“What’d you tell her?” Gabe leaned forward.
“The truth. That Tate had been vague in the original interview to get publicity for the business. That the local paper saw the article and ran wild with engagement speculation. But I also told her that since I got back, things had changed between us. That what started as a misunderstanding became real.”
“And has it?” Rhett asked.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I thought so. These past few weeks with her... But now she’s gone dark on me. Won’t answer calls or texts. Only reason I haven’t called your dad to file a missing person’s report is she sent me one text last night saying she was safe and not to worry.”
“That’s it?” Clint frowned.
“That’s it.” The words tasted bitter. “Look, I get why she panicked. The whole situation’s crazy. But I thought we were on the same page about giving us a real shot. Now I’m not sure about anything.”
“Have you checked her usual spots?” Gabe asked.
“Everywhere I could think of. She’s not at home, not at the office, not at her parents’. Her truck’s gone too.”
“Want us to help look?” Rhett offered.
I shook my head. “If she wanted to be found, she would’ve answered my calls. I just...” My throat tightened. “I just need to know she’s okay.”
“I bet she’s at Pepper’s,” Rhett murmured. “We’d know if she’d gone to Felicity or Austen. Pepper is absolutely their hide-a-body friend. If Tate doesn’t want to be found right now, she won’t be, and Pepper wouldn’t breathe a word.”
“Makes sense,” Clint agreed. “Austen would keep that confidence, even from me.”
“Felicity, too,” Gabe added. “But man, you need to fix this fast before it impacts the business.”
My stomach churned. We had three major installations scheduled next week alone. “What if she can’t work with me anymore?”
“She will,” Rhett cut in. “Known that girl almost as long as you have. Once she processes things, she’ll come around.”
“Process what exactly?” I ran my finger around the rim of my glass. “That I took advantage of the situation? That I pushed too hard?”
“That she might actually get what she wants,” Clint murmured. “Sometimes that’s scarier than rejection.”
Gabe leaned back, crossing his arms. “Here’s what you do. Give her tonight. Tomorrow, go to work early and handle the crew assignments. Show her you’re not letting the business suffer. But don’t push for a conversation until she’s ready.”
“And if she’s never ready?” The words felt like gravel in my throat.
“She will be,” Rhett insisted. “Look, Tate’s always been the steady one in their friend group. The responsible one. The one who plans everything out. This whole situation obviously threw her completely off script. She just needs time to write a new one.”
I wanted to believe him. But all I could think about was how empty her bed felt last night without her in it. How wrong it felt to wake up alone this morning. How much I missed her stupid jokes and the way she hummed while she worked and the little crease between her eyebrows when she was concentrating on a design.
“What if I screwed everything up?” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“You didn’t,” Clint said firmly. “But you might if you don’t give her space to figure this out on her own terms.”
I straightened in my chair, an idea taking shape that flew in the face of everything they were suggesting, but one that just might say what I needed to say in a way she had to believe. “I need your help with something.”
“Name it,” Rhett said.
“Remember that overlook spot where we used to camp as kids? The one with the view of the whole valley?”
Clint’s eyes lit with understanding. “The one where you and Tate used to stargaze?”
“Yeah. I want to transform it. Create a garden space up there, something permanent and beautiful. Show her that even when things get messy and complicated, we can build something lasting together.”
“That’s protected land,” Gabe pointed out. “You’d need permits.”
“Already got ’em.” At their surprised looks, I shrugged. “Been planning this since before deployment. Wanted to do something special for our ten-year business anniversary. The timing just feels right now.”
