Page 16 of Choose You

I pull out my laptop and fire it up. While I’m waiting, I glance around the dining area and my eyes find the Wi-Fi sign-in information posted above my table.

The waitress returns with my coffee and sandwich before I have achance to even log into my computer. “Wow, that was fast. Thank you.”

“No worries. You’re a tad early for the lunch crowd, so you caught me at a down time. Give it another hour and it’ll be standing room only.”

Her kindness makes me smile. “Then I’m glad I’m early. I’m starving.”

She hesitates at my table, and stares at me for a second or two longer than socially acceptable before she says, “Sorry, I don’t mean to stare. But do I know you?”

“It’s possible.” I take a moment to really look at her and she looks familiar too. “I grew up here. Haven’t been home in years, though.”

“What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Jessica Evans.”

Her smile drops, and she reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Of course, you are. Now I see it. I’m so sorry about Uncle Jimmy. He meant so much to this town.”

I smile, fighting back the tears again. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“I don’t know if you remember me. I was several years ahead of you in school. But I’m Rachel Foster. Well, used to be Green. I married Ricky Foster a few years after school.”

“Oh, yes. Weren’t you the one that won the bake off at the state fair shortly after you graduated?”

“Yep. That was me.” I don’t know how it's possible, but her smile grows. “That prize money helped me buy this place when Mrs. Kerns decided to downsize.”

My phone buzzes, and when I look down, it's David calling me back. “Sorry, I need to take this.”

“Of course, you enjoy.” She pats my hand and heads back to the kitchen.

I swipe the screen to answer, and hold the phone to my ear. “Please, tell me you have good news.”

“Sorry, Jess. There’s nothing available within fifty miles of that town.”

I drop my head and sigh. “That’s what I was afraid of. What am I going to do? I have to be here.”

“You know my answer.”

I grumble and drop my head onto the back of my chair. “I can’t. Staying in that house with him will be too hard.”

“Sometimes you gotta do the hard stuff in order to move forward. You’ve been ignoring this thing with Matt for far too long. It's past time you deal with it.”

“I have too many other things to deal with right now. I can’t handle him on top of my uncle’s funeral arrangements. I have to decide what to do with the family business, while still keeping my own business afloat. There is no head space left for him.”

“I’ve got your business covered while you’re gone. There’s not much you have to think about where Flathead Apparel is concerned. So that part of your brain is completely free. Fill it up with him.”

“You’re not helpful.”

He laughs. “Oh, but I am. You just don’t want to admit I’m right about this.”

He’s right.Again. It’s easier to ignore Matthew and lock up my feelings rather than deal with them. “I’m gonna go now. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Don’t forget what I said.”

“Bye, David.” I hang up before he can respond.

I pick up my sandwich and take a bite. I groan when the buttery croissant hits my tongue. Either this is the best croissant I’ve ever had or I’mthathungry. Regardless, it hits the spot and I start to feel a little better.

Unfortunately, it's not good enough to make me forget about my problem. I’ve been running from this thing with Matthew for years. I know I should talk to him, settle this between us once and for all. But that’s the part that scares me the most. If we settle this—go our separate ways—then it means we’re truly over. That’s the reality I’ve never wanted to accept. I know it's unhealthy, and I’m doing more harm than good to myself, but at least this way there’s still a chance he’s mine.Because he’s supposed to be mine.

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