Page 70 of Finding Romance
“That’d be great. Thanks,” I say as I hand him the bag. We start walking down the stairs and Hutch acts like my fifty-pound bag weighs nothing.
“So, you’re heading to Seattle?” Hutch asks as we walk outside.
“Yeah, hopefully I’ll be able to see my dad a bit,” I say but my voice makes me sound unsure of myself.
“Oh,” Hutch says with a sad smile. “I’d sort of hoped you’d stick around here.”
I return his sad smile with one of my own. “I…no, I should go. Thanks, Hutch.” I lean up and give him a big hug and he lifts me off the ground.
“Be safe, Pipes. I’ll let you know if I find the flower person,” he says as he motions toward the park with his head. He sets me down and I laugh.
“OK, you do that. I’ll see you around,” I say, not able to tell him a proper goodbye.
“Hey! Are you leaving?” Roxy’s voice calls out from her store’s door.
“Yes. My car should be here in a minute,” I say as I check my phone.
“I’ll text you later. A few more authors said they were interested in working with you,” she says with a bright smile, her ponytail swinging behind her head.
“Thanks, Roxy. That’s awesome news. I guess I’ll see you guys next time I visit,” I say because that makes this parting feel less permanent which makes me feel less sad.
“Of course,” she says as she walks over and hugs me.
“Why are you all hugging Miss Piper?” Ava’s voice calls out from a window above us.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for school?” Hutch yells.
“It’s a teacher something day. So no school,” she replies. I look up to see her leaning out her window alongside a stuffed donkey.
“Ava, so help me, if you fall out of that window with Mr. Pickles, I am going to beat your ass,” Hutch yells.
Ava giggles. “You said ass!”
“Ava, what in the…” We all hear Carly.
She joins her daughter in leaning out the window. “Where are you going?” Carly asks.
“To stay with my dad,” I answer just as my car pulls up. Hutch starts loading my suitcase.
“We’ll miss you,” Carly says.
“Will you come back and blow bubbles with me?” Ava asks.
Hutch starts laughing silently and Roxy and Carly fight grins.
“Of course,” I say, my cheeks turning bright pink.
I wave to all of them and get in the car. I can’t look back as we drive away just like I couldn’t look back when I said goodbye to Kasen. My gut tells me I’m making the biggest mistake of my life by leaving, but I also feel like a ship bobbing in the night if I stay. I have no real direction. What would I even do? And so, I slide my phone into my backpack and watch the city disappear as we drive out of town to the airport, memories of my last five weeks play like a film in my mind and tears slide down my cheeks.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kasen
There’s a knock at my door. I’m in no mood to talk to anyone, but I so desperately am hoping that Piper changed her mind and stayed that I open it without looking.
I sigh when I realize it’s just Hutch.
“Damn, glad to see you too,” he says as he pushes in past me.
