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“Brooks?” He scoffs. “Will we ever be rid of that guy?”
“Todd, he’s my best friend. You should try to get to know him!”
He wrinkles his nose at the idea and I continue, “I’ve been researching, and I think it’s best for us to start our company in Kansas.”
“Kansas?” He leans his elbows on the table and buries his face in his hands. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Kansas has cheaper property taxes and business insurance. It just makes sense to start the company there.”
He brings his head back up to look at me. “What do you care about saving money, Molly? You have plenty of money. And I’m not moving to Kansas and socializing in barns with overalls-clad country bumpkins.”
I roll my eyes. I knew he'd be like this. “Well, you don’t have to follow me to Kansas. We’ve been together for years; we could totally manage a long distance thing for a bit.”
He scoffs. “A bit?”
I grimace. “Well, a few years most likely.”
“So basically you’re breaking up with me to go corn-picking with Brooks Windell?” He crosses his arms and scowls.
“That’s Iowa.”
He sniffs haughtily. “What?”
“Iowa is known for corn. Kansas is known for wheat.” I shake my head, frustrated that we’re getting off track. “Anyway, we don’t need to break up. You’re being dramatic. We can make this work!”
The look on his face tells me he’s not convinced. “What if I don’t want to do long distance?”
My heart clenches inside my chest that he’d give up on us so easily, but I continue with confidence. “Well, you’re welcome to come to Kansas with me.”
He leans forward and looks at me with a challenge in his gaze. “And what if I don’t want to come to Kansas?”
I flinch, his words feeling like a slap in the face. I would never force him to move to Kansas with me, but does he care so little that he won’t even consider it? My hands are shaking, but I try to remain confident, even though I don’t feel it. I can’t back down, not this time. “I guess you need to do some thinking and decide what you want.”
“Yeah, I guess I do.” He gets up and leaves the coffee shop without another word.
I continue sipping my latte and try not to cry.
Chapter 22
Brooks
When Molly gets out of the shower, I’m in bed in my unicorn onesie, waiting for her. She appears from the bathroom in a baggy t-shirt, furry pink socks, and her hair wrapped up in a white towel. She cracks a smile when she sees me, which is what I was hoping for after that admission from her sister.
Molly huffs out a breath through her nose, and at first I think she’s laughing … but a second later, her chin quivers and her eyes fill with tears.
I jump out of bed and consider—for the millionth time—pulling her into my arms. She wipes at her tears, trying in vain to dry her face, but more tears keep coming. I reach out to her, but she waves me off, trying to smile. “I’m sorry. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
She steps around me and crawls into bed, pulling the covers all the way up to her face. Walking around to my side of the bed, I get in as well. I feel unsettled, like I can’t calm down unless I hold her. But this isn’t about me.
She turns the lamp off on her nightstand so we are immersed in darkness. But I can still hear her quiet sobs. My heart literally aches, wanting so badly to comfort her, but not knowing how.
Eventually, her sobs slow down. Right when I think she’s asleep, I feel her hand slide into mine. It’s clammy and cold, and I instantly cover it with both of my large, warm hands. I’m half-blissful oblivion and half-heartbroken … because the girl of my dreams is right here next to me, holding my hand. But she’s hurting, and I hate that.
Her voice echoes through the darkness, just loud enough for me to hear. “I can’t believe I wasted all those years. On someone who only wanted me as a backup plan for his trust fund.”
“I’m so sorry,” I tell her, not knowing what else to say.
She hesitates, then I hear her shaky voice again. “You tried to tell me, and I refused to listen.”
