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“Please don’t say it. I get it and I’m fine,” I said before waving. “I’ve got to hurry but it was so nice to see you.”
She stuttered out a quick goodbye as I rushed up to the counter. I couldn’t find it in me to feel bad. Too often people wanted to talk about it to the person hurting the most. Those words were for them. Not me.
“Sometimes you have to run from the town biddies,” the girl behind the counter said with a small laugh. She was pretty, her auburn hair and bright-blue eyes standing out with the subtle makeup she’d brushed over her face. She was a natural beauty. “I’m Katya, what can I make for you?”
“Caramel latte, extra espresso,” I said with a quick smile.
“Like, extra espresso I’m sleepy or extra espresso make me see colors?” she asked with a chuckle.
“The second,” I said with a grin. The omega gave me a wink before going about making the drink.
“You new in town?” she asked. “I haven’t seen you here before.”
“My family owns a cabin just outside of town. I used to spend summers here,” I explained quickly. “I’m meeting an old friend out there.”
“Oh nice, well then welcome back…”
“Shaye,” I supplied as she trailed off.
“Here we are, strong as heck,” she promised as she cashed me out. I threw the change in the tip jar and said a hasty goodbye before walking out, not sparing a single glance toward Mrs. Klein.
I finally let out a breath again as I settled in my car. I’d made it through the first interaction at least. I knew nostalgia would hit me here, I just didn’t expect it to hit quite so hard.
Everett was everywhere. The town square we’d watched Fourth of July fireworks at, the small grocery store where we’d stock up on snacks, the park we’d hang out at when we needed to get away from our parents.
Tears burned in my eyes but this time I didn’t let them fall. I’d cried too much the last year and now I needed to keep it together.
The drive out of town felt slow with the low speed limits in town but I made it to the cluster of cabins. My family didn’t sell ours, but we also hadn’t been back in a few years. Mom had barely left my side until I went to school.
A black pickup truck was already waiting outside but I knew it wasn’t Lake when I saw an older couple swinging on the porch, hand in hand.
Everett and Lake’s parents were like second parents to me. At least I could hug them one last time now. I owed them that much.
Part of me felt guilty and selfish for leaving them without a word. I’d cut them all out for an entire year while I tried to come to terms with my new normal.
Linda and Lake reached out a few times but I couldn't bring myself to respond.
Lake’s were the hardest. They were pleas to let him know I was alright, texts begging me to respond. I never did. If I sent even one reply I knew it would open up a new fissure in my already fractured heart and I wasn’t willing to risk it.
“Shaye,” Linda said as she stood and walked out to greet me. Her eyes were misty as she pulled me into a hug. She still smelled like her vanilla perfume and I clung a bit tighter than I meant to.
She took a shaky breath before we parted and Chad gave me a bear hug next. He held me tight for a few beats and I returned it, soaking it in before we stepped away.
“We weren’t sure you’d come,” he said gruffly. “Glad to see you, sweet girl.”
“Lake will be here soon, he’s grabbing some supplies. We wanted to be here first and give you this. Ev made it for you and we finished it, we just haven’t seen you to give it to you yet.”
I started to apologize but she narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t you dare apologize to me. Just take it,” she said, putting a necklace in my hand and closing my fingers around it. “I love you and I hope you stop by after you and Lake have your reunion.”
My chest tightened. Knowing I was going to break her heart made me want to reconsider, but I couldn’t. It was just too hard.
She walked away and I let out a sigh of relief. I was glad I didn’t have to offer empty promises.
“Door is unlocked, kiddo,” Chad said before he followed his omega to their pickup truck. I went back to my car to grab my two bags I needed and left the rest. My backseat looked like I was moving but I didn’t care.
When they started to drive away I turned and walked up the path and pushed the door open, walking inside the cabin. It felt strange being back here after so long. Every cell in my body screamed for me to run but I forced myself to stay.
