time, she pulled her purse out of her desk drawer, stood, put the strap up on her shoulder, and walked out of her office and the building, all false confidence and bravado.
Today she vowed to start living like Clint wasn’t part of her life. No more being scared of seeing him. No more hiding. No more letting him ruin her dates with Tate.
Her favorite sandwich shop was only two blocks away. Maybe her gut tightened with anxiety during the walk. Maybe she glanced around more than usual to be sure she didn’t have a shadow following her. But she didn’t turn back and return to the relative safety of her office.
She wouldn’t let him win.
Win what, she didn’t know. She didn’t understand the point of him lurking in the background of her life. It didn’t endear him to her. She didn’t find it sweet or romantic.
But Tate had been both those things the last few days. He tried so hard to please her. And it wasn’t that hard because all she really wanted was more time with him. And to kiss him. And more.
More of everything.
On one hand, she didn’t know why he waited to take her to bed. On the other hand, she found it sweet that he wanted to date her. She enjoyed their nights out. She didn’t mind working their way up to being more intimate with each other. If she could stop thinking and worrying about Clint, she might actually settle in with Tate and their newfound closeness.
They were so close to having the kind of relationship she’d always wanted. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin it because she wasn’t focused on them and distracted by Clint.
The bell over the sandwich shop door dinged, announcing her entry. She barely spared a glance for the lunch crowd filling the tables and headed for the line in front of the counter.
Liz shuffled along behind the person in front of her lost in her Instagram feed where it seemed like every one of her friends had happy photos of engagements, weddings, and family snapshots with babies and toddlers. She envied them their happiness and milestones she still hadn’t hit but wanted more each day.
“Hey, Liz,” Pat called from the counter, stealing her attention away from the phone. “Want the usual?”
It hit Liz all at once that maybe her life had become too predictable. Her internal warning system went off again. It had gotten a workout lately. “Yes, please. And thanks, Pat.” She handed over the cash to cover her roast beef and cheddar on a crusty roll. Yum. Her favorite. Especially with a bag of barbecue potato chips and an iced tea, no lemon. “Keep the change.”
“Here’s your number.” Pat handed her a numbered plastic placard to place on her table. “We’ll bring it right out.”
Liz took the stand and her drink and snagged a seat after a couple of guys got up to leave. She dropped her purse on the table and fished out her cell again.
She texted Tate, excited to check in with him and make plans.
LIZ: What do you want to do tonight?
About to set her phone down, she turned it over when it dinged immediately. Surprised Tate got back to her so fast when he said he’d be out of cell range most of the afternoon checking on the herds at the farthest part of their property, she read his response.
TATE: Staying home tonight
TATE: Maybe we jumped the gun on this thing
TATE: It’s just not there for me
TATE: I can’t give you what you want
Tears pricked her eyes and clogged her throat. She blinked them away when Pat set a tray with her food in front of her.
“Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you. I’m good.” Far from it. Her heart ached. Her stomach pitched but she swallowed back the cry of agony and the tears clogging her throat.
How could Tate do this to her?
Why?
Over text message!
Why would he break things off like this when everything seemed fine last night? It didn’t make sense.
TATE: I think we should stay away from each other for a while
He kissed her last night like he couldn’t get enough of her. Yes, he pulled back before things went too far, but that’s because they had silently agreed to . . . what? What were they waiting for? The right time? So they could get to know each other better? They knew each other better than anyone else knew them.