Page 103 of After You

“But I told you now,” she said quickly. “I didn’t think you needed to know everything then. I thought that was easier. But now maybe there’s a reason why you need to know what my life looks like, and will keep lookinglike.”

He was quiet again for several seconds. Then he said, “Is there a reason I need to know what your life looks like and will keep lookinglike?”

“I guess that depends on your reaction to all of this,” she said honestly.

He blew out a long breath. “I don’t want you to find someone else to do this stuff,” he said. “I fucking hate the idea that someone else can do something for you that I can’t.”

She felt a wave of relief spill over her. “Kyle, that means—”

“But yeah, I’m not good at not fixing things. And I have so many people that need me all the fucking time.” He sighed. “I would want to be there for you. But then there are always all of these things…people. I’ve been trying to get to you for two days as itis.”

She swallowed back the tears. “I know. I would be one more thing to take care of. I wouldn’t be much help with all of the things you do. The things you love doing.”

“I didn’t mean it likethat.”

“But it’strue.”

They were both quiet. Then she said, “I think in the past, we made the mistake of making our relationship about everyone and everything else. But when I think about doing it differently, I wonder if we would have been together if not for all of those projects and things we had in common.”

He didn’t say anything.

“We didn’t really talk. We didn’t really do anything that didn’t involve our families or some assignment of somekind.”

He still didn’t reply.

“And now,” she continued, “I’m…a mess. And you have plenty of other messes in your life. You need a partner. You need someone who can get out there and do all of those amazing things right by your side.” She paused and had to swallow against the tightness in her throat before she could continue. “And that can’t beme.”

“Hannah—” His phone started ringing just then. He blew out a frustrated breath. “I needto—”

“Iknow.”

“Ames,” he said a moment later. “Yes.” Pause. “No, I’m in Sapphire Falls.” Another pause. And a sigh. “Yes, I’ll be right there.” There was a beat, and he said, “David Butler collapsed at the diner. He’s conscious now but I need to go take alook.”

“Of course.”

“Hannah, I—”

“Go, Kyle.” She swallowed. “Go help the people you can. There’s nothing you can dohere.”

“Right.”

The next thing she heard was the door opening, the sound of Kyle and Kade exchanging a few words, and then the door shutting again.

“You okay?” Kade asked a moment later.

“Nope,” she said honestly.

* * *

“I can’t believeyou’re not coming with me,” Hannah told Kade later that night. After her neck had released. And she’d cried. And she’d gone to visit her grandmother. And she’d realized that she had to go back to Seattle. The longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave. Just like Kyle had wanted. And there was no reason for her to stay. Everything was fine here. No one really needed her. Which worked out well, considering she was pretty much no good to anyone.

“Hey, I’ve got a book club meeting next week and I’m set up to talk to Officer Hansen about police procedures in Sapphire Falls tomorrow. And your grandmother and Ruby expect me at poker next week too. And I’m rolling on this book. I can’t mess with what’s working.”

Hannah couldn’t believe it. She was going back to Seattle and Kade was staying in Sapphire Falls. “Fine. Whatever. Good luck writing a book without me around.”

Which should have been funny. Kade was the one who thought he couldn’t write without her. But nothing was funny rightnow.

“Don’t be mad. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”

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