We were attracting attention from people going about their business in the plaza, but I didn’t care. Everything needed to be said.
“But I didn’t marry him, Preston. Did I?” He shook his head and took a step back, but I wasn’t done. “I know it’s hard to understand,” I continued. “Hell, I don’t even understand how I could let it happen. But I stopped it. I left. I ran away. I ran to…”
I let the words die on my lips.
He moved closer again, so we were only inches apart. “You did.” His voice was quiet now, softer. The way he looked into my eyes threatened to break something in me. “And, Jess, I?—”
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, wrapping my arms around my stomach to stop myself from shaking.
“My decision,” I said quickly before he could finish. “It had nothing to do with him. But it had nothing to do withyoueither.” He took a step back as if I’d slapped him, but I keptgoing, unable to hold back any longer. “My decision was my own, Preston. Whether you like it or not, I made the decision I thought was best and what I think will be best for Trickle Creek in the long term. Because, despite what you might believe, I love this town just as much as you do, and I truly believe that developing affordable housing is the right move, even if it means the loss of some trails.”
“Really, Jess? What about the?—”
“Preston, stop.” Again, my voice lifted. “You’re so worried about the animals and the trees and—” I held up my hand to stop him from interrupting. “And that’s all important, obviously. But have you ever thought about thepeople? Yes, the trails are important. The animal corridors are important, of course.” I softened my voice and took a step forward. “But this town is nothing without thepeople,Preston.”
He was quiet, and for a moment, I thought maybe I’d gotten through to him.
“And you really think that this development proposal is the best thing for the town?”
“Yes.” I released a breath and nodded, letting a relieved smile take shape on my face. “I do.”
I reached forward to close this distance between us that I hated so much, but then his face twisted up into a snarl, and he shook his head.
“Are you sure it’s not about your bank account, Jess?” He jerked away from me.
I should have let him go. I should have let him walk away without another word.
But I couldn’t.
“Screw you, Preston Lyons.” He froze, so I took the opportunity to fire at him again. “You’re so busy running away and hiding in the forest, that you can’t see what really matters because you’re scared.”
He whirled around. “I’m scared?” He jabbed at his chest. “You thinkI’mscared?”
“I know you are.” Emotions flooded through me; I was trembling and on the verge of tears, which was ridiculous because I never cry. But damn this man for making me feel things and— “I can’t do this.”
Everything over the last few days piled onto me, and all of a sudden, it was too much. Before he could stop me, I left. I moved as fast as I could and slipped between the shops and into the alley.
I obviously wasn’t going to be able to convince him of anything. And even if I could, who was I to tell him what to think when I clearly couldn’t trust my own choices?
Hot tears burned in my eyes, and it only made me angrier.
I scrubbed at my cheeks as I moved through the parking lot to my car. I hated that he could get under my skin like this. That after everything…it only took one hurt, disappointed look from him, to show me how closed off he was, to undo me completely.
The more distance I put between us?—
“Jess.”
Preston
I followed her without thinking.
No. That was a lie. Iwasthinking. I was thinking that I couldn’t let her walk away like that with so much unfinished business between us. Not again.
The moment she slipped between the shops and disappeared down the alley to the parking lot, something in my chest tightened hard enough that not going after her was no longer an option.
She was almost at her vehicle when I reached her. Sheswiped at her face and stumbled a little as she almost dropped her keys.
Seeing her like that, so angry and shaken, trying but failing not to fall apart, hit me hard.
