Page 68 of Finding You

“Why?”

Not sure what exactly the question was, he looked at Will in confusion.

“Why does she suddenly not want to go?” he explained. “I mean…that was her plan when you found her on the side of the road, and that’s been her plan ever since. Until now.”

If my car had been running…I was going to head out on Sunday.

“It’s still her plan,” Devin replied lowly. “She told me so last night.”

“Well, that’s not what the girls all think. So again I have to ask…why?”

“She’s got a life, Will. She never planned on stopping–or staying–here in Sweetbriar Ridge. Her plan was to go to Oregon and do…something. This was a slight detour on the way there.”

Will’s eyes went wide. “A detour? Seriously? That’s what you’re reducing it to?”

“What am I supposed to call it?”

“Um…fate?” And then Will let out a snort of disgust. “Geez, listen to me. I sound like a damn teenage girl.” He sighed loudly. “Look, I know I’m probably the last guy to be giving relationship advice. I haven’t had anything long-term since high school. But…damn, Devin. You and I have known each other for a long time and the way you’ve been these last two weeks? I’ve never seen you that happy.”

Devin knew it was the truth because he felt it too. “It’s only been two weeks. Everyone can be happy for two weeks.” It was bullshit and he knew it, but he was trying hard to justify MacKenzie’s leaving and convincing himself it was going to be all right.

“Dude, who are you trying to kid? I mean, I get it–yeah. The first two weeks of a relationship? It's pretty hard to screw that up and not be happy. But like I said, I know you. You’re not like that. You’re too damn serious and grown up. You don’t play the casual dating game and if you’ve been half as happy as you appear to be, then I know you really feel something for her. And with the way the two of you have been around each other nearly 24/7, you know it’s technically a lot longer than two damn weeks.”

“Will…”

Will threw up his hands in surrender. “I know, I know. What the hell do I know about this? I can’t even find a girl to pretend to be happy with me for two dates, let alone two weeks, so…never mind.” He stood up and looked toward the front door.

“Will wait…”

He waited and looked at Devin expectantly.

“What do I do? I asked her to stay but…” He stopped and shrugged. “She’s fairly determined to go.”

“You could dismantle her car so she can’t leave,” Will said, a sly grin crossing his face.

Devin chuckled. “Already tried that.”

“Really? Man, that’s awesome!”

“I don’t think I could do it again. I’m not good at lying, and I don’t want MacKenzie to stay if she really wants to go.”

“Sometimes you’re too noble.”

He shrugged again. “What good would it be to force her to stay?”

“What good is going to come out of letting her go?” Will countered.

Hanging his head, Devin let out a weary sigh. When he looked up, Will was still standing there watching him. “What am I supposed to do?”

Will considered him for a moment. “And you’re sure we can’t dismantle her car again?”

Devin shook his head. “Absolutely not. Hell, the car will be fixed in less than ten minutes. When we get to the shop, I had planned on just doing it and handing her the keys. After that, I have no idea what’s going to happen.”

“And you’ve asked her to stay?”

“I even reminded her she had a job here already to hold her over until she found one she really wanted.”

“Well, damn…”

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