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It’s not long after that the Blairwood crew declares they should hit the road, which is a blessing, really. The moment their truck pulls out of the driveway, I spot Emmett pressing a kiss on top of Kate’s head. A knot in my throat grows thicker the longer I watch them. The protective way his hand is spread over her lower back, their hushed voices, him gently pushing her hair behind her ear…
I clear my throat. “I think I’ll be going if you guys don’t need me.”
Emmett and Kate turn toward me, a frown appearing between my best friend’s brows. “No, it’s fine. Areyou okay? You seem off.”
Shit.
“Yeah.” I run my hand over my face. “Just tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night. I’ll be better once I crash.”
“Okay. How about we grab an early lunch at Letty’s one day next week so we can talk in peace? These past few days have been crazy.”
“I… shit.”
I didn’t want to do this.
Emmett just watches me for a moment, contemplating my words. “You’re leaving.”
His voice is even, almost like he expected it, but at the same time, I don’t miss the disappointment on his face.
I shrug my shoulders, trying to seem as nonchalant as possible. “That was the plan all along.”
“So you’re just… sticking with the plan?”
“Yes, you know this place isn’t home any longer.”
“Bullshit. Home is a place you create. You can’t tell me that Austin feels like home.”
Maybe not, but at least they wanted me there.
They respected me there.
And the same couldn’t be said for Bluebonnet.
“Austin is my home.” Taking a step closer, I pull my best friend into a hug. “Take care, okay? I really am happy for you.”
Emmett shakes his head, but whatever he wants to say, he bites his tongue. “Thanks. Good luck with football. How about we try to drive down and catch a game?”
“I’d love that.”
Kate shoots me a soft smile when I pull her into my arms. “Try to keep him on his toes. Just because he got the girl doesn’t mean he has to stop working hard, okay?”
“Will do.” She pulls back, slipping under Emmett’s arm. “We’ll miss you around here.”
They might, but they were a family now, and soon they’dhave a little boy or a girl added to the mix. We were growing up, and going in different directions was just a part of it.
“I’ll talk to you guys soon.”
With a wave, I go toward my car. My fingers curl around the door handle when something urges me to look up. And that’s when I see her.
Rebecca is standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, watching me.
I allow myself a second to take her in for the last time, just one more second, and then I slip into my seat.
On the drive back to my parent’s place, I mentally go over all the things that I’ll need to pack before I can hit the road. I already dreaded telling my mom, but there would be no avoiding it.
I’m just pulling up their driveway when a flash of light has me looking up.
Red and blue.
