by Claire Adams
“I love you, Rebecca.”
Chapter Seven
Austin
I watched a football game with Dad on television a couple of days after my run in with Rebecca. Mom was making pulled pork sandwiches for lunch.
My meeting with Rebecca still bothered me. I fidgeted with my soda and thought about seeing her there on the side of the road. That girl always made me worry, and seeing her there in the dark, alone and cold on the road, reminded me of when we used to be together.
“Everything is ready,” Mom said from the dining room. “Come on in.” Dad stretched and stood up. He hadn’t said much to me while we watched the game, but I could feel his eyes on me several times over the last couple of hours. The way I’d acted the first time we ate dinner together cast a cloud over things. Dad was probably worried this would end up in another argument, but Mom didn’t let that stop us from doing everything as planned.
“Coming, Austin?” Dad asked.
I blinked at him for a moment. Fuck, but I was distracted today. This wasn’t good. “Yeah. I spaced out for a second there. Just tired, I guess.”
I stood and followed him into the formal dining room. Mom had all but gotten rid of their small table in the kitchen, and we only ate here now. It was nice, but I liked looking over the hills from the kitchen a little better.
As soon as I sat down, my phone chimed. It was Preston. I glanced up to see Mom’s dark stare and held up my phone. “It’s Preston, Mom. I have to take this. Don’t worry. I’ll tell him you say ‘hi.’”
She narrowed her eyes at me in mock offense. I shot her a grin and got up from the table. I walked out the front door, breathing in the cool air as I answered the call. “What’s up?”
“There’s a bit of a cock up with the deal. It’s all red tape and government nonsense. I have the team back home on it. I just wanted to let you know in case it requires some face time from you. They’re asking for that.” Preston was clear with what was going on as always.
“Not a problem. Hell, I’ll fly to them if need be. I want this deal, Preston.” I pinched my nose, hating the near daily headaches I got from being here. “Thanks for all of your hard work. You’ll be getting a generous holiday bonus, my friend.”
“You already pay me enough, boss. I’m just doing my job. I am going to be on this today and keep you posted with anything that comes up.” Preston was locked away in his hotel room doing this while I spent time with my family. It didn’t seem fair, but he’d seen some of the town, and had some meals with the three of us, as well. Preston loved Texas and was slowly collecting every team shirt that he could, as well as a new pair of black cowboy boots. Next time I saw him, he’d probably come riding up on a horse.
I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket. Looking over the forest across from the house, I couldn’t help but remember the times I’d spent with Rebecca here. Even though I never talked about it, I’d never forget the day we broke up. That hadn’t been the plan for me at all.
I’d taken her to dinner at her favorite place. We both knew that I was going to college in New York at that point, but I wanted to suggest another part of my plan. It was something I’d practiced at home in my room. I looked into her beautiful face across the table, tapping my foot nervously.
“What’s going on, Austin?” She was always direct with me, and I remembered not knowing what to say. There had been some tears since my acceptance, and I knew she was worried.
“I asked you here because I wanted to talk to you about something,” I started. She frowned at me. “Rebecca, this isn’t over for me. We’re not over.”
“You’re moving to New York, Austin. Are you suggesting that we try to attempt a long-distance relationship? You know how well those work out.” She sounded sad, and I shook my head.
“No, I’m not. I want you to come with me.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened. “To New York? I’m a small-town girl, Austin. I wouldn’t know what to do there.”
I reached out for her hands. “You want to go to school for hair and cosmetology. They have those there, and with your passion and talent, you could land an amazing job. I’ll get a job so we can have a little apartment, but I am going to make it there. I’ll give you the world, baby. You’ll live like a queen, and I’ll take care of you.” I knew going in that Rebecca loved North Reed, but I hoped that she loved me more.
“You can go to school here. You can do everything here, Austin. Why does it have to be there in New York, away from everything that we know?” Her eyes looked sad.
I opened my mouth to speak but closed it when I realized I didn’t know what to say.
I’d dreamed about going to New York my whole life. When I knew that I was good with numbers and planned to invest, there was no other choice for me. Wall Street was the place to be, and I was going to live that life. Rebecca knew all of that, and I didn’t understand why she didn’t want to come with me. I wanted her by my side.
Even now, standing out in front of my parents’ house, I wasn’t sure why she didn’t come with me. Her rejection still hurt. She was the reason I always asked my parents to come to New York for Christmas, even though I used the excuse of work. I had fallen in love with the city, but the girl who had my heart was here in Texas. She always had been.
I dated some of the most beautiful women in the world. They were models and actresses, women that any man would want on his arm. I took them to some of the best parties, filled with celebrities, and to dinner at the best restaurants. I took them to bed and tried to fuck Rebecca out of my system for the past eleven years, but it never worked.
“Austin, is everything okay out here?” Mom asked as she stepped out on the porch. The rain a few days ago had turned into snow, and it was beautiful outside. She shivered and looked closely at me. “Come inside. Lunch is getting cold, and so will you, standing out here.”
I followed her inside, still thinking about Rebecca. I thought that not seeing her ever again might do the trick. I thought that I might be able to forget about her and just move on with my life, but all of that came crashing down now.
Mom heated up my plate, and I sat down at the table, feeling a new resolve. I needed to work Rebecca out of my system for the last time or else she would continue to haunt me. I had a fantastic life at home, and I wanted to return to it, free and clear of anything here. I worked too hard to mope about this place. I worked too hard not to be able to move on.
I forced myself back to the present and started to eat. I talked to my parents about the phone call, telling them about the deal I was chasing. After that, I asked them about people in town. I never asked questions about North Reed. Leaving it behind meant leaving Rebecca behind, although I didn’t tell anyone the real reason we’d broken up. I blamed it on college and living apart, which was the same thing happening to high school graduates around the nation.
I never admitted that I asked her to move there with me, not even to Mom.
Dad perked up when I asked him about his friends. I acted like I didn’t know about their morning coffee and urged him to tell me about it. Dad worked hard for his dream, like I did, and he deserved the smile that was on his face. He was indeed happy here, and I’d never ask him to leave again.
I asked Mom about her book group and friends. She seemed surprised but told me all about their activities.
After lunch, I helped her wash dishes while Dad took an afternoon nap. “Is everything okay, honey?” she asked. “You’re acting odd after that phone call.”
I shrugged with a small smile. It was, and it wasn’t, but tomorrow I was going to clear the air with Rebecca. I would go home to New York with a clean slate.
I took Mom shopping for groceries in town, making my first real appearance since my haircut. There had been a few dinners at friends’ houses, but I hadn’t been to any of the shops in town. I’d avoided them for some reason, but it all made sense now. Every inch of this town had memories of Rebecca associated with them, and I wanted to forget all of them. But I never would. I never co
uld.
We ran into plenty of people from the past at the grocery store. It wasn’t surprising. I knew everyone in town, and everyone knew me. I caught up with some of my old friends’ parents, which was nice. I even made dinner plans at the home of my former best friend, Seth.
At one point, a group of my mother’s friends surrounded us. I hugged them and listened to them tell me how much my parents missed me and always talked about me. It was a nicer day than I ever thought it could be.
The shopping trip took longer than expected. I surprised Mom by telling her I’d grab something for dinner on the way home. We stopped in at a BBQ place I used to love and got chicken and ribs with all the fixings. Neither of my parents could resist food, and this a little way of thanking them for everything they did for me. I would do it in words as well, but I was going to spoil them while I was here.
They might not be the only people who I planned to spoil. I was getting up early tomorrow to take care of something so I could enjoy the rest of my vacation.
They went to bed early after the feast. There were plenty of leftovers in the fridge. I could tell that my folks were happy about my change in attitude. Mom hugged me tightly before she went down the hall with Dad. I planted myself in my old bed and turned on the television to watch some of the late-night shows, taking a moment to relax.
I hadn’t heard from Preston about the investment, but I also didn’t think too much about it. I felt content just being here and catching up on a little bit of pop culture. It helped that my belly was full of some of the best food money could buy. That was saying a lot considering some of the food I’d enjoyed in New York at all hours of the night. You just couldn’t beat authentic Texas barbecue.
Mom was right. There really was something special about this place.
I checked in with my assistant. The situation hadn’t changed. He was still buried in communications with lawyers and staff alike. I told him to get some rest and tackle it in the morning. This investment wouldn’t make or break me. I had plenty of money to get by. Perhaps it wasn’t money that I wanted at all. Maybe I was just trying to fill a void that I never wanted to acknowledge before.
Preston asked me if I was feeling all right, knowing my habit of working through the night to acquire what I wanted. Admittedly, I had been relentless when I wanted something in past, but Preston sounded exhausted. He’d been killing himself while I’d been eating and laughing with my family. Maybe I’d offer to cut him loose early so he could go see his own family back home.
“I’m good,” I said. “You just sound beat, and with the time difference and everything going on, it’s time for a break. Get some sleep. It’s practically Christmas, Preston.”
“I’ll have to thank your mother for whatever she made you drink tonight. I will talk to you tomorrow.” He sounded happy.
I ended the call, only to sink back on my pillows. It was time to sleep for all of us.
Chapter Eight
Rebecca
I sipped my coffee and walked over to the register, stifling a yawn. It was slow this morning at Grayson’s, but that was typical for a cold, snowy morning. I had the radio up just a little louder than usual and hummed along to the indie song that played through the room.
When I opened the shop, I took some liberties. I was going on eleven years as a stylist, so a little change in music wouldn’t hurt anybody.
I started to wipe down stations once it hit ten o’clock. I would only be in here for another hour on my own before Heather showed up for her shift. The door chimed, and I glanced up in surprise.
It was Austin, dressed casually in worn jeans, a plaid flannel, and a thick coat. He held two cups of coffee in his hand. I approached him with a cautious smile, noticing the hat on his head.
“Is your hair okay?” I asked.
“My hair?” Austin asked, frowning. He handed me a cup marked with few letters. “I thought you might want some coffee. It’s chilly this morning.”
My brow furrowed as I stared at him. “I just assumed you’d only come back here if you needed a haircut. But the last one was so recent. And it seems like you’re not spending much time in town at all.”
Kim kept me informed of all the local gossip. I mostly worked and stayed home. The most I’d do is go to Kim’s like I did the other night. She was much more of a social butterfly than I was.
“My hair is fine. You did a great job with it.” Austin sipped his coffee before looking around. He cleared his throat. “I wanted to talk to you, Rebecca.”
“Me? About what?” I assumed the last time we spoke would be it. He was only here through the end of the month, and I could hide out that long, apart from being here.
Austin walked over and took a seat at my station. He sipped the coffee again with a violent shiver. “Jesus, it’s cold.”
“You’re the one who came out in the weather,” I responded. He looked at me with a stern expression. There I go, talking like a fool again. “Sorry. What did you want to talk about?” I was like a teenager all over again around Austin.
“I wanted to apologize to you for the other night,” he said.
I tilted my head in confusion. “For helping me?” Austin regretted that?
He waved his hand in the air and shook his head. “No, I could never regret helping you.” Austin smiled.
I reached for my first cup of coffee, finding it empty. I searched around for the cup that Austin brought.
“What I’m apologizing to you for is acting like an asshole,” he said.
“Oh,” I squeaked. I sat down in a seat across from him.
“This whole trip has thrown me, to be honest. It’s been a few years, and in that time, more people have kissed my ass than anything else.” He looked at me with a sincere gaze. “You’ve always been the only woman to put me in my place. You’re the only one who ever challenged me, apart from Mom.”
“I suppose I have,” I admitted with a small smile. I pushed myself back and forth with my chucks against the old black and white tile.
“You had something right,” he said. “I do remember my roots here well, but life is different in New York. I have everything there, and at the same time, nothing at all. It’s a little lonely when you have the money that I do. Everyone just wants something from me. Apart from my assistant, I don’t know who really likes me for me. But you? You’ve always liked me for me and supported my dreams, but you called me out on all that the other night. You seem to do that a lot easier now.” His gaze searched my face.
I blushed. I’d been such a bitch to him the last few times I’d seen him. A lot more than before. But seeing him was such a shock for me after reading he was supposed to be in the Bahamas. I wasn’t prepared for Austin to be here at all.
“You have a fire inside of you that I’m not used to,” he said, breaking my train of thought. “Most women will do anything to please me.”
“I’ll bet,” I murmured, looking down at the floor. I’d tortured myself with the pictures online and the news stories, feeling so plain and ordinary compared to the women he dated. Every story about his newest celebrity girlfriend made me feel worse.
It seemed like he had a new girl every few months. I was so convinced he’d moved on. There was a good chance he was going to do just that when he returned to New York.
“You were one of the few women to walk away from me,” he said. “You were the only one to tell me ‘no’ when I asked you to come with me. Other women have begged me to let them stay around, and you just ended it that day.” His voice was filled with emotion. “You didn’t want anything to do with me.”
“You weren’t rich then. Perhaps any other woman might have done the same.”
He leaned forward and stared at me. “What if I was? What if I could have given you the world on a string? Would you have said yes then?”
I licked my lips as I looked back at him. I felt tears in my eyes as I searched for an answer. “Even back then, I knew you would go off and be successful. But I never wanted your money o
r your fame, Austin. I wanted our life to continue here in the town that I loved.” I took a deep breath. “I loved it here, and you were willing to just walk away from all of it, including me. I didn’t think you cared, so of course I ended it. What were we going to do? Drag it out until you left town?”
I sucked in my breath and glanced toward the door. This would be a hell of a time for someone to walk in. Thankfully, the streets were pretty empty. “I loved you, Austin. I didn’t want you to leave me. I wanted you to want to stay here and marry me, create a life with me here, where all of our family and friends were.” A tear slid down my cheek, and I bowed my head to try and gain control of myself. I hadn’t cried once for this man since he came back to town.
When I looked up again, I could see the shock on Austin’s face. I never even told him that I loved him. I was scared when I knew he was just going to leave me once he graduated.
I cleared my throat and pressed a hand to my cheek. “I need to clean myself up.” Heather would be there soon, and eventually, we’d have some customers. I’d never fallen apart in public over Austin Harris, and I wasn’t about to start now. I stood and walked to the bathroom in the back, certain that everything was locked up. I made sure of that when I opened this morning. I walked into the single room and locked the door before I looked into the mirror.
I looked a bit pale, and my eyes were red. Why was Austin even here? I wasn’t ready to feel so weak in front of him. I grabbed a paper towel and dabbed at my eyes. I could do this. I could walk out there and be just fine and thank him for his apology with grace.
I jumped when there was a tap at the door, turning and hitting my hip on the sink.
“Rebecca, are you okay?” It was Heather. “Your friend said that you’ve been in here a while.” She was a few minutes early.
“Is there a customer?” I asked in a panicked voice, pressing my hands against my skinny jeans.
“No. There probably won’t be for a while with the snow coming down again. But I’m here, so come out when you’re ready.” Her sweet voice faded, along with her footsteps.
