Page 49 of Serenity at Seagrove
“I need to think,” he muttered, walking toward the door.
“Well, don’t think too long,” Dawson called after him. “Some chances don’t come around twice.”
* * *
"Well, my goodness, you look terrible," Dixie announced as she appeared in Luna's doorway, holding another armful of books. Luna’s library was bursting at the seams. "And don't you tell me you're fine, because we both know that's not true."
"Dixie, I don't want to be rude, but I have clients coming."
"Not for another hour," Dixie said, setting down the books. "You want to tell me why you're pushing away the best thing that's happened to you since you came to Seagrove?"
"I'm not pushing him away. I'm setting appropriate boundaries, and goodness gracious, things get around in this town very quickly."
"Boundaries," Dixie scoffed. "Honey, that boy looks at you like you hung the moon, and you look at him the same way when you think nobody's watching."
Luna's composure started to crack. "He's leaving, Dixie. He has this amazing opportunity in California, and I'm not going to be the reason he stays and gives up his dream."
"Did he tell you that?"
"No, he doesn't have to. I heard him talking to Dawson about it."
Dixie was quiet for a moment. "So you decided to make the choice easier by breaking both of your hearts at the same time."
"I'm giving him the freedom to choose without guilt. It's the same thing I told Janine, who I assume told you," Luna said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, sugar." Dixie moved closer. "Don't you think he deserves to make that choice with all the facts, including how you feel about him?"
"I can't tell him how I feel," Luna said. "It would only make things harder for him."
"Harder than this? Honey, you're not sleeping. You're barely eating. SuAnn says you haven't even been to Hotcakes in days."
"I'm fine."
"You're about as fine as Archer is. You should see him trying to teach those kids. I can tell something's majorly wrong. One of the kids asked why Coach looks so sad."
Luna's chest tightened. She hadn't let herself think about how her withdrawal might affect Archer. She figured he'd get over it quickly, as most of the men in her past had done.
"He'll be fine once he gets to California," she said. The words tasted bitter in her mouth. "He'll have a fresh start and a chance to build something meaningful."
"And what about what he's already built here? Those kids adore him. The whole town respects him. Not only for what he did when he was a professional golfer, but what he does now. And you?—"
"Please don't," Luna whispered.
"Well, somebody has to say it. You love him. And from where I'm standing, he loves you, too. That kind of love doesn't come along every day."
Luna found herself wondering if he had accepted the job. The time had passed for when he was supposed to answer. Oakland Hills? Did he tell them yes? Was he leaving soon? Had he already packed the few things he brought with him to Seagrove? She wanted to know. She wanted to ask Dixie if she knew, but she was afraid the answer might just break her heart.
"Sometimes love isn't enough. Haven't you ever heard that before?"
"Only when we don't give it a chance to be enough."
"You don't understand," Luna said, wrapping her arms around her body. "Every time I've opened my heart and tried to build something with someone, it all falls apart. My marriage, my practice in Austin…”
"Is that what this is really about? You're not just protecting Archer from having to choose. You're protecting yourself from feeling left behind again."
She thought about how she really was about to feel left behind if Archer left.
"Look, I came here to help others, Dixie. To create something meaningful. I never expected?—"
