Right before he let me go, he whispered in my ear, “Tyra, never forget. You matter.”
Then he walked to the security line.
Aunt Bette looked back and waved.
As was his way, Uncle Marsh did not.
As was my way, I watched until I couldn’t see them anymore. Then I went home. Then I typed out my resignation later. The rest of the day, I waited for Lanie to call.
She didn’t.
Tack didn’t either.
And when I went to bed that night, my heart still hurt.
Chapter Seventeen
Foregone Conclusion
It was my luck the next morning at eight o’clock when I drove into Ride to deliver my resignation letter that stated I’d be giving no notice, Tack was working on the red car. He was the only one there.
Seeing him and watching his head turn my way even as he stayed bent over the opened hood of the car, I should have been used to the pain my heart clenching caused. It happened enough times the last two days. But I wasn’t.
I looked away, parked, jumped out of my car and hustled up the steps to the office. I unlocked it with the key I’d already taken off my chain and hurried in.
Drop the key and the letter on the desk and get the hell out of there.
That was my plan.
This plan was thwarted seeing as I barely made it through the door when Tack came through the door that led to the garage.
Damn.
I ignored him and went straight to the desk. I dropped the key and envelope on it. I also ignored the sound of the lock turning on the door to the garage.
Damn!
I turned and, eyes directed at my feet, I started to hurry to the outer door, escape the only thing on my mind.
I caught movement in my peripheral vision and my head came up.
Tack was at the door to the outside and he was locking that too.
Damn!
I stopped moving.
“Tack,” I whispered. “Don’t.”
His head turned and his burning, blue eyes pinned me to the spot. Then his body turned.
At this point, I understood my mistake. I should have mailed my letter with the key.
Definitely.
“Please,” I kept whispering, “don’t.”
He held my eyes.