Page 46 of The Way We Score

I only did it for your own good.

Shaking my head, I didn’t have another word to say. She’d played me like a fiddle, and I had to get out of Newhope.

Not to mention, my heart was seriously melting for Garrett Bradford, and that wasnota path I planned to go down twice. I’d already been to the end of that road, and it was slick with my tears.

There is no world where Garrett and I can be together. He’s in New York, and I’m here. I’m not going there. He’s not coming here. The end.

Now I need to work. Focus.

“Well, you have to come back,” she continues pouting. “You lit out of here so fast, you left behind a dress and two pairs of shoes.”

“I’ll drive down and check on you in a few weeks, and I’ll get whatever I left then.”

“I love you, Olivia.” Her pout turns defensive. “I only want you to be happy.”

“I know, Mom. I love you, too.” My tone is all business.

“Henny Lane misses you. She’s still acting off, and I’m sure your sudden departure didn’t help matters.”

“Tell her to keep her beak up. I’ll be there soon.”When it’s safe.

Looking down, I’m in my professional gray suit. My red-cherry dress is far behind where it belongs, with the childish hopes and dreams I put away years ago.

Or at least I thought I did.

The next time I go to Newhope, I’ll be sure the coast is clear. I am not falling in love with Garrett Bradford again, no matter how good he is in bed.

Three weeks later

Dylan

Logan said you left pretty quick after the wedding.

Allie

Pretty sure she didn’t even say bye. Not that I’m salty.

Sorry, Al, I was a little salty.

And running scared.

Dylan

What happened? Dammit! Did Garrett mess everything up again?

Oh, if only, then I wouldn’t be tossing and turning in my bed every night. As hard as I try to block him out with work, I catch myself sitting at my desk, staring out the window at Vulcan and daydreaming about Garrett’s mouth on my body, my mouth on his body, his mouth on mine…

Not at all! We had a really nice time.

Nice. I hate that word. It’s what I said when I left him, and there was nothing nice about the night we spent together. It was dirty. Very dirty and very…disorienting.

Raven

Ew, I don’t like the sound of that.

Dylan

What happened to you, Rave? You disappeared early.

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