Page 71 of Ocotillo Kisses
“Last night?” Britt repeated, caught off guard.
“The motel? With Con?”
“He told you?” Britt knew Con and his mom were close, but she didn’t think they were that close.
“No, I heard it from Maryann.”
“Where did she hear it?” Britt wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer to that.
“I’m not sure. Word sure got around fast.” Alexis narrowed her eyes at Britt. “Is that why you’re leaving?”
“I—not entirely,” she said honestly. “I had planned to stay an extra week to go to Ginny’s birthday party, but I think after this week, I’m probably not all that welcome here. Con’s friends are very loyal to him.”
Alexis’s gaze drifted toward the barn. “Oh, well, yes, there’s that. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I—I really just came by to say goodbye, and tell you I had fun with you.”
“I—I suppose I’ll see you in another few months?” Alexis asked hopefully. “You won’t be back for the Fourth, I suppose, since it’s right around the corner, but maybe Christmas or Thanksgiving?”
“Maybe,” Britt said, lying this time because she didn’t see herself coming back here for a long time. She’d stayed too long, gotten herself too involved, and while she wouldn’t tell anyone, the idea of leaving was harder than she thought. “Anyway, I need to get back home, but it was really good to see you and spend time with you.”
She kept the next embrace shorter, then fled, not even looking in the direction of the barn when she drove away.
Britt’s hands ached from gripping the steering wheel, as she pulled into the parking garage of her apartment complex. She’d thought the road construction on the main street leading home would be done by now, but she should have known better.
Just carrying her two suitcases up the stairs to her third floor apartment left her drenched with sweat. For a moment she considered figuring out where the pool was, and just lowering her body temp. She had never actually been in it, though she’d lived here over two years.
Even though she’d set the air conditioner remotely to cool the apartment, the place still smelled musty and damp after being closed up for over a month. Too bad she didn’t have windows she could open.
She left her bags by the door. She’d stopped by the mailbox even though she had put a hold on her mail. Just a habit. Funny how she held onto that habit after being away for weeks.
She crossed to the balcony and opened the blinds, but when she opened them, the sun glared in, so she closed them again.
She’d order some food, in a little while. Right now she just wanted to collapse. The drive from Broken Wheel was long, exhausting, as were the tears she’d cried on the way out of town.
She hadn’t thought she’d be sad to leave, especially after Con’s reaction when she’d gone to say goodbye. Maybe she’d hoped he’d ask her to stay. Maybe she’d been waiting for the excuse of him asking her to stay, and maybe she would have. Maybe she wanted him to stand by her against his friends.
Ridiculous to think he would. His friends had been there for him the last thirteen years. She hadn’t. He wouldn’t stand with her just because they’d slept together. Just because she wanted him to.
She kicked off her shoes and headed to the bathroom, to a shower. She’d bathe and order food, maybe both from a restaurant and from a grocery store, since she knew she wouldn’t have anything in her kitchen for the morning.
God, she loved the conveniences of living in the city, she reminded herself as she stripped out of her sweaty clothes and stepped into her shower to cry tears she didn’t think she had left.
