“I heard him on the phone.”
“What you heard was a one-sided conversation.Have you asked him about it?”
Ellie shook her head.“I was hoping he’d say something, but he hasn’t.He did say he wanted to talk to me, though.That can only mean one thing.”
“I was hoping you’d rethink your preconceived ideas of Becket after our discussion aboutNorth and South.It seems, though, you’re still clinging to them.Please don’t tell me you’ve just been waiting for him to do what you’re expecting?”
Ellie looked up quickly.
“You have, haven’t you?”Annie frowned.
“He’s not interested in anything permanent; he has been very clear about that!”
“If I remember correctly, you’ve said the very same thing since your arrival in Marietta, but you’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?”
“Because I’ve fallen in love with him!He doesn’t feel the same way, though.”
“My suggestion is that you talk to him.Communication is very important in any relationship.Don’t draw conclusions when you don’t have all the facts.”
“Thanks, Annie, but I’ve known from the start what I was letting myself in for.”She got up.“I have to go.There’s such a lot to be done before the movers arrive this afternoon.”
“Which is why,” Annie said, “we’re all coming to help you this afternoon.”
“I can’t expect you to do that!”
Annie grinned.“We’re offering.It’s going to be so much fun.And don’t worry about food, I’ve made something that I’ll bring with me.”
This time, Ellie couldn’t stop the tears.“Thank you,” she sniffed as she hugged Annie.“I am so glad I found all of you.Thanks again for everything you’ve done for me while I’ve stayed with you.I’ll leave a rave review for Annie’s!”
“Of course you will!”
As Ellie drove to her shop, Becket was again front and center in her mind.She’d hoped he would tell her about the date he had with June.Hadn’t she asked him very nicely to let her know when he was moving on?
Instead, he’d hardly spoken a word on the way into town this morning.When he’d dropped her off at her house so that she could get her car, he’d kissed her goodbye, but it was clear his mind had been elsewhere.With June?Or had he been thinking how he could let her down easily without a fuss.
She had no idea what to think or do.What was clear, though, was that she couldn’t continue to see Becket and not tell him how she felt.Maybe she should just blurt it out.The worst thing that could happen was that he would leave, but she’d been expecting it anyway, so would it be so bad?Rather sooner than later.
Becket was meeting June at one in Java Café.She didn’t know what to do about that either.Would she have the guts to go and look for herself whether they were there?
Shaking her head, she stepped on the gas.That would be just way too pathetic, seriously.
Chapter Fifteen
Just after eleven,Becket headed back to his house.Covered in dust from head to toe, he needed a shower before he could see anyone in town.
The dogs were outside.Jack and Sadie ran to greet him.Harper didn’t come closer, though.Instead she kept her distance with a reproachful look.
“What have I done now?”he smiled and bent down to pet her.She backed away, clearly disapproving of something.
As he opened the door, she was the first one to go in, but she didn’t run toward the kitchen for food as she normally did, she ran toward his desk and barked.
“I’ve posted last night’s sketches, what are you going on about?”
Harper picked up one of the drawings and dropped it on the floor.As he picked it up he saw it was the last illustration he’d done of Ellie.She’d been sleeping, her hand tucked in under her face, those gorgeous curls all over his pillow.
“What about Ellie?”
Harper barked again but before he could try and pet her again, she ran toward the front door where Jack and Sadie were already barking excitedly.That was when he heard the truck outside.
