Page 83 of The Friendly Fall

And it’s not me.

Shaking my head, I make my way to the door, determined not to look around any further. Whatever she was making was probably for Devon.

Lucky him.

I brush the thought away as I step outside and shut the door behind me. As I turn to head back to the truck, I nearly run right into poor Ms. Marilyn, who has a wild look on her face.

“Oh … Nick…”

“Hey, sorry,” I mutter, stepping around her. “I was just looking for Eliza, but it’s okay.”

She grabs my arm. “Did you see—”

“I saw the letter, yeah,” I say, avoiding her gaze. “I shouldn’t have even looked at it. Don’t tell her that I saw it, please.”

“Are you okay?” Granny now sounds confused. “I figured you’d have a little different reaction to it…”

“Uh.” I shrug my shoulders. “I guess I’m happy for her or whatever. I just want her to be happy and if being with him is what makes her happy, then so be it. I saw him at the hardware store,he’s got a big ole diamond ring for her. He says he’s finally gonna make it right with her.”

“…what?”

“Yeah, he’ll be here soon. I sent him around the long way or whatever in hopes that I could talk to Eliza beforehand, but I think I’m just gonna go. I don’t want to cause any drama or anything like that.”

“Nick…” Her voice trails off as I head across the yard, not looking behind me. It’s kind of rude of me to leave her hanging like that, but honestly, my heart iswrecked.

I’ve got freaking moisture pooling up in my eyes, and I haven’t had that happen since my father died.

I don’t cry over women.

I don’t cry at all.

But as I rip my truck door open, a few let loose. I wipe them away, both furious and irritated that I ever let myself fall so in love with Eliza Willis. I should’ve taken all the hints, and never read into anything.

My truck roars down the street and I pass Eliza coming back to Granny’s. She waves big, but I ignore it.

For once in my life, I’m justnotin the mood to force myself to be friendly.

I just want to be alone.

Chapter Thirty-One

Eliza

Why didn’t he wave at me? Why was he at the house? Did he see the workbench? Or worse … the letter?

My heart is pounding as I pull into the driveway, and everything feels even more panicky as I see Granny standing on the front porch, looking upset.

“What happened?” I demand, jumping out of the truck before I even kill the engine. “Was Nick just here?”

She nods. “He’s really upset, Eliza. I think he thinks you’re getting backwith Devon.”

“What?” I don’t understand in the slightest. “Why would he think that? I don’t … I told Devon that I don’t want to be with him—ever. It’ssoover between us. I don’t even have any feelings for him … I’m in love with Nick.” It’s the first time that I’ve admitted my feelings for Nick out loud, and Granny’s face softens.

“Well, you’re going to have to talk to him. Somehow, wires have gotten crisscrossed, and I don’t know why or how.”

The sound of a Mercedes engine behind me answers all of my questions—mostly. I look on at Devon’s Mercedes with nothing but pure anger.

Did he talk to Nick?

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