Page 125 of The Thought of You

Disappointed doesn’t even begin to cover the feeling creeping its way down my spine.

Shaking my head, I stalk toward the front door, with her hot on my heel, and I jerk my jacket from the rack. I whirl around to her and point around the wadded-up jacket in my hand. “I care about things. I care a lot. There’s nothing more I can say or do to prove that to you or to show you that I care more about you than my career or reputation or anything else. You clearly don’t feel the same, so we should stop wasting each other’s time.”

“You’re ending this?” She freezes with her eyes wide, and the surprise and regret mingling in her blue irises slice through my stomach. “You know I like you, Owen,” she says, her lips trembling. “I wouldn’t have put myself out there like I have the last couple of weeks if I didn’t feel big things for you, but it’s not so simple.”

“It could be.”

“There’s so much to figure out.”

“All that matters is how we feel.”

“So, what then? I either tell the school and everyone else in town about us, or we’re done? Is that it?” She purses her lips and juts her hip out, challenging me like she’s done so many times before.

But this is something else entirely.

This is the moment of truth—the difference between despair and happiness.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” I widen my stance and stand my ground.

Her mouth falls open. “Are you seriously giving me an ultimatum right now?”

I step into her space, glad she doesn’t back away. “Feel free to make a pros and cons list to help you out.”

Addie shoves me backward, or at least she tries to. I don’t budge, but she continues her feeble attempts, anyway. “Get out!”

“As I’ve said before, I’m a patient man, but don’t take too long to decide. I’d hate for you to lose too much sleep over this.”

“Leave. Now!” She gives me one last push, and I let my feet stumble backward for her benefit.

“Talk soon, angel,” I call over my shoulder as I disappear through her door and march down her steps, my stomps heavy like I’m crushing spiders.

I flinch against the late-morning sun in my eyes, and the fall breeze cools my flushed skin.

I’m hot. Seething. Frustrated.

Addie likes me. She didn’t have to explicitly say it for me to know it’s the truth, but it’s not enough. Not when she insists on hiding me away like I’m a shameful mistake.

Her job and public moral grounds are important to her, and I respect them.

But I also respect what we have, and I can’t stand by while she stows us away like a dusty old trunk under the bed.

My mind’s reeling as I drive around town. I could go home, but it’s so empty. I’d go crazy.

Without thinking, I find myself driving toward my parents’ house, antsy for that chat my mom promised.

chapter

forty

ADDIE

I throw my car—my newly perfectly functioning car—into park in front of a bustling Cream and Sugar.

Great.

I need Maren’s undivided attention, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get it.

Still, I climb out of my car and stand in line. This is better than staying at home with my warring thoughts.

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