Page 2 of Lakeside Lovers

A lump the size of Texas forms in my throat, and I drop my head into my hands. I should just come clean and find out why he’s here or it’s going to drive me insane.

I need answers, and the only person who can give them to me is standing right in front of me.

Shaking my head, I lift it from my hands to confess, but he’s gone.

Are you freaking kidding me?

I shoot to my feet, my gaze searching the library but he’s not here. Rounding the desk, I run to the front door—as fast as I can in heels—and throw it open in time to see a cherry red Camaro exit the lot.

Tears well in my eyes as I watch the taillights until they fade into the distance.

What did I do?

“Margo,” Ava calls from behind me.

I release the door and step back inside, my heart in my throat as a sob rips from my chest.

“Oh, my God, what’s wrong?” Ava runs to my side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and leading me to the breakroom.

Once inside, she snags a box of tissues from the top of the mini fridge and guides me to sit with her on the couch. “Okay, sweetheart, take a few breaths and tell me what the hell is going on. I’ve never seen you cry, and it’s kinda freaking me out.”

It takes everything I have to pull myself together long enough to tell Ava the basics. The second I’m done, tears rush from my eyes like a waterfall.

“Whoa,” Ava mutters as she curls her arm more tightly around my body and hands me another tissue. “He could have just moved back. It shouldn’t take us long to figure it out in a town this small. The gossip mill is sure to know something.”

I sniffle, she’s right. And there is one person in this town who knows absolutely everything that goes on— Betsy Carlisle.

“Will you come see Betsy with me?” I ask, wiping my gross, snotty nose.

Ava rears back, cringing, “That old bat hates me.”

Sniffling again, I give her puppy dog eyes and plead. “Please, Ava, I’ll cover your shift next weekend…”

She rubs her chin and purses her lips, pretending to ponder it. “You have yourself a deal.”

A smile tugs at my lips as a tiny grain of hope blooms in my chest.

Chapter Two

After pulling into the hotel parking lot, I shove my car in park and drop my head back to stare at the ceiling.

I’ve been planning this trip for so long, and now what? What am I supposed to do if she doesn’t remember me?

My chest is tight, and I rub at it with the heel of my palm.

For years, getting back to Margo is all I’ve thought about. And now that I’m finally here, finally free, she doesn’t remember me.

My cell rings in my pocket so I slide it out, my brother’s name on the screen.

“Leo,” I answer.

He dives straight in. “So, how’d it go? Did you find her?”

I sigh and squeeze my eyes closed. “I did, but it didn’t go how I’d hoped.”

“Okay, how did it go then?” he asks.

“She doesn’t remember me.”

---