Page 106 of Tough Love

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“Shit, sorry Adds, I have to answer him.”

“Go ahead,” I say. But inside I’m screaming,Don’t leave me here with Adam! Take me with you, Rubes!I school my face to socially appropriate politeness and comment on the weather. Ruby takes off toward the front of the restaurant, and when her voice turns to an urgent whisper, she veers and disappears into the ladies’ room.

I shove the spaghetti around my fork, trying to convince my stomach it’s hungry. The food smells so good. The company leaves a little to be desired...

Adam leans back on his chair and lays an arm over the back of my chair.

I glance to the street, desperate to put my focus anywhere else than to where he sits. Shoulders hunched over, I slurp up a strand of spaghetti and look back out the window.

And then... On the other side of the restaurant window.

That white Stetson.

Blue eyes that swallow me whole.

His gorgeous face . . .

His gaze shifts to my left.

To Adam.

He turns back, heads for the door, but walks away, disappearing into the crowd on the sidewalk.

The breath in my lungs burns out.

No . . . No!

I push from the chair fast. It falls over, hitting the floor with a clatter. Skipping around Adam, who gives me a stunned,confused look, I push through the patrons in the restaurant entrance. “Sorry, sorry. Please, I have to get out.”

I slam a hand onto the glass door and spill out onto the street. Air leaving my lungs laced with fire, tears burning my eyes, I spin side to side. Trying desperately to find that white Stetson in the sea of commuters and nightlife. My hands ball to fists by my sides. “Huddy,” I rasp. Yellow catches my attention, poking up from the bin near the restaurant door.

I step over and glance in. A bunch of yellow daisies. The same as the ones he bought me when we went to the restaurant in Lewistown. Like the ones he scattered around the house the night of Louisa’s party. I slap a hand to my mouth, stifling a moan.

“Hudson!?” I push through the crowd one way, then another. I have no idea where he would have gone to. “Hudson!”

Tears stream down my face.Shit.

Dammit.

I come to a stop, sobs bubbling from my throat. A hand touches my arm.

I spin back.

“I’m sorry, Adds.” Ruby stands with Adam behind her.

“Hudson, he was?—”

Adam scoffs. “What? The hick was here?”

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