Page 90 of Objection to Love

What had she done?

She had been so sure she was making the best choice. For herandfor Garrett. He was leaving soon, after all. Right? She’d never actually asked. It was part of the rehearsed speech she hadn’t managed to follow.

Either way, it was the right choice. It had to be.

Why then had the bad feeling in her stomach not gone away? Why did she feel like she’d just ruined the best thing life had ever thrown her way?

Chapter 32

Garrett

Garrettloadedthelastbullet before closing the gun’s chamber. Maybe shooting a few unmoving targets would help him get over some of the anger that seemed to be boiling under the surface of his emotions ever since Em broke up with him two days before. He vacillated between stomping over to her house and letting her know just how stupid it was to break up with him… and stomping over to her house and begging her to take him back.

Neither were great options, so a day with his friends, shooting fake deer and painted targets was all he was going to get.

The sound of an engine and wheels turning up dirt had Garrett turning around. He waved a hand as he recognized Will’s truck and set his gun on his tailgate, the safety on.

“Hey, man!” Will called, jumping from the front seat and striding across the dirt lot. His cowboy boots kicked up about as much dirt as his truck had. He grabbed Garrett in a hug.

“Will—great to see you,” he responded as another car turned into the lot of the shooting range. Noah waved at them from his Jeep, parked, and started pulling things from his back seat.

“Noah made it sound like you might be bringing a girl,” Will said, leaning against Garrett’s truck, arms folded. It wasn’t exactly a question, and Garrett didn’t exactly want to answer.

“Did Noah tell you what girlhebrought last time we hung out?”

“Hey, you make it sound like it’s all my fault. Of all people, you should know Jenica’s a leech—I couldn’t shake her.” Noah dropped a bag at Will’s feet. “Your camping stuff from last time. You left it in the Jeep.”

“Huh. I wondered where that went.” Will grabbed it and walked the few steps to his car to put it in the back.

“With how much of a wreck your truck always is, I’m surprised you noticed it was gone,” Noah said.

“Eh. By ‘wondered,’ I meant, ‘was starting to think maybe I should see if I left that stuff somewhere.’”

“Yeah, that makes more sense.” Noah turned on Garrett, and he braced himself. But his friend stopped. “Dude. You look terrible.”

Garrett looked down at himself. His t-shirt was a bit wrinkly, but so was Noah’s.

“I mean you look like you’re not sleeping. Something up? Or… late nights with the month girl?”

“Month girl?” Will had rejoined them.

“Yeah, Garrett’s dating a girl named September.”“That’s an awesome name—does she have a sister named—”

“April,” Noah supplied, grinning. “Is the sister dating anyone? I could use a date to my brother’s wedding next month.”

Garrett was ready to start shooting things.

“Earth to Garrett.”

“Huh?” Garrett’s head swung back from looking at the targets longingly.

“Where’s your girlfriend? She not into shooting things?”

“Actually, she has her concealed carry permit.” Garrett was putting off the inevitable.

“Okay, how do I get one of these women?” Will asked.

“She’s a lawyer too,” Noah added. “And she’s funny. Garrett is playing well above his league.” Noah’s ribbing was good-natured, but Garrett felt that ever-simmering anger start to boil over.

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