What I didn’t know was whether I should be there.
My head said no.
This was none of my business. Besides, Layne was capable and independent. She could deal with him on her own, and if she wanted help, she would ask for it.
The problem was my instinct said I should be. That Teddy would use my absence as proof that the boyfriend Layne claimed to have didn’t exist.
I told myself I wouldn’t go.
Even as my mind was already counting the minutes until morning.
Chapter Three
Layne
Iglanced at the time on my phone for the hundredth time.
7:42 a.m.
Way too early to be sitting outside the insurance office. It didn’t open until eight, but once I’d woken up that morning, I hadn’t been able to sit still. I needed to get this done. To have it go smoothly. And, more importantly, I needed to focus on getting my life in order and not on Elias.
Maybe it was just how different he was from Teddy that had him in my head. Teddy had a main character syndrome that I hadn’t recognized at first. He had to be the center of attention, the life of the party. Dressing and acting in a way to make sure everyone around him knew he had money in the bank and influence when it was needed.
I knew he had plans to climb the ladder at Dad’s company, and I’d always suspected part of the reason he dated me was to help with that goal.
Elias, on the other hand, was a calm, steady, hardworking guy.
I had debated asking him to come with me today, but had dismissed the idea. Having the ex meet the pretend new boyfriend was a terrible idea. There was no need for drama or even conversation. We just needed to explain the situation to the clerk, sign on the dotted line, and go our separate ways.
What if Teddy took Elias’s absence as proof I was lying, though?
I worried my lower lip.
I had already shut the engine off, causing the cold to seep into the car, creeping up from the floorboards, and toward my feet.
Dammit, maybe I should call Elias.
I stared at my phone in my lap, my thumb hovering over his name. I didn’t want to bother him. He worked hard. Everyone at Wild Timber did.
He’d shown up the day I moved into my cabin. He hadn’t commented on my red-rimmed eyes, or knotted hair. He’d just moved boxes and left me his cell number in case I needed anything.
At 7:46, there was a knock on my window. I looked up, expecting to see Teddy, but instead Elias stood outside my car as if I had summoned him. He had a drink tray in his hands and a sheepish look on his face.
I pushed the door open and got out. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I was grabbing a coffee and figured you might need one.” He held out the drink tray.
“Thanks, I could definitely use one.” I took the cup closest to me. It instantly warmed my hands. I took a sip, and it was the perfect level of sweet. The fact that he knew my coffee order didn’t surprise me.
He paid attention.
“So this was all a coincidence then?” I teased.
He rubbed the back of his neck. The movement, combined with his glasses, made him look like anything but the capable mountain man I knew him to be. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to be here for this or not. Seemed like that Teddy guy’s never been told no. I can go before he gets here, but I just thought I’d offer.” His breath was visible in the air between us.
A smile crept over my mouth. “You could have just texted, E.”
A blush crept up his neck and into his cheeks. “I know. I just don’t have much patience for cell phones.”
