Page 16 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

“Right. So? When were you going to tell me you’re leaving?”

His spine straightened as he turned the speed gun in the direction of an oncoming car, looking uncharacteristically guilty. Amber placed her hand in front of its sensor.

“Amber, quit interfering with police procedure.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you keep it a secret?” Her voice held a tremor, betraying how upset she was. “I even asked if you had any secrets and youlied.”

“I didn’t lie. I told you everyone has secrets. The fact that I had applied out was mine.”

“I trusted you. I thought we were friends. Friends who didn’t keep secrets from each other.” Amber turned, storming away.

A few quick steps and Scott had caught up, snagging her arm, stopping her. “I haven’t even had an interview yet. You didn’t tell me you were dating that jerk Russell until you were moving in with him. Here. In Blueberry Springs.”

Amber ripped herself from his grasp. “That was different.”

“How?” he demanded, his eyes glinting with something she didn’t quite understand.

“I knew you wouldn’t approve,” she whispered, trying to blink away the stinging in her eyes. She’d known Scott wouldn’t like Russell and still she’d dated Russell, moved in with him and allowed him the opportunity to betray her. And then she’d expected Scott to pick up the pieces like always.

“I’m not perfect, okay? And I’m never going to find a man you approve of.”

“How could a woman like you ever convince yourself that it was a smart thing to hook up with a man like Russell?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Scott woke up next to incredible women who fell at his feet. He had no idea what Amber’s options were like.

“You knew I wouldn’t approve. You said you knew it wasn’t love and yet you wasted your time with a man like him. You could have missed being with someone worthy of your love. Someone who would treat you right.” Scott’s voice grew more gentle. “Someone who loves you back. Someone you can trust.”

There was heat and love in his eyes when Amber finally looked up. Her heart raced as she laid a trembling hand against his cheek, noting that he didn’t lean into her touch despite his words. The almost-kiss they’d almost shared on Valentine’s Day had changed him. Changed both of them. If Russell hadn’t shown up in time, would she have ruined her lifelong friendship with Scott by kissing him? Or would things have been okay? Or, dare she imagine it, even more than okay?

She was kidding herself. She wasn’t in love with her best friend and his crush was just that--a crush. Scott dated mayors, not women who had been humiliated on national television. Her best friend, despite all their history and their closeness, was out of her league, and she was delusional if she thought he was hinting that he should be her boyfriend because he could love her better than anyone else.

And if he really did want her, he wouldn’t be leaving. Her. The town. Their friendship.

“Why are you doing this?” Amber whispered, still holding his cheek, seeking understanding.

“Amber,” he said, breaking away, heading back to his post, his expression closed and dark, “it’s just a job application.”

“For a job that would take you away from Blueberry Springs.”Away from me.

“As a good friend of mine is always telling me,” he said over his shoulder, “there is more to life than Blueberry Springs.”

“Yeah?” Her voice shook. “Well, that life sucks.” She stomped to her golf cart, glancing over her shoulder to see if Scott was following her. He wasn’t. Because if he’d loved her he would have swept her into a dip and kissed her senseless. And he didn’t love her, so he hadn’t.

Instead, he called from his spot by the bush, “If it’s not so great, then why are you trying to go back to it?”

Unable to think of a good reply, she simply sped away in her cart, wishing the thing could at least peel rubber to give her a better exit.

* * *

Amber wokeup with her face stuck to the keyboard. Scott was leaving. He was leaving Blueberry Springs. Leaving her.

She tried to rub out the key imprints pressed into her cheek as she checked the time. She felt hollow. If Scott wasn’t here, then what was the point?

Pushing aside her feelings of dejection, she figured she needed to get moving. It was early enough that she could still grab a breakfast sandwich at Mandy’s and possibly avoid most of the town’s gossips, plus get her baking to the seniors’ fund-raising bake sale on time.

As she got ready to drive into town thoughts of her father kept whirling through her mind. If she knew who he was, maybe she would understand herself better. Maybe she’d figure out why she didn’t date nice guys like Scott, but went for men like Russell, who were an express pass to unhappiness and betrayal.

But to find her dad, she’d have to keep secrets, and she didn’t want more of them in her life. She hadn’t known about Russell’s secrets, and they’d turned her upside down. What other secrets were out there ready to trip her up?

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