Page 36 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

“What did you expect, Rob? You used to share everything with me. There wasn’t a single event in your life that you kept from me. You’d even tell me about all the girls you dated.”

That last sentence was filled with more venom than the others. And Rob knew better than to argue with her. She would only find a way to make him eat his words.

“You moved here without telling me. We started dating without making it clear if we were together for the long haul or if this was one of your many temporary relationships. The only thing you felt the need to share with me was your disappointment in yourself about not finishing school.” Her eyes drilled into his as she continued pushing back.

He kept his mouth shut. She’d made another good point. He’d been really private as he tried to get a better understanding of his feelings for her.

“So, I’ll ask you again. What did you expect? What else was I supposed to think when you showed up in town after claiming you had to work? What conclusion should I have drawn from your statement when you told me you had plans for the future? It didn’t sound like you meant you had plans with me. It sounded like your plans had nothing to do with me or this town. If that’s the path you want to take, then so be it. I was only trying to help.”

“Don’t you get it? I don’t want your help.”

Rob blurted the words before he had a chance to rein them in. He hadn’t meant it to sound so harsh, but based on the way she reared her head back and stared at him like he’d taken a swing at her, he knew it had come across as just as bad as it had sounded in his head.

“Well, then. I guess we’ve finally figured everything out. The only time we’ve ever been good together was when we knew nothing would come from it. You’ve been very clear what you want, and obviously, it isn’t me.”

Pippa spun around and hurried away, leaving him staring after her.

His fingers wrapped around the ring in his pocket. The cold metal was a stark contrast to the warmth of his hand. He could have pulled the ring out at any moment during that conversation and tell her how wrong she was.

But he hadn’t.

Why hadn’t he told her what he was feeling? Was he that much of a coward? Once upon a time, he’d told her everything. And it wasn’t that he didn’t feel close to her anymore. Something else held him back. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he had a feeling it couldn’t be as simple as his feelings for her developing.

He’d changed. She’d changed. They were two very different people now. It was possible they were no longer compatible—if they had even been compatible to begin with.

Pippa had long since disappeared into her building and he was now alone out in the street. He didn’t want to leave and yet he knew he couldn’t stay here. The last thing he needed was for Pippa to look out her window and see him moping on the edge of her property.

That would only make things worse.

Rob glowered at the building, then slunk off to his truck and climbed inside. It wasn’t fair that a day that had started off so great had ended up being so terrible. And he only had himself to blame.

Facts had to be faced. He wasn’t ready to be involved in anything serious. He had to figure out his life before he could do that. As much as he cared for Pippa, she wasn’t meant for him. He got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t interested in something long-term with how easily she’d shut things down.

That was where the line had been drawn.

Pippa had never officially told him she wanted anything serious. She had a busy, full life. What would she want with a guy like him?

All trains of thought came right back to that realization. Pippa would only ever be a friend. That was all she’d ever wanted and he could choose to accept it, or he could walk away from the friendship they’d shared since they were teens.

Rob jammed the key into the ignition and started his truck. There was nowhere to go but up. While he wanted to find someone who could make him feel as cared for as Pippa had, he wasn’t sure he was ready to put his heart on the line. He needed to focus on one thing at a time. Right now, he could work on being the best employee Brent had.

In a few months, he could venture out into the dating pool again. Maybe by Valentine’s Day, he’d be ready.

No. Not Valentine’s Day. The holiday of love would be a bad idea. He’d wait until March or maybe June. There was no rush—especially if he had to watch Pippa dating other guys. His chest tightened and his heart thumped with agony.

Maybe October. Yeah, October would be a better month to get himself back out there.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Pippa had known Rob could be cold. She’d seen it first-hand when she’d come to visit Rocky Ridge and found out he had plans with someone else. Countless times, he’d blown off some other girl so they could have time together.

A silly part of her had thought back on those days with fondness, wondering if she’d stolen a piece of his heart and all she had to do was bide her time until he finally realized how much she meant to him.

Those were childish dreams. She knew that now.

If her own epiphany wasn’t enough, the fact that Rob hadn’t spoken to her or stopped by during the last few days only confirmed that what they had was different now. She wasn’t so pessimistic to believe that they wouldn’t get back to a place of friendship. They’d had arguments before, and while they’d never been what she’d call serious, she knew in her gut that they’d come back from this, too.

She absent-mindedly wiped at the restaurant kitchen countertop while she continued to rationalize what had happened. She hadn’t done anything wrong in offering to pay his college tuition. That was generous. Who wouldn’t want a friend to offer such a gift?

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