Page 25 of Scent of Home

I bite his shoulder. “Come with me.”

He follows me as I lead him away from the dance floor. I stop under Cedric’s Restorations, my garage. There’s no one around. I step away from him and pace, trying to control my frustration, my anger with this town. I should have left when I had the chance.

Locke steps into my space and presses his lips to mine hard. “I don’t care what they say.”

I look at him as he leans back. “You don’t? Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation?”

“Not with you. They’re all the same whether they live in a town of 320 or 3 million. I see them, and I see you,” Locke whispers. He leans in close and inhales my scent.

I clear my throat. Normally, if he were anyone else on any other night, I'd take him up on his obvious offer.

But not tonight. The words are stinging, and my insecurities are too close to the surface.

“Let's go find your friend,” I whisper instead.

I think I see a hint of disappointment, but if it’s there, he covers it well.

“Sure.”

I lead him back to the last place I spotted Erin. Hell, it’s the place everyone returns to; the Diner. Even if you’re not eating, it’s got a perfect view point of the street. It won’t be hard to find them, but as we approach, I see Shane, Finn, and Erin coming back. Erin spots me and watches as I approach, but I simply kiss Locke’s cheek when we get close, not even attempting to engage with the trio.

“I had a lot of fun. Thank you,” I say softly.

“Me, too. Stay for a bit.”

I glance at Shane and Finn and shake my head. “Nah, I have work tomorrow.”

“You’re closed on Saturday.” Finn accuses.

I bite back a curse that I want to smack into Finn. “I’m closed, but I still work!”

Finn sits back, his arms folded over his chest.

I step back, frustrated. I don’t even look at Erin. I can’t. She’s too clean, too perfect. I’m just a hot fucking mess.

I spin away and disappear. Instead of heading home, I go and grab my bike and take off, riding up the mountain.

I get to my favourite spot and pull over, staring up at the star-filled sky. I could shout and rail, but it would be pointless. Shane thinks I’m scum. The town thinks I should be grateful to be here and work for free or that I’m bad news and a piece of shit.

I should have kept driving the day I decided to run away. I wish I’d never come back.

I should never had dreamed someone like me could have more.

Fuck.

I stare at my bike and consider getting on it and taking off. Just leaving it all behind.

The hold this town has over me is toxic. It’s my home, and I hate it. They’re family, and I despise that fact. Even when they hurt me, even when their words break me. This is all I know.

I don’t want to leave them.

Or him.

One more day, something might change tomorrow.

How many times am I going to do this? How many promises of one more am I going to make? I am the eternal optimist.

Shane will never see me. Finn will never respect me. I would destroy a man like Locke, and a woman like Erin would never keep me.

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