Page 101 of Crazy for You

Emma had no idea what to say.

Mary lifted her coffee cup and took a sip. “But after our conversation last week, I realized we’d made a mistake in not at least extending our offer to you. Artful Blooms’ customers adore you and would love to continue working with you. Designing the gardens at the Silver Springs Lodge is the kind of project that could help really put you on the map around here. Truthfully, I’m not sure full-time college is your best investment right now. Sometimes when you’ve got momentum like this, it’s best to grab it by the horns and run with it.”

“Wow.” Emma took another sip of coffee, her insides gone strangely numb.

“Here’s another idea for you to consider,” Mary said, placing her coffee cup back on the table. “A degree is a definite asset, especially in owning your own business. There are a number of online universities these days, geared toward students like yourself, people who’ve already entered the workforce. You could work toward a business degree in the evenings while still doing the work you love during the day.”

Was Mary right? Maybe she could do as well, or better, getting a business degree online while she kept up her landscape design work. Not only that, but she could stay here in Haven, with the friends who’d become her family.

Her heart had been nudging her in this direction for the past few weeks, and now she had a real reason to stay, even if staying meant living in the same town as Ryan without having him in her life.

Ryan cut the engine and climbed off his bike, praying he didn’t run into anyone on his way in because he was not fit for company right now. He’d been pissed off ever since he broke up with Emma, and a couple days to stew over it hadn’t helped.

He’d been an idiot, plain and simple. He had no idea if they’d manage to salvage their friendship after this, but did it even matter when she was leaving town anyway? Now he’d think of her every time he rode his bike or visited the bluffs. Hell, even the rock face at Off-the-Grid. Every aspect of his life had been infiltrated with sweet, sexy, amazing memories of Emma.

She’d torture him from afar without even knowing she was doing it.

He missed her so fucking much already, and she hadn’t even left town yet. Dammit all to hell. How had he let this happen?

He’d just shoved the key in his front door when he heard someone coming down the stairs, dragging something heavy. It scraped and thumped down each step. Had to be Trent. Mark never made that much noise.

He turned to see Trent round the corner above him, dragging an enormous suitcase. Fuck. “You’re really going to LA? Just like this? Were you even going to say good-bye?”

Trent shook his head, a lock of hair falling over his eyes. “I’m going home.”

Home? “What?”

Trent shoved his suitcase down to the landing and shook his hair back from his eyes. “Iris dumped me. Are you happy now?”

Ryan stared, noticing for the first time that his brother looked as wrecked—and as pissed at the world—as Ryan himself felt. “I’m sorry, man. I’m real sorry to hear that.”

“Whatever,” Trent said, dragging the suitcase in the direction of his car. “This place blows. I’m going home.”

“You’re going back to Missouri?”

“Yeah, I am.”

Ryan followed him. “Yo, don’t leave like this, Trent. At least stay the night. You shouldn’t start a long drive this late in the day.”

“You’re as bad as Mom and Dad!” Trent wheeled on him, dark eyes snapping as he unleashed all his hurt and anger on Ryan. “Stop telling me what to do. Just leave me alone.”

Ryan stepped back as his brother’s words clawed at him, ripping at his heart. “I’m sorry, Trent. I just wanted to help. Don’t leave like this. Please.”

“Whatever,” Trent said again, sliding into his car and slamming the door behind him. “I don’t need your help or anybody else’s.”

The engine roared to life, and Ryan watched helplessly as his brother drove away.

Just leave me alone.

Those words hurt like a motherfucker. He’d lost Emma, and now Trent, and suddenly it felt like all the color had been sucked out of his life. He stormed into his condo, slamming the door behind him. Next thing he knew, he’d punched another hole in the wall, and now his fist hurt like a motherfucker, too.

Emma lifted her cotton candy martini and gulped from it. Tonight’s girls’ night out had changed from going-away party to “Ryan dumped me” commiseration to “dream job here in Haven” celebration. When Gabby offered to drive, Emma had jumped at the chance because she had no desire to stay sober enough to drive herself home.

Nope. She was getting trashed tonight.

To eliminate any chances of running into the guys—or really just Ryan—they’d taken their party to Jazzy’s Martini Bar in Silver Springs, and the change of scenery was just what Emma needed. Rowdy’s and even The Drunken Bear held too many bittersweet memories for her to handle right now.

“To Emma’s new job,” Carly said, raising her glass.

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