"You weren't lying. You were protecting everyone. Including yourself." He claps me on the shoulder. "But you can't protect people from feelings, man. They don't work that way."
I watch him drive away. Then I get in my truck and point it toward the highway. Toward Denver. Toward three weeks of space and distance and time to think.
The drive takes twelve hours. I stop once for gas and food I don't taste. The rest of the time, I just drive and think and try to figure out what the hell I'm doing.
Luke gave me permission. He actually gave me his blessing to pursue Callie, the one thing I've been using as an excuse is gone.
Now I have to figure out what I actually want. And whether I'm brave enough to go after it.
By the time I reach Denver, it's past midnight. I check into the hotel and collapse on the bed without unpacking.
My phone shows three missed calls. Two from work. One from Emma.
Nothing from Callie.
I stare at her name in my contacts. My thumb hovers over the call button.
I don't press it.
Instead, I set the phone on the nightstand and close my eyes. Tomorrow I'll start the job. Focus on work. Create the distance I convinced myself I needed.
Tonight I let myself admit the truth.
I don't want distance.
I want her.
And I just spent twelve hours driving in the wrong direction.
7
CALLIE
He's been gone for twelve days.
I count them every morning when I open the shop. Twelve days of making donuts alone. Twelve days of Luke asking if I've heard from Ethan. Twelve days of lying and saying no.
The truth is more complicated.
He texted once. Day three. Just: How's the shop?
I responded: Fine.
Nothing since.
I tell myself it's better this way. Cleaner. He's in Denver creating distance, and I'm here building my business. We're both doing what we're supposed to do.
It doesn't feel better.
It feels like suffocating in slow motion.
I'm restocking the display case when Luke walks in. He looks tired. Stressed.
"Coffee," he says by way of greeting.
I pour him a cup. "Rough morning?"
"Rough week. The Matthews contract fell through. I've been scrambling to find replacement work."
