Page 46 of That Touch

“I—you don’t want to move there . . .Idon’t want you to move there. You said a few weeks ago at the lake how you can’t imagine ever living anywhere else. I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“But you won’t even try to figure out a compromise? We could split our time here and there. We could try long distance for a year while you get it built up enough for Decker or Logan to take over.”

I can see him growing tired and realize he has no real interest in making this work. I feel defeated and embarrassed.

“I should have known. I’m the one who’s always putting in the work to make this,” I say, motioning between us, “work.” I rub my temples. “I’ll ask the question one final time: Do you want me to move with you? I realize you can’t and won’t ask me to, but if it were up to you, would youwantme there with you?”

He hesitates, his eyes looking up at me for a second before dropping back down to the floor.

I stand up, walking toward the front door.

“Dolly, wait.”

“That’s all I needed to know, Ranger. Have a nice life in Texas.” I swing the door open, shutting it behind me and running down the stairs to my car before I can talk myself out of it.

* * *

One Month Later. . .

I put my headphones on,turning the store’s OPEN sign to CLOSED as I go through the same exact routine I’ve done pretty much every night for the last month. If I have upbeat music playing, I won’t get lost in my thoughts, which means I won’t end up in a ball on the floor, crying my eyes out.

I turn the volume up, dancing around as I rehang clothes left in the dressing rooms and move to the back to start unboxing new inventory. It’s Saturday night, which means I will once again be spending it here—staying as late as I can reasonably make excuses for—until I head home just in time to eat and crawl into bed.

I’ve turned avoiding Ranger into an art these last few weeks—from driving 30 minutes away to do any grocery shopping to actually ducking behind a counter or two when I saw him at my favorite coffee shop. It’s pathetic, I know, but I left all of my dignity at his house the night I begged him to give me a chance. Since he made it abundantly clear that it wasn’t going to happen, I’ve told myself to put it out of my mind so I can move on . . . something I’m not even close to succeeding at. I scoop up a box from the back, bringing it out to the front of the store, when I see someone looking in through the giant glass window.

“Aaah!” I drop the box, clutching at my heart as Brooklyn waves at me. “Shit,” I mutter, pulling off my headphones and walking to the door to unlock it, letting her in.

“You’re not working through another Saturday night, are you?”

“I just got my new inventory in, and since Juniper went back to school, I’m short-handed. Part of being a business owner.” I smile, but she isn’t buying it.

“We both know why you’ve been spending so much time here.”

“We do?” I play dumb, walking back over to the box I dropped, picking it up, and placing it on the counter.

I didn’t go into detail about what went down between Ranger and me. I just told the girls that since he’s moving to Texas for the ranch expansion, we aren’t pursuing anything, and have decided that being friends is best.

“It’s his going-away party tonight, Doll. You’ll regret it if you don’t go.” Her voice is sad. I know she knows that more went down between the two of us. As hard as I try, I can’t always hide it.

“I didn’t even realize he was having a going-away party.” I turn my back toward her as I feel my bottom lip start to tremble. “Guess that means he’s officially leaving soon?”

“Monday,” she says, causing me to still my movements. I can’t believe I not only lost Dean, but now I’m losing Ranger, too. Even when we were just friends and I secretly pined for him, it was better than not having him in my life at all.

“Oh, wow, soon then.” I can’t hide the shakiness of emotion in my voice. My chin quivers, a big fat tear tumbling down my cheek.

“Dolly,” Brooklyn says softly, walking over to me to wrap her arms around my shoulders from behind.

“He broke my heart.” I begin to cry, my head hanging forward as Brooklyn holds me tighter.

“I know he did, sweetie. I don’t understand. I wish you two could make it work; we all do. I don’t know the details and I don’t need to, but if you can, see him before he leaves.”

I nod my head, letting her words sink in. She hugs me tightly one more time. “I’m going to head to the party. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“I—I can’t,” I say sadly, and she nods.

“I understand. Call me if you need anything, I mean it. Anything. And if you change your mind, the party is at his parents’ house.”

I watch her leave and walk over to lock the door behind her. I’m too defeated to pretend I’m okay tonight. I grab my purse and a bag from my trip to the drugstore earlier today, locking up and heading to my car.

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