Page 134 of The Rebound
“But I don’t think it is.”
“I know you’re mad at me, Abby, but you can’t—”
“It’s not that,” I interrupt, trying to sort out my thoughts as I say them. “I’m not sure if going back to New York is the right thing for me.”
“You want to stay here?”
“I don’t know.”
“To do what?”
“I don’tknow.”
He’s taken aback. He obviously expected me to be reluctant but not about this. Not about a job. But he’s annoying me. Him with this “I’m here to save you”attitude. Him with his nice clothes and his charming smile as if nothing happened between us.
“You’re angry with me,” he says eventually. “I understand that, I do. And I’m sorry. But you don’t have a job. You don’t have your friends. You have nowhere to live and I know you want to move back because you’ve been applying to everything under the sun.”
“How do you—”
“Because I have friends in the business and they tell me,” he says, frustration starting to creep into his voice. “You still want to get out of here or else you wouldn’t be trying so hard. Let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help. Maybe I want to stay here.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
“Why?” He rears back as my eyes betray me, flicking to Luke before I can stop of myself. “Because of him?”
“I…”
“Abby.” Tyler shifts to the left, drawing my attention away from Luke, who’s now staring at me. “I’m not mad if you met someone else, but you need to think about this rationally. You want to get back at me? Fine. I deserve it. But turning down this kind of opportunity for some hometown rebound is not you.”
“He’s not a rebound.”
“You need to think about your future. Your life.”
“He’s not a rebound,” I repeat, annoyed.
“I had to pull some serious strings to get you this—”
“I’m in love with him.”
Tyler shuts up, this time unable to prevent his surprise from showing.
“I’m in love with him,” I repeat, not trusting myself to so much as look in Luke’s direction.
I thought Tyler might be angry. Embarrassed even. But his expression gentles. He almost looks sorry for me. “You don’t fall in love with someone after a few weeks, Abby.”
I say nothing, mute. I can tell he doesn’t believe me. I can tell he just thinks I want him to fight for me.
But that’s never been his style.
“I can see this isn’t the best time,” he says finally. “I booked a hotel room in Sligo if you change your mind and would like to talk. I’ll be there all week. If it’s okay, I’d like to give my regards to your sister and then I’ll let you all enjoy your meal.”
Ever the gentleman, he nods at both of us before striding back up the bank, toward the house.
For a moment, Luke and I just stand there, not saying anything even as a drizzle falls around us.
