Page 22 of Almost Had You

The last thing to do is to tell my mama and daddy about moving. I’m still trying to decide the best way to do that. Last minute—giving them less chance to try to stop me or to pull some harebrained trick to lure me to stay? Or just tell them now and get it out in the open? I don’t put anything past my mama. As far as I know, Mr. Ballentine hasn’t announced his run for office yet. That will spread quicker than wildfire.

I’m sitting in the town square underneath a jasmine covered pergola, on my laptop looking at a map of Cape Cod. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll be close to Mercer. How often I’ll see him. If I can run into him when I’m settled in a new life. An email pings. It’s from the auto body shop telling me a part they need to fix my car is backordered and it’s going to be another few days. I send back a quick reply and then fish out my cell.

Tannie answers on the first ring. “Hey, I’m going to need your car for a few more days at least. A part is backordered or something, you know how that stuff goes. Anyway, I hope that’s okay.” She tells me I can keep the car as long as I want. She still feels bad about gossiping, is what she’s saying in different words. “Want to meet for lunch?” I ask.

“Late lunch? I need to wrap up some stuff here at the office.”

“Sure,” I reply.

Tannie clears her throat. “Still no word from Mercer then?”

“Like I’d tell you,” I hiss back.

She swallows hard. “I’m sorry. What happened? I won’t say anything.” I have casually mentioned that Mercer and I are cooling off after a hiccup. I didn’t dare give her details, and honestly, she’ll know soon enough. It gives me an idea. A more organic way for everyone to find out about my new life.

“I’ll tell you what’s been going on today at lunch. Thank you for letting me keep your car a bit longer.”

She bids me goodbye after we agree on a time, and I hang up the call. “Was wondering how long it would take to run into you,” Mercer drawls, voice licking up my spine.

I turn around and see him leaning against the jasmine. “You’re supposed to pretend you don’t see me and take the long way around the square. Don’t you know anything about living in a small town?” I reply.

He chuckles. It makes my skin crawl. In the good way. I suck in a deep breath and close my eyes. Jasmine. One of my favorite scents. I focus on that. “Memory isn’t what it used to be,” he says, sitting next to me on the bench. “That must have slipped my mind.”

“That’s it then,” I bite back.

“That’s what?”

I sigh. “Why you didn’t call me when you said you would.”

He reaches around the bench to sling an arm around my shoulder. “You ordered me to call you. I never said I would. Let’s call it a difference of opinion.”

“I guess you don’t remember telling me you thought we could be grand, either? Or the fact we basically agreed we were an item. You’re not as strong as I thought you were. It’s okay though because most people in my life disappoint me. You’re not special.”

“Ouch,” he says, drawing the word out. “I spent one full day golfing with my dad, another day talking about gardening and your grandma’s apple pie with my mom, and today was spent with Bentley at the DR on his day off.” He clears his throat. “I was hoping to run into you.”

“Yet you didn’t think to call me?” I rasp, sliding my laptop into a soft carrying case and zipping it up. “Again, I’m questioning your intelligence.”

Mercer lays a hand on my wrist. “I don’t do this. Relationships. You were mad. I was upset. Figured it would be best to let you lead. Come to me when you were ready and cooled down.”

“Bad idea. Awful plan. Not the way it works.” I shake my head, offended by his typical male mentality. “Always call. Always come over. Never assume anything. I’m glad you spent time with your parents and Bent.” I push down the irritation when I put it in perspective. He has three weeks to spend time with everyone he cares about. I’m a new shiny toy he hasn’t decided is worth the effort. I think. “I’m meeting Tannie for lunch. I’m going to tell her I’m moving. I figure it will be out before midnight.”

“You really need new friends,” Mercer says, laughing, reminding me how unconventional the friendship with Tannie is. “My mom is making one of my favorites for dinner, but maybe we can grab an ice cream after? Hit up Dixie Swirl then snag a drink at the Dizzy Rocket?”

“Is that a normal date?” I bite back.

He rubs my hand with his rough thumb. “An apology offering of frozen sugar. No wild adventures tonight. I can tell you about Cape Cod.” He nods at my laptop bag.

I raise one brow. “You saw the map I was looking at? How long were you standing behind me?”

He presses his lips together. “Long enough to know you already had lunch plans so I shouldn’t ask.”

“Stalker.” I flip my hair.

Backing away, he opens his big arms to the side. “Where are you going to eat? DR or Slippy Egg?” he asks. “If you tell me it’s not stalking when I casually stop in.”

I shake my head. “I’m irritated. I’m not angry with you. No need to stalk,” I snap. Forgive easily. It’s something I strive to do and it’s probably the most difficult task to accomplish successfully. How is one supposed to determine who is most deserving of forgiveness? Does anyone know?

“I’m a stupid man. I’m sorry I didn’t stop by. I’ll text you later.”

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