“It’s hard for me to make rational decisions around him. I can’t plan my future around a man again. I need to make this decision for myself.”
I hear a strangled groan from my sister, and even with myeyes focused on her high, antique ceilings. I can feel the frustration coming off her in waves. I lift my head and raise a questioning brow. Eve mutters something under her breath, but I can barely hear it.
“What?” I ask.
Eli and Eve share a knowing look before one of them finally starts talking. “Ree, I get where you’re coming from, but I think you’re looking at this the wrong way,” Eli says with a calm and articulate tone.
“How so?” I question, stretching out my spine and peeling myself from the couch cushion.
“You’ve always loved Honey Grove—even before Knox. Eve and I hated going there for holidays as kids, but you were always so excited to get out of the city. And then when you found out you were inheriting Grandma’s shop, it was the first time I’ve seen you light up in a while. And then, of course, that ass hat Patrick had to ruin it, but you still went anyway. You have an undeniable connection to that place, regardless of who lives there. So, before you try to pretend like you’re basing your decision off Knox and whatever spell that man has you under, take a step back and consider what you’d be giving up if you sold the shop and moved.”
I stare at Eli, processing everything he said. But it’s not that simple. Every time I think of Honey Grove, I see him. The town I’ve come to love is so deeply intertwined with the man I love, and it’s hard to stay impartial. But maybe that’s the answer. I just have to remove the big, dumb roadblock in my head lit up with bright red warning signs.
“This is ridiculous,” Eve says, no longer able to hold herself back from chiming in. “I was there. I saw you two together. He’s nothing like the boy who broke your heart, and even if your relationship was supposedly fake, there was nothing fake about the way he looked at you. That’s why I didn’t slash his tires when I met him.”
I let out a weak laugh, picturing Eve trying to shove asharp object into Knox’s tires. He wouldn’t even be mad, either. He’d just laugh it off and say he probably deserved it.
But he didn’t—not really. We were both dumb kids, and I was trying to force a budding relationship into something far too mature for two teenagers. He also didn’t deserve to wait around for a woman who can’t recognize a good—no, agreatthing when she sees it. I’ve spent the last summer thinking he didn’t deserve me, but maybe it was me who didn’t deserve him.
“All I’m saying is give him a chance. Give your life in Honey Grove a chance. I watched Patrick suck the life out of you for almost five years, and I’ve never seen you happier than you were this past summer. Stop focusing on what could go wrong and start realizing what’s going right now. If you ask me, it’s a no-brainer.”
It really is a no-brainer. I want to stay in Honey Grove. I want a future with Knox. What I don’t want is to start over again. But she’s right. I can’t keep letting my anxiety win. I wouldn't change those experiences, even though they burned me. It might hurt like hell when it’s over, but it won’t make it any less impactful.
I needed Knox to break my heart to grow up. I needed Patrick to break my heart so I could move on. Now I need to give in to those feelings again to move toward the future I’ve been chasing all these years. Even if I don’t end up with Knox, I’ll never regret building a home in the one place I always come back to.
“God, I’m an ass,” I say, throwing my head in my hands. “What if he’s already come to his senses? I’ve done nothing but push him away. I swear he’s one head injury away from realizing what a jerk I am.”
Eve and Eli both chuckle lightly before going dead silent. I peek up from my hand prison to find a mischievous look painted on my sister’s face. “What?” I ask cautiously.
“I think this calls for a romantic gesture,” she says,bounding from her spot on the couch. “And I have the perfect idea!”
“No,” I say, pointing my finger at her. “I’m not doing one of your bullshit Hallmark movie moves. I bet you want me to track him down at the town jamboree and confess my feelings on stage in front of the entire town.”
“Ooo, that’s good. Is that happening right now?”
“Ugh,” I groan. “No, but even if it was, I’m not doing that.”
“I don’t think you understand the stakes here, Ree,” Eve explains, pacing back and forth. “You need to show him you’re just as committed to this relationship as he is, and knowing you, you’ve probably been a real emotionally unavailable jerk, so we have to dig deep.”
“Hey!” I say, turning to my brother for some back-up, but all the traitor does is shrug and say something along the lines of “let her cook,” whatever that means.
“Just trust me, Ree. I’ve been preparing for this for my whole life. I know what I’m talking about.”
“Fine,” I agree, giving in. “If I’m going to do this, then let’s do it right.”
After a very long drive and a few animated pep talks from Eve, I’m all set to confess my undying love. The only issue is now that I’m here, I can’t get out of the truck.
It’s pitch-black outside, and I can see the warm glow of Knox’s apartment light taunting me, but here I am with my hands glued to the steering wheel, absolutely petrified of spilling my guts.
Eve’s silly idea of a grand romantic gesture has my tail tucked between my legs, looking like a stalker outside ofKnox’s place. If I weren’t in his truck, I’m sure someone would’ve called the cops by now.
And then a set of bright yellow headlights sets me into a panic. I nosedive between the seats, attempting to hide my body from whoever is coming down the driveway at this time of night.
The lights come and go, and for a brief moment when my pulse shutters to a quiet rhythm, I think I’m in the clear. But I have no such luck. Gentle tapping on the driver’s side window causes me to squeeze my eyes closed and pray that I have magically developed the power of invisibility.
Again…no such luck.
“Bambi?” I hear a muffled voice call out. I freeze. “I know you’re in there. I can see you.”
