telling you no, now.” I grab my purse and look around for my keys.
I hurry out to the front and grab my keys that are on the counter.
Townes sighs, “Nikki, I think it’s time we put this to rest. You and I—”
Nellie calls after me, “Nikki, where are you going?”
“Send me your location, Townes. I’m a busy woman and—”
“Fine. I cave. It’s your call.”
“Great, see you in a few minutes.”
Now running to the Jeep, I see a pile of… roses tossed on the ground like trash, and I know whoever they were bought by, must be hurting.
I hit the key fob and swing the door open.
“What the fuck?” I think as I have to adjust my seat, not even remembering that I’d … “Whatever,” I snap at myself as I start the Jeep and tear away from the curb.
At the light heading outside of town, I stop and look at my phone and see Townes hasn’t sent me a message. I look through my call log and see a number I don’t recognize though.
I hit the messenger app and see the location.
He changed his phone number. Interesting. “Apparently, I should have as well.”
I ruffle through the center console and find the blue Tiffany box underneath the registration.
Walking into the coffee shop, I’m prepared for my emotions to toy with me, but I’m also prepared to be strong. Strong for me, for Raff, for Nathaniel, for… us.
I see he’s already at a private round white table, two hot coffees before him. I can see the steam rising from the mugs, but he doesn't touch his. His black jacket is draped over the back of his chair, his posture perfectly straight—his gold Rolex Submariner glints on his wrist, a gift from his parents when he turned eighteen.
I put my hand in my coat pocket and feel for the ring box. I’m not doing anything wrong, but it certainly feels like a betrayal. I didn’t tell Raff where I was headed because it didn’t feel wrong until right this minute.
I’ll let Townes speak, and then I’ll give him back the ring. We’ll say our goodbyes, and there is nothing at all connecting the two of us.
I force my legs to walk inside, and press forward to the table. “Hi.”
Townes jumps up, smiling brightly as he steps to me, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me for what feels like way too long.
Leaning back, his blue-green eyes bore into mine. I can tell there are a million unspoken words on his lips. This may be harder than I thought. “Nikki.”
He lets go, and I take off my jacket, draping it across the back of my chair as he walks back around the table to his seat
He pushes a mug in front of me. “Coffee. Cream and sugar.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry you felt you had to travel all this way.”
“If you hadn’t blocked me after I called you last week, then I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate where you came from.”
Block him? Odd, but possible I suppose. I may have done so accidentally when taking him out of my favorites list in my contacts.
“The drive from the airport was nice. Very...scenic route. But this isn’t Holiday Springs.”
“No, it’s not.” I take a sip of my coffee. “I thought it would be best we met somewhere else. Holiday Springs is a small town, and I'd rather not have the rumor mill going crazy. You may have known about the town, had we had visited once in all the years we were together. But whatever, bygones.”
Nathaniel using the same word flashes in my head. Suddenly, I miss him more than I thought possible.
“Or maybe, it’s because you have a new boyfriend, and you don’t want him knowing we’re meeting?” He quirks a brow.
“No.” I put the cup down, and it rattles against the table. “I mean, yes, I’m with someone else. But I’m not meeting with you here so I can hide something from him. I’m meeting with you here because I don’t want rumors flying that would hurt him.”
“Well.” He shuffles his seat forward, getting closer to the table. “Let’s not talk about that guy. Let’s talk about you. I understand that the way you left was...dramatic.”
“Dramatic?” I huff. “You mean, traumatic. Your mother busted into our apartment before nine in the morning, insulting me left and right. And that’s after years of enduring her abuse—alone. And then you break up with me in front of her, after—”
“Listen,” he interrupts. “It was a mistake.