Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Megan took the money and bill and put them in her purse.
“Bye, Harford. You both have a Merry Christmas.”
Chelsea gave her insincere smile. “You, too.”
Harford didn’t respond, giving her a concerned look. Megan sent him a reassuring glance as she walked out the door.
Once she left the office, she stood and stared at the main road, the businesses, the Christmas lights, taking it all in, committing each tiny detail to memory. When she left Treepoint this time, she was never coming back. She had lost too many parts of her heart to this town, and she wasn’t going to give it one more piece.
Twenty-One
Megan was treated to Marty’s glower when she walked into the diner.
“Where have you fucking been?”
“I sold my car and transfer—”
“Never mind. I don’t give a fuck. Why aren’t you taking orders? Fuckers coming here in person to place their orders.”
“Sorry … if it helps, I’m taking orders now.”
“Don’t do me any favors,” he groused, his beady eyes turning to pinpoints. “Who in the hell shit on your parade?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Taking a seat at the counter, Megan placed her delivery bag down next to her.
“Sure you don’t,” he said sarcastically. “I don’t give a fuck, anyway. I have a bone to pick with you. Ginny came moseying her ass in here. When I need you sticking your nose into my business, I’ll ask. Got it?”
“Pfft. How can I not—you’re yelling.” Megan arched her brows at him then grinned. “When’s your appointment?”
“This afternoon, so no taking orders after three.”
Marty hobbled back to the kitchen, leaving her sitting alone at the counter. She was still waiting for an order when he came back to plop a bag in front of her.
“Since you want to stick your nose into my fucking business, I’m going to stick mine in yours. Fucking eat, or I’m going to shove it down your throat.”
“I’ll eat.”
Megan didn’t like the way he was looking at her. She opened the bag and started eating. She had finished and was throwing the bag away when orders came in. She spent the rest of the day fulfilling them. Right before Marty was going to close, she returned to the diner.
“What are you doing back? I told you I was closing for the rest of the day.”
“I just wanted to stop by and wish you a Merry Christmas. I won’t be working tomorrow, or Christmas Day.” Before he could stop her, she hugged him then stepped back. “Take care of yourself, Marty.”
“Merry Christmas.” Gruffly, Marty gave her a searching look.
Rushing away, Megan went back to her car and drove to the town’s park. She buttoned her coat and she headed toward a picnic table. Using a gloved hand, she brushed the snow off the top then climbed to sit on it, staring out at the park.
A couple of minutes later, she heard a vehicle behind her, and then the sound of a door opening and closing.
“Hey, why’d you want to meet me here?” Cole asked, moving around the table. His beautiful face was excited. He must think she had a special Christmas present for him. The happiness in his face died when he noticed the serious expression on her face.
Cole reached out to take her hands in his. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she lied. “I’ve come to a decision.”
Cole’s eyes met hers. “Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to like whatever decision you made. What is it?”
“I’ve decided to leave Treepoint—tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?”
“I haven’t decided yet. When I do, I’ll text you my address.”
“I have one better.” Cole’s jaw clenched stubbornly. “We can leave together. I already decided to change my plans to stay here until the New Year. We can go on a road trip together instead.”
“No, Cole. It’s better if I go alone. You can come visit me after I get settled.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you ask if it was okay for you to fall in love with me if you were just going to take off out of the blue?”
“I thought it over. We’re moving too fast. We need time apart to reevaluate whether we’re right for each other.” The whole time she held Cole’s gaze, she couldn’t bear the hurt on his face.
“I love you—”
“You don’t know me well enough to love me. I’ll never fit in your life. We move in different circles. You’re friends with celebrities, you run your own business—”
“You do, too,” he insisted.
Her lips quirked in a smile. “There’s no comparison.”
“Maybe not now … but you’re just starting out. If you don’t want to deliver anymore, we’ll find something else for you. I don’t care if you work, anyway. I can take care of you. I want to—”
Megan shook her hands free, jumped off the picnic table, and hugged him tightly, going onto her toes to kiss his cheek. “Cole, it’s better for me to leave … before one of us gets hurt.”