Page 49 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

“Let me make it simple,” she interrupted. “I want to stopseeingyou.”

“You’re breaking up with me?” His voice held anincreduloustone.

She forced a chuckle. “If I had your letterman jacket, I’d be handing it over.” She added a wink, trying to keep this light and get him out the door before she totally lost it. “Yeah, I think it best to end this now. No harm, no foul on either side.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. “Look, Eli. This was fun, but we’re not in love. There’s no reason to drag this out. I have weekend plans for this coming weekend and the next, you’ll be packing.” She stood. “I’m going to grab a glass of water. Needanything?”

He wore a stunned expression as he shookhishead.

In the kitchen, she sagged against the counter. She’d never been a good liar but she hoped this one time, he didn’t see through all the lies she’d just told. She loved him more than she’d known was possible. In all her life, she’d never felt this way about anyone, including Theodore. People survived loss every day. She’dsurvivethis.

“I don’tbelieveyou.”

She startled and looked up. “Well, believe it. I’m done. We had fun, right? Let’s not fight about this. We knew there was an expiration date. I just moved it up alittle.”

“You said there were no feeling involved but there are. I…I careaboutyou.”

“Oh, Eli. I care about you too, but your life isn’t in Texas and mine is. Don’t make thisdifficult.”

“Will you visit me inNewYork?”

She shook her head. “No. We’re finished. Good luck.” She turned her back to him. “You know thewayout.”

As soon as she heard his car drive away, she released the dam holding back hertears.

Chapter12

September,six weekslater

“Have you heard from Eli?” Deleneasked.

“Nope, and I don’texpectto.”

Friday night at Leo’s was its usual crowd of cowboys, bankers, lawyers, doctors and other singles looking for love in a small town inTexas.

Looking for love in all the wrong places, shethought.

She certainly was. Somehow the world seemed a little less colorful these days, music less melodious. Her parents were home and everything at the ranch was back tonormal.

And normal wasboring.

The men in her town wereboring.

Books, especially romances, couldn’t hold herattention.

Television wasdreadful.

There were only so many hours a day shecouldride.

“I’m surprised,” Tina said, pulling Marti from her mental whining. “You guys were soclose.”

Marti shrugged. “It was fun while it lasted. We knew going in that we were in it for a good time and thatwasall.”

“What utter bullshit,” Delene said. “I’m surprised your breath smells minty fresh with all the crap you’respewing.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Marti liftedherbeer.

Delene rolled her eyes. “You’ve always been a shitty liar, Marti. I’m still astounded Elibelievedyou.”

“Of course he did. I told him thetruth.”

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