Page 81 of No More Heartbreakers

To make sure it was clear our “break” had become a permanent one—it seemed like what he wanted, since he’d suggested the break in the first place and hadn’t broached the topic of our getting back together.

It was certainly what I wanted.

Not just because of Aric and me. But because eventually I’d be moving away—if I ever got up the guts to send out my reel and find a new job. If not this year then it would probably be the next, when contract time came up again.

And because Hale would never leave his family’s ranch and farming business in Madison.

And mostly because when I looked back on the past few months, I’d done too well without him.

If you were really meant for someone, wouldn’t time apart make you feel the opposite way?

Unfortunately, Hale got up to leave before Aric did, before the game was even over, preventing an in-depth conversation.

He politely thanked my parents for their hospitality and asked me if I’d walk him to the door. I threw a quick glance at Aric, who seemed engrossed in the fourth quarter action, before standing to follow Hale.

In the foyer, he turned to face me and rested his hands lightly on my hips, a position that would’ve felt very natural for us three months ago.

Tonight, it produced a strange prickling aversion in me. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, I fought the urge to step back from him.

Hale dipped his head, bringing his face close to mine so I could hear his quiet tone.

“It’s good to see you. Feels like it’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has,” I agreed, not lifting my eyes to meet his.

“So… you invited your co-worker over tonight?” he asked, an invitation for me to confirm or deny a relationship with Aric.

I avoided answering the real question. “My dad did.”

“I see. But you don’t mind having him around.”

“No. Um, Hale, we need to talk.”

He took a step back, his hands going to his own hips.

“About Aric?” His voice had acquired a hard edge.

I looked around. Faint sounds of cheering and guy-voices drifted from the den. This was not the ideal time or place, but here we were.

“About us. I didn’t want the break, as you know. But I think it turned out to be important—it’s given me time to think, and it made some things clear to me. You love your land, and you want to stay there and run your family’s business. I know I’ve probably given you the impression that I’m the same way—a person who wants to stay put. But I’ve changed lately. I’m becoming more like my old self, the one you never met. And I want the career that I decided on back in seventh grade, one that will probably mean leaving town, maybe leaving the state.”

“I guess I didn’t realize how serious you were about the TV thing. I thought—well I hoped—you’d do this job for a little while and get it out of your system. I thought if I removed myself from the equation and you saw what it was like to have your job instead of me…”

Stepping close again, he placed his hands on the outsides of my arms, rubbing lightly. He dropped his chin and looked at me from under his brows with warm sympathy.

“I’m still not sure you reallydowant this career.”

I shrugged away from his grasp. “Hale—you sound like my dad. Don’t tell me what I want, okay?”

It was hard to keep my voice quiet with the irritation that spiked in me at his knowing, paternal-sounding tone.

“Okay, but you’ve always talked about the crappy pay and terrible hours and working holidays and weekends and how hard it would be to have a family with a career in TV news. How hard it is to actually make it and move up the ladder.”

“I know. I know I did,” I admitted. “Those things are still true, but the thing is—I don’t care. I still want to do it. I want to give this my best shot. Or I’ll never know. And I need to really be on my own and find a job—a TV job—that pays enough to get me out of my parents’ pocket.”

“You know you don’t have to depend on them, thatIwanted to take care of you. But you’re right, I do have to stay here.”

“And that’s great for you—that’s your dream, that’s what makes you happy. I have to follow my dream, too.”

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