Page 34 of Safe With Me
Hannah
As tempting as it was, running away over the weekend wasn’t a valid option. Oh, the idea called to me, same as my life’s biggest temptation, who currently sat in my living room, scrolling on his phone.Thatsix-foot-two temptation proved I could resist a bad idea. I hadn’t given in with him. Letting him hang around because it made both of us feel better did not mean I’d forgiven him or that we were heading toward friendship or anything else.
So if I could resist him, I could resist the urge to flee.
Elizabeth’s antics didn’t threaten my job with Scott. At least, I didn’t think so after the way he’d reacted to her when she’d shown up in the office. I had two months left on my lease.
Maybe I’d move to Tallahassee. Find a job, rent an apartment, and drive into Thomasville to service my corner at Livi & Co. until that sixth-month agreement was up. Tallahassee seemed a big enough city that I could live incognito, and if someone recognized me . . . well, it was the city. More room and more crowds to get lost in.
No one knew me there.
Basically, I had a month to plan so I could then give a thirty-day notice to Scott and my landlord.
Happy holidays to me.
A solid knocking at the front door sent my heart into a rapid tattoo, thudding a sickening rhythm in my throat. I froze, staring at the door, unable to move, even as Tate jumped to his feet. His phone hit the floor with a soft thump, forgotten as he strode to the door.
My own device buzzed, Gracie’s text lighting up the screen.
It’s me. Open the door
“It’s Gracie.” Setting my laptop aside, I hustled by Tate to fling open the door.
“I’m not asking if you’re okay.” My sister wrapped an arm around my neck, her other hand grasping a takeout bag from the bakery. “Hey, Tate.”
As I stepped back, she gave me a pointed what-is-he-doing-here look.
My cheeks flushing hot, I rolled my eyes and shrugged. Obviously, Gracie had seen the same thing Sara had when Tate was around. I hadn’t been nearly as discreet as I thought I’d been. Guess my feelings for him were as unmissable as the space station in the night sky as it crossed over Chandler County, which it did on the regular. You could see it from town, even with the lights, and if you drove out into the country, like Tate and I had done a couple of times, the moving light was bright and unmistakable.
“Colt called Andy this morning.” Gracie headed toward the kitchen. Even when she was stomping in irritation, she moved like the dancer she was. Mama had given up on me and dancing when I was around nine, but Gracie had taken classes all the way through high school.
“Okay.” With a quizzical glance at Tate, I followed. Colt calling Andy wasn’t all that weird. They were like best buds.
Gracie unpacked more muffins and scones than I would be able to eat in a week – lemon poppyseed and orange cranberry, for sure. “He was at the Hickory House with his daddy last night.”
I sighed, aware of Tate’s sharp gaze on my face. “It’s fine.”
“It isnot. And her mess is not.” Gracie set about prepping a fresh pot of coffee. So we were having brunch for lunch. Behind me, Tate propped a shoulder on the doorjamb. “I let it go whenshe was just playing around, and I didn’t say anything about that yuck video where she made a big deal of you ignoring her because you seemed okay when we talked. I should have looked deeper at you. I’m sorry.”
I gripped my hands together behind my back, realized Tate could see them, and crossed my arms instead. “Gracie, you have three kids, one is basically a newborn, and it’s harvest season so Andy’s gone all the time.”
“Don’t make excuses for me being a crappy sister.” Frowning, Gracie pointed the coffee scoop in my direction. “I should have done better, and I’m about to.”
My sister on a mission was a sight to behold, and I loved her for this – but really, everything only served to make Elizabeth worse. My best bet? Keep everything calm and get out of the vicinity as soon as I could. “Gracie–”
“I talked to Daddy, and I am about to get her in line.”
My lips twitched, and I gave into an irresistible smile. After the last twenty-four hours, a real smile felt good. “How are you planning to do that?”
“She needs an intervention.” Gracie punched on the coffeemaker. Within seconds, water burbled and a rich aroma filled the room, competing with the heavy pine scent from the mounds of cedar clippings in small buckets of water, waiting to be turned into wreaths and swags. “She’s cost herself Jase and you.”
“I don’t think she cares about losing me.” Simply saying the words aloud hurt. That was the core here, right? That Elizabeth didn’t care about me. If she cared, she’d listen to me. That ship had sailed a long time ago. “Jase, maybe.”
Although she was striking out at him, too. Who knew what she was thinking? Straightening my shoulders, I tried to tell myself I didn’t care anymore, that I’d left all my feelings forElizabeth lying on the floor at Mrs. Gail’s feet along with my pride.
“Well, she needs to. Tilda, Daddy and I are working on giving her a little wakeup call after church tomorrow.” Gracie poured a cup of coffee and turned to face me head on, mug cradled in both hands. “So here’s my question . . . do you want to be involved? I understand if you don’t, but I was thinking that maybe being there would help you regain a sense of empowerment.”
“I don’t know.” I knew I wasn’t setting foot in church for the second week in a row. The idea of walking through those tall white doors, facing everyone there when I knew rumors were flying fast and furious all over town made me want to throw up. Fiddling with the hem of my t-shirt, I darted a look at Tate.
