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“That’s uhhh . . . that’s why I called,” I say with a cringe. “I’m so sorry to dump this on you like this, but I’m kind of in a tricky situation. I’ve just flown in, and I’m stranded at the airport. My driver bailed, and I can’t seem to order an Uber. Is there any way you’d be able to help me out? I’d absolutely pay you back.”
“Oh shit, Blair. I’m so sorry. I’m actually working as a nurse now, and I’m on shift at the hospital, but give me a minute. I have a friend who works out that way and he should be finishing work around now. I’ll see if he can swing by and grab you.”
“Oh my God. Thank you so much,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. “You have no idea how much that would save my ass right now.”
“Trust me, I know. It looks like we’re in for a storm tonight, and the last thing you need is to be stranded at an airport, or worse, stranded on the highway somewhere.”
“You’ve got that right.”
Sarah chuckles a small laugh. “Plus, I’d really prefer not to end my night having to admit you as a patient. I’d rather catch up over coffee instead.”
“Consider it a date,” I say as my first real smile in days spreads across my face.
“Okay, give me a minute. I’ll call Oxley and see if he can grab you,” she says as my mind begins to swirl. Oxley? Why is there something so familiar about that name? It sits right in the forefront of my brain, waiting to be plucked out and formed into existence, but before I can think about it anymore, Sarah continues. “I’ll text you in a minute and let you know what he says.”
The relief is so great that all thoughts of familiarity fall away, and all that matters is the idea that I might just get back to Blushing before the storm hits. “Thanks, Sarah. I owe you one.”
“You absolutely do not,” she says, and with that, the call goes dead.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I settle into my seat, trying to get comfortable, but the hard bench isn’t doing my ass any favors, especially after being stuck on planes for the majority of my afternoon. It’s only a minute before my phone beeps with an incoming text and I glance down, smiling at Sarah’s name as it appears on my screen.
Sarah - Good timing. Ox is only five minutes away. He said he can grab you. He’s in a blue pickup, pretty boy, most likely wearing his cap backwards because he thinks he’s hot like that!
Relief pounds through my veins, and I quickly respond.
Blair - You are a life saver!!!!!! Text me when you’re free and we’ll catch up.
Sarah - Will do. I’m really happy you’re back. I’ve missed you.
Blair - Missed you too. Xx
Thank God. I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t come to the rescue. Most of the people I knew from here so long ago have probably moved on and started their own lives in new towns with their babies and partners. The only other person I know who is still here . . . well, he’s not an option. Hell, I only know he’s still in Blushing because Nana would mention it every now and then in the hopes that I would see the errors of my ways and race back here to rekindle young love. She always wanted to see me get married and start a family, but I’m pretty sure she would have tempted me with anything just to get me back home.
Just as Sarah said, it’s only a quick five minutes before a tall blonde with scruffy hair under his backward cap waltzes through the front door, looking more than a little lost. He wears an old flannel button-down with the sleeves rolled up as though he hasn’t noticed the mounds of freezing snow.
His head sweeps from left to right, and I can’t help but trail my greedy gaze over him. He’s a farm boy through and through, and damnnnnn, it looks good on him . . . or maybe I’ve just been deprived of what a real farm boy looks like for so long.
I almost start drooling.
I grew up ogling guys like Oxley until I set my sights on Nick. They simply don’t grow them this way in New York. I’ve become accustomed to arrogant men in fancy tailored suits, but I won’t find a single designer brand out here in Blushing. People here are so chilled out. They don’t care about wasting their hard-earned dollars on expensive things when they could use that money to go out and have a good time, spoil their friends, and treat their families.
Not wanting to risk Oxley walking away, I quickly stand and grab my bag before scurrying across the foyer of the airport. “Are you Oxley?” I ask as I approach him, despite already being ninety-nine percent sure.
His blue-gray eyes swivel to me as a grin lifts the corner of his lips. “That’ll be me, sweetheart,” he says with a slight drawl to his tone, something I haven’t heard in so long. His gaze sweeps over me, taking in my tight jeans, coat, and ankle boots, clearly able to tell that I’m a city girl. “You must be Blair.”
“I am,” I say, holding out my hand toward him. He gives it a quick shake, and I offer him a beaming smile as my hand falls away. “Thank you so much for picking me up.”
“No problem,” he says, nodding his head toward the door, indicating for me to get my ass moving. I fall in line beside him, and he slips his hand over mine, taking my suitcase like the perfect gentleman. “Trust me. When Sarah calls and asks for a favor, it’s in your best interest to make it happen.”
I laugh, loving that she’s still the same Sarah I’ve always known and loved. “It’s good to see that some things never change.”
We reach his blue pickup, and he lifts my suitcase into the bed of the truck as his blue-gray gaze sweeps toward me. “Oh, you’re from around here?” he asks, his brows furrowing as though trying to place me.
“Yeah, I grew up here,” I explain as I open the door and climb into the warmth of his pickup. He gets in the driver’s seat and quickly kicks over the engine, and the whole truck vibrates to life just like my pop’s used to do. “I went to Blushing High, but once I started college, I wasn’t around much after that. I flew back home as much as I could, but that wasn’t always easy.”
“I can imagine,” he says, hitting the road and sending us flying back toward the home I’ve avoided for so long. “So, you’re coming home to be with your family over the Christmas break?”
I take a breath, not really sure if I can talk about it, but there’s no point in lying. Blushing is a small town, and he’ll figure it out sooner or later. “Not exactly,” I tell him as my chest tightens. “My nana passed away a few weeks ago, and I’m all she had left. So I’m coming home to sort out her estate.”
