The Story Of Us - Teri Wilson Page 0,36

for a delicious hot drink.

“Thanks, Sawyer,” Sam from Kagan’s Bikes said when they walked past.

“Well.” The effort it took to fight back an eye roll was monumental. “It seems the ‘hometown boy’ is making progress.”

Sawyer looked as though he were biting back a smile. “Well. You have, what? A fifteen-year head start on me.”

“Six. Six years.” She held up a finger, stopping him in his tracks. “I only came back to Waterford six years ago.”

“Hold on.” He gaped at her, mouth hanging open. It took him a beat to form words again. “You didn’t come back right after college?”

She shook her head.

It seemed they’d stumbled upon yet another fact about her that he would have known if he’d kept in touch after he’d moved away. But that wasn’t what people did after a break-up. Typically, they went their separate ways and never looked back.

Jamie had just never imagined that was how their story would end. It seemed unfathomable back then. Sometimes it still did…

She swallowed around the annoying lump in her throat that had yet to show any sign of going away. Was it really necessary to give Sawyer a play-by-play of everything she’d done since they’d broken up? She doubted he was actually interested.

Except the way he was looking at her made her feel like he just might be. There were questions in his warm brown eyes, questions he had no business asking. And despite everything—despite the looming town council vote, despite her very real fear that she might lose her bookstore, and despite the fact that she was so very, very angry at him—she wanted to give him the answers.

Sawyer had always been the easiest person in the world to talk to. He’d known her better than anyone, even better than Aunt Anita. And even though he’d been the quintessential popular boy and she’d just been the girl who always had her head in the clouds and her nose in a book, he’d understood her in a way that no one else ever had. Back then, or since.

But she couldn’t open up to him now. If she did, she’d only end up doubly heartbroken when he left yet again—this time, after taking away the thing she loved most in the entire world.

Why, oh why, does it have to be him?

“Jamie?”

A woman’s voice called her name, and for a moment, she was relieved at the interruption. Spending time alone with Sawyer wasn’t a good idea, plain and simple.

But then she swiveled her head and caught sight of Mrs. Van Horn bustling toward her.

“There you are,” the older woman said, glancing back and forth between Jamie and Sawyer.

“Karen.” Jamie’s stomach churned. “Hello.”

She’d been avoiding Matt’s mother for weeks because every time they saw each other, Karen tried to push Jamie into reconsidering a move to Texas. It was awkward. And now she was going to get to have that same awkward conversation again, but in front of Sawyer this time.

Lovely.

“I never see you anymore,” Karen said, planting her hands on Jamie’s shoulders and giving her a kiss on each cheek, as if they’d just bumped into each other on the streets of Paris instead of Waterford.

Jamie could feel Sawyer’s amused gaze on her, and it made her face go instantly warm.

“Well, we’ve been busy…” she stammered.

“Being busy is the best way to get over heartbreak.” Karen’s expression turned mournful, as if Jamie and Matt’s break-up had taken place mere days ago rather than months in the past. Seven months, to be exact…or had it been eight? Jamie couldn’t quite remember, which was probably a sign that it hadn’t been a monumental life event for her. “That’s certainly been Matt’s motto this past year.”

Sawyer’s gaze narrowed as he began eyeing the two of them with far less amusement and much more something else—something that made her heart beat hard in her chest.

The change in his expression didn’t go unnoticed by Karen. She turned toward him and stuck out her hand. “I’m Karen Van Horn.”

“Sawyer O’Dell.” He shook her hand and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Sawyer?” Karen blinked, clearly surprised—and displeased. “Jamie’s ex?”

Sawyer attempted to clarify. “From a long…”

“Long,” Jamie added.

“…time ago.” He smiled.

Oh great. They were practically finishing each other’s sentences now.

“I see.” Karen’s relief was palpable as she turned her attention back toward Jamie. “Matt talks about you all the time.”

“He does?” Jamie pressed her lips together.

Why was Sawyer looking at her like that…like he cared if Matt thought about her all the time?

“Matt?” He arched a