Unfortunately, the other ninety-nine percent of the population aren’t clingy men with the yearning for a rom-com of their own.
It amuses me to imagine telling someone that. To sit down on a date and confess that I’d love nothing more than to be swept off my feet. For us to be exclusive from the get-go. Things don’t work like that anymore. And after my constant strikeouts, and Hudson settling for being treated like dirt, and Hartwell never talking about any relationships he may or may not have, it’s getting really hard to keep believing in love.
I don’twantto be a bitter person.
Ilikebeing a romantic.
But little by little, that part of me is shrinking.
“You don’t have to worry about me anymore,” I tell them. “I’m not dating for the whole time we’re here. I’m taking a break from all of that so that once we’re home, I’ll know exactly what I’m after.”
The problem is that I really, really like it here. Staying in Wilde’s End is where my head is currently at, but I won’t find my person here.
Could I really spend the rest of my life alone? If it came to that, if I actually decided to stay, would I be able to live by myself … forever? No romance. No partner. No one to share all my thoughts and feelings with.
As much as I’d like to dream that someone who buys one of our houses would fall in love with the town and me, I know that realistically, it’s likely to be a wealthy couple.
Who will shove their happy love in my face.
So as much as I love it here, I can’t stay. I need to know what it feels like to be loved.
There’s a soft knock on the door, and I glance around Hudson to see Ziggy lingering there. I have no idea when he showed up since the man drifts in like a ghost, but a smile splits my face at the sight of him.
No matter what Hart and Hudson say about him, I enjoy his company. He’s the kind of calm I’ve never had in my life,and something about that is really goddamn appealing. I can be myself with him in a way I can’t with anyone else.
Not even my brothers.
I feel the shift almost immediately though. Ziggy’s guard is up with Hudson here, and my brothers still aren’t sure they trust anyone in this town. Even with Hudson dating Wilde, I have no clue what they really think about each other.
Hudson isn’t a talk-about-your-feelings guy.
It only takes one glance between the three of them before I make up my mind.
“I’m taking the rest of the day off.”
Ziggy’s eyes widen with alarm, and Hudson’s expression morphs into concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“But …” He glances at Hart, who ignores us both. “You never take the day off.”
“All the more reason to do it today.”
“I’m not arguing with you, just surprised.”
I pat his shoulder on the way past. “We’ll be fine.”
“We?”
“Yeah, I’m taking Ziggy with me.”
That gets Hart involved. “But we need him.”
“And you’ll still need him tomorrow.” I turn to Ziggy. “Wanna play hooky with me?”
His warm, brown gaze slowly moves from me to my brothers and back again. Then he turns on his heel and walks away.
