah, you are what I want out of life.

For David and Rebecca, thanks for creating Hannah.

For my STG, I’m living in a lonely world without you. I’d take the midnight train to be with you.

For Hannah, my STG, I’m completely wrecked for you.

For Hannah, kiss or kill?

There were more. They filled the dedication page, every single one crossed out. Some melt my heart, some make me cry, some make me laugh, and every single one reminds me that I am desperately in love with Will Whitmore. When I have read every potential dedication, I cradle the manuscript to my chest as tears fall down my face.

He had said it yesterday, but I truly hadn’t heard him, but these got through to me. Each one is a testament to the fact that he loves me. If possible, this has broken my heart a little more, but Dad had given it to me for a reason and that probably wasn’t so I would cry alone in my car. He is trying to show me that I am wrong. I’ve always been enough for Will Whitmore, even if I didn’t believe it. The proof is on this page.

I put my car back into drive and pull out of the parking lot. My nerves flutter anxiously within me, and I tap the wheel nervously as I drive. Will isn’t out on the porch anymore when I pull up in front of the bed-and-breakfast, but I turn the car off anyway and walk up.

I’m not sure what I will say. Obviously, he had stayed, so I assume he still wants to give us a chance, but the harsh words I had said still hang in the air and try as I might I can’t forget the way he had made me feel when he left me waiting at the airport.

I have to do something, though. I don’t want Will to be my ‘what if’ and if that meant running the risk of having my heart crushed, then I guess I must realize there is no safe love.

The bells on the front door jingle as I open it and walk into the entry. The front desk is empty, but Miss Humphrey’s, the owner, pops her head out from a room down the hall.

“Hannah? What are you doing here?” She gives me a confused smile.

“Oh, um, I was just stopping by to see Will.” I watch as her eyebrows rise in surprise. Guess my encounter with Will at the diner had made the rounds.

“Well, he is just upstairs, packing his bags before he checks out. Want me to go get him?” She asks, and she is already heading towards the stairs before I answer.

Checking out? Maybe he has given up on me. “No, that is fine. I’ll just give him a call later.” I shake my head as I hurry towards the exit. I keep my head down as I rush to the car. How am I continually so stupid when it comes to Will Whitmore?

Hopefully, Miss Humphrey’s keeps quiet about my visit because if she doesn’t I will be facing years of soft sighs and mutters of “Poor dear, had her heart broken by some New Yorker.” Not that the current whispers about me are much better, but you always have further to fall in a small town.

I try not to think as I climb back in my car and put it into drive. I’m pulling away from the bed-and-breakfast when there is a rapid pounding on the back of my car. I jump in surprise, hitting my gas on accident, and shooting forward. I quickly slam the brakes, and my body lurches toward the windshield as the car comes to a stop. I take a deep breath as I put the car in park. I climb out of my car, really hoping I didn’t hit somebody, and I see him, Will, jogging towards me. The goofy grin on his face tells me he has once again witnessed my panicked driving.

“Gosh Will, you almost gave me a heart attack. I thought I hit someone.” I say, looking anywhere but at him.

“Sorry, I just didn’t want you to leave before we could talk.” Will is looking at me with his dimpled smile and I’m glad I came back, if only to see it one last time.

“As I understand, it was you who was leaving.” I mutter, a little confused why he is so happy to see me if he was planning on leaving.

“Yeah, Miss Humphrey is hosting a family reunion, so I needed to check out. I’m checking into the motel off the highway a little later today.”

Realization dawns on me, and I bite down on my lips to resist smiling like a maniac. Inside, my heart flutters. Will isn’t leaving. He isn’t giving up on me.

“So, what did you want to see me about?” Will asks, as I inwardly celebrate the fact that I still have a chance.

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