The Story Of Us - Teri Wilson Page 0,62

in the fiery light of the festival. A girl could forgive a lot of things looking into eyes like those.

Jamie wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad one.

Her heart thumped hard. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He nodded and lifted his hand in a wave as he backed away. “Bye.”

“Bye,” she said, breathless.

She stood for a moment after he’d gone, concentrating on the simple mechanics of breathing in and out and trying to imagine which would be worse—a future without True Love Books & Cafe or a future without Sawyer. Both seemed unbearable, so she tucked her hands into her pockets, pasted a smile on her face and took her place behind the counter at her booth.

The festival was drawing to close, and Mary and Harrison’s love letters were nearly gone. Jamie smiled to herself as she thought about so many people in Waterford being touched by their story. As tumultuous as the past few weeks had been, there’d always been one constant—love. Whether it was romantic love, love for the community or something far simpler, like the love for books, Waterford was rich in it. The happy glow on Lucy’s face when she floated back to the booth seemed to put a gigantic exclamation point on that fact.

Jamie jumped up and down and gave her a big hug. “I’m so happy for you.” When they stepped apart, she winked and added, “And so relieved I don’t have to listen to Rick go on and on about how amazing you are.”

Lucy laughed. “Oh, no. You are still going to have to hear about that. And don’t think I’m not going to ask you a million questions about how much you knew the whole time. But not now, because Rick’s taking me to dinner.”

Jamie clapped her hands. Love was definitely in the air. “Oh! Well, go get ready. I’ll pack up.”

Lucy gave Jamie another quick hug and practically skipped back toward Rick’s booth. Jamie shook her head. Those two were going to make an adorable couple. She was thrilled for them, even if she still couldn’t seem to figure out how to give herself the same sort of happy ending.

Case in point—Matt, whom Jamie spotted walking slowly toward her as Lucy and Rick disappeared, arm-in-arm. Her stomach tied itself into a nervous knot as she realized what she was feeling. No wow, no kerpow, just…friendly affection and slight wistfulness knowing there could never be more. He just wasn’t The One, and she was pretty certain they’d both known that all along.

“Hi.” She held up a hand.

“Hi,” he said, but stopped short of giving her a hug or a kiss on the cheek.

Her throat tightened. She was doing the right thing. She’d made her decision even before she’d fully accepted her feelings for Sawyer, which was why she’d called Matt earlier in the day and asked him to meet her. She just hadn’t been ready to share that information with anyone until she’d told Matt first. She owed him that much.

“Thank you for coming,” she said.

“Thanks for calling me so soon.” Matt gave her a quiet smile. “Have you thought about what I asked?”

“I have.” She nodded. “It’s been buzzing around my head since I saw you.”

“But, it’s a ‘no,’” he said, beating her to the punch.

She wasn’t sure how he knew, but she had a feeling that when he really thought about it, he’d realized she wasn’t his wow any more than he was hers. He might want her to be, but she wasn’t. And that was okay.

She took his hands in hers. “Matt. I know there’s a part of me that could talk myself into getting back together with you, but it wouldn’t be right.”

He nodded slowly, taking her words in.

“Aw, I’m sorry, Matt.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, much like the way she had when they’d said their goodbyes before he’d first left for Texas. But this time was different…this time, they were parting for good.

“Bye,” she said as she pulled away.

“Good-bye, Jamie.” He nodded again, and something about his expression told her he knew her decision was for the best.

She hoped so, anyway. But her heart still gave a tug as he walked away.

There was now one less thing standing between her and Sawyer, and even though the remaining barriers still seemed impossible to overcome, she let herself be happy for a moment. Hopeful, even. The fourteenth was right around the corner, and she might just have a Valentine of her own this