Everything, I want to type.
Everything is wrong and I'm scared and I started this whole thing with a lie and now I'm falling for you but I'm going to lose the inn anyway and you'll realize I'm just another person who wanted something from you.
"Nothing," I type instead."Just a busy day."
LUKE:Okay.
There's a pause between texts, then…
LUKE:You know you can talk to me, right?About anything?
The irony of that statement is like a stone sinking in my stomach.
Can I talk to him about hacking his profile?About tricking him into coming here?
About using him for publicity while catching feelings I never meant to catch?
"I know," I lie.
Tommy returns with the ladder and a look of resignation."Ready to wrangle your goat?"
"My life in a nutshell," I mutter, standing and brushing off the worst of the grass.
It takes both of us and a trail of alfalfa pellets to get Buttercup down.By the time we succeed, I'm even muddier, Tommy's torn his shirt, and Buttercup looks supremely pleased with herself.
"Thanks," I tell Tommy as he heads back to his truck."For the help.And for not charging me for the roof estimate."
"Sage..."He pauses by his truck."You know the whole town loves this place, right?Maybe if you asked?—"
"I can't."The words come out sharper than intended."I can't ask for more help.I already feel like I'm drowning in IOUs."
"Pride's expensive," he says gently.
"So are roofs, apparently."
He drives away, leaving me standing in my muddy clothes with a goat who's already eyeing the shed roof again.
"Don't even think about it," I tell her.
My phone rings.Luke again.
"I thought you had ambassador-related fires to put out," I answer.
"I do.But I wanted to hear your voice."He pauses."You sound sad."
"I'm not sad.I'm...contemplative."
"About?"
About how I've managed to fall for you while simultaneously ruining everything.
About how you're going to hate me when you find out the truth.
About how I'm going to lose this inn and you in one spectacular failure.
"About how I need to buy you new shoes," I say instead.
"Sage—"
