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I scoff. “When you put your house on the market and disappeared without a trace, you lost all rights to knowing how I feel.”
He grimaces. “I deserved that. Tyler, I’m sorry I hurt you.”
I shake my head and direct my eyes to the corner of the room to avoid eye contact. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I gave you the opportunity to tell me what was going on. I texted you and you left me on read. Obviously, you got what you wanted by sleeping with me and then ghosting me. I’m over it.”
He moves closer to me and then hesitates. “You’re not over and that’s not what happened. Obviously, you wouldn’t be crying in a coat closet at a wedding if you didn’t still have feelings about this.” When I don’t respond, he continues. “I’m sorry, Tyler. I panicked. We slept together, and then the next day you just disappeared all day long. Then, after, your car was home as if nothing had ever happened, and so was a Tesla with Oklahoma tags. I know that was your ex.”
“So, you just took off because you saw my ex’s car? I could understand it if you saw me making out with him, but not a hug.”
He throws his hands in the air. “What was I supposed to think? You were out on your porch with him half dressed. It looked like you two were awfully cozy.”
I take a deep breath and explain. “Yes. That was my ex-boyfriend, Elliott. I didn’t ask for him to show up. Truthfully, I didn’t even know he was coming, and hell, I didn’t know that he even knew where I was.” I search Andrews’ expression and the lines around his eyes soften. “I opened the door without getting dressed because I thought it was you knocking. Seeing him was just a smack in the face. It had been a rough 24 hours.” I stare down at my dress. “My dad had a heart attack the morning before. I had gone to their house to get tables for the yard sale and I found him on the floor. When I told Elliott about it, I started to cry and he pulled me in for a hug. That’s all.”
He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “I’m such an asshole. When I didn’t see you all day and then I saw you with him the next morning, I assumed….”
“You assumed the worst.” I interrupt him. “And that’s not fair to me. I gave you no reason to think that’s who I am as a person.” I pause. “Elliott came by to tell me that he had met someone and to drop off the last of my things. He’s probably engaged by now to a woman that he started seeing four minutes after I walked out of his door. And I didn’t care because I had found something better, you.” I huff. “Or so I thought.”
He moves to the bench and sits next to me in silence.
I begin again. “I liked you… a lot. And I thought we had something that could go somewhere.”
“I liked you, too. I still do.” He pauses. “Sorry, I know I should’ve talked to you first. I guess I just thought that maybe I was more into it than you were,” He admits with a shrug. “I know you are planning to leave Fawn Creek and I thought maybe you decided to just get back with him after I saw his car parked outside your house. I panicked, and I left. When you texted me, I just didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. I figured you’d be gone by the time I came back here.”
“I’m staying here.” I respond quietly.
He turns to me, puzzled. “You’re staying where?”
“Here. In Fawn Creek.” I shrug. “I’m not selling the house. Summer is almost over and I’ve decided to stay put.” I stand up from my seat and move towards the door. “So, I guess I’ll see you around. Have a nice life.”
I leave the room, carrying my extra shoes, and don’t stop walking until I make it home.
Chapter 23
Saturday morning I wake up with my head still swimming from the night before. I move through the house, just going through the motions. After the way I walked out on Andrew last night, I feel even more unsettled than I have in months, if that’s even possible.
It’s the end of July, and the hottest time of year in Kansas, but it’s early enough in the day that the temperature is at least tolerable. If I’m going to get out for a run, now is my only chance.
Within minutes, I’m locking the door behind me and jogging towards the downtown area. After a lot of practice, I’ve figured out how to jog three miles in this place that’s just under a mile wide. It requires quite a bit of zigging and zagging through almost every neighborhood.
Once my run is complete, I make my way into the business district. Just as I am approaching Drip, my eyes wander towards the building next door, like usual. I have to do a double take to catch that the “For Sale” sign is now topped with the words “Under Contract.”
It shouldn’t upset me. Realistically, I’m aware of that. The building needs more work than a coat of paint and some cleaning. Even with the chunk of money Hazel left for me, it’ll surely never be enough to turn that place into a storefront on my own. Still yet, it stings knowing someone else will move in there. It hurts even more knowing that I’ll have to see someone in the building I loved so much every time I come downtown. I shake my head, trying to clear the negative thoughts.
Was I going to buy that building? No, of course not. If I was going to, I would have done it by now. The sale means good things for Fawn Creek because that means that another business will be eventually opening in town. I need to focus on myself and what I can do with my life.
I push the door open to Drip and step towards the counter to give Devin my order. The sound of Cassidy’s voice makes me jump.
“Hey girl! That was some party last night, wasn’t it?”
I feel the color drain from my face. The wedding reception. I missed all of it and it’s because I couldn’t stand the thought of spending the evening in the same space as Andrew. At least Cassidy didn’t seem to notice my absence.
“It was great!” I agree, hoping she won’t call my bluff. “What are you doing at work, though? Shouldn’t you be recovering?”
“Oh, I plan to! I just need to make sure the event center was cleaned up and then I’m turning the keys back in. We hired someone from Owen to take care of it, but you know me. I have trust issues.” She laughs. “I’m going to make sure it’s up to my standards and then I’m going to put on my pajamas and stay that way until Monday.”
I pick up my coffee from the counter and stuff some cash in the tip jar. “That sounds like a good plan.” I move towards the door and wave behind me. “I’ll see you next week! Get some rest.”
Half a block away from my house, I can see the floral arrangement on my porch. All morning, I’ve told myself that Andrew and I are done. I’ve worked to convince myself that I don’t care about him and what he does next. I tell myself that I don’t care if I ever speak to him again. But those flowers… Those stupid flowers make my heart flutter and I feel excited and I want nothing else in the world but for them to be from him.
