Page 60 of All Mine

“You are so immature bringing our private matter into a public forum.”

“This has nothing to do with you and everything with saving my bakery.”

I didn’t buy that for a minute. Sure, part of it was about saving the bakery, but that back there was about getting back at me for ghosting her. But since I didn’t want to tell her why, I’d go along with it. God, I missed her. I thought about her all the time. Even though we were yelling at each other in the middle of the Town Hall, I wanted to grab her up and kiss her. But, I was blowing it with her, and I couldn’t help myself.

“Are you so blind that you can’t see how those dilapidated old houses that Lewis refuses to repair are hurting your business?”

“At least I have a business with him. With yours, I’ll get replaced by some trendy cupcake shop.” She turned and stomped down the hallway.

“I’m not done with you,” I yelled, following Lauren.

“Oh, it’s pretty clear you are,” she called, not stopping.

“You did this to get back at me.”

“Ha, of course, you’d be that self-centered to think this revolved around you,” she pushed through the front doors. We exited to a breeze that had not cooled any in the sunset. “I told you I was going to keep looking for a way to stop you.”

“You were there that night, damn it,” I yelled. “and have to have felt what you mean to me.”

Lauren stopped and whirled around, cheeks pink. “Don’t you dare go there. If I’d meant anything at all to you, you wouldn’t have done this to me.”

“Fought for the land sale? It’s my job.”

She glared at me. “I’m mad at myself, all right.”

“What?” This was a trap. It had to be.

“I knew why you were here, and I still let myself go there with you. You don’t give a shit about anything that I want. It’s all about you and your job.”

“Says the woman who doesn’t want me to tear down an old, dilapidated house to build a new beautiful bakery for no discernable reason other than because it’s always been this way. That’s not a business philosophy that will get you very far.”

Seriously, I couldn’t stop myself from destroying any future chance with this woman.

“You said you had me, and you’d take care of me. And it was all just bullshit. You’re using me this whole time.” Her voice cracked as she turned away.

“No.” An ache intensified through my chest. “I can’t explain it to you right now, but I will. Just give me time.”

The spot in front of the door where I left my Maserati was empty, and letters painted on the pavement read: Fire Lane. Where’s my car?

There it was, hooked to the back of a tow truck at the end of the parking lot, pulling out onto the street.

“Hey, wait,” I screamed. “They’re towing my car.”

“Awe, too bad,” Lauren said, voice dripping in sarcasm. “Looks like you just can’t walk into town and do whatever you want to us small town hicks.” She walked off, leaving me to stare after my car disappearing in the distance.

Twenty-Three

Lauren

The second floor of the bakery became the vote no campaign headquarters. We’d papered the town in signs that readVote No to Preserve Hart Valleyand worked walking door-to-door talking to everyone we could find. The contingency to destroy us was, unsurprisingly, well-funded. Their yard signs were slicker, and their advertising more polished, but never underestimate the power of a dedicated grass-roots campaign.

I hadn’t seen Camden since I left him with his mouth hanging open in disbelief that someone would have the audacity to tow his overpriced automobile for parking it in a fire lane. The douche. I didn’t look for him among the crowds of strangers brought in to campaign for the yes side or stare into his office windows when I passed, searching for a glimpse, and I certainly didn’t miss him. Nope.

“You need to get some rest,” Sloane said, taking the notebook from me after the volunteer meeting ended. Some of the volunteers milled about the room, while others filed down the stairs and out the door.

“We only have two weeks left until the vote. I’ll rest then. I mean, I might not have a job after that, anyway.”

“We’re going to win,” Sloane said. “No one wants the big company to take over. We’re getting favorable responses to our canvassing.”

---