Page 102 of A Cup of Autumn
She took a breath. Weighed her words once more. “There’s nothing here for you.”
Emmett’s eyes widened. His face scrunched, and he drew back. “Are you sure?”
Raine understood the confusion in his voice. She’d never said no to him. Probably why she’d avoided his calls and texts. She’d cared for him and thought she would spend the rest of her life with him. But his actions, the way he’d flitted in and out of her life before dumping her for good, hadn’t helped his cause. And he hadn’t apologized for any of that, which told her he was still putting himself first.
Raine nodded.
He took a sip as if needing time to think. Then, that charming smile of his returned to his face, but once again, it didn’t give her tingles or quicken her pulse.
“There used to be something here for me.” He kept his voice light, almost playful as if he could convince her to change her mind the way he had in the past. “I thought there still was.”
The ball was in Raine’s court. She wasn’t good at tennis, but all she had to do was lob it over the net. Too bad for him she was tired of playing.
Game over.
She didn’t want to try again.
Nor would she apologize.
Emmett was the one who left, who kept saying he needed more than Silver Falls had to offer.
The same as Keaton.
A jagged pain sliced her heart. She raised her chin. “Not anymore.”
Emmett’s smile slipped from his face. His lips parted.
“All the positions are filled.” Her tone was firm, not in a hurtful way, but Raine wasn’t the same woman Emmett had known. “Besides I heard you’re happy in Seattle.”
“Yeah, about that.” A contrite expression formed on his face. He shifted his weight between his feet. “Seattle isn’t what I thought it would be.”
“That’s too bad.” Raine kept her tone steady. She showed no emotion. Easy to do when she felt none. More proof she was over him.
Emmett’s lower lip stuck out. “That’s it? After all these years.”
She wanted to remind him that he’d left her. But she didn’t want to be petty. “You’ll be fine.”
Raine nearly laughed at his pout. How had she thought she was in love with him? That he was the one for her. He couldn’t love her—or anyone—when all he thought about was himself.
“Look how quickly you moved on the last time,” she reminded him. “Try Spokane. It’s bigger than Silver Falls, but smaller than Seattle. And you get all four seasons like here.”
Emmett stared at her. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. With his coffee cup in hand, he turned and left.
Raine held on to the counter and blew out a breath.
Timmy returned. Concern in his eyes and on his face. “Everything okay?”
It was, and she was grateful.
She smiled at him. “Everything’s fine.”
“And Emmett?”
“Gone.” Raine still needed a minute. “I’m going to clear some tables.”
As she walked to the sitting area, Margot stared at her.
Raine sighed. “Please don’t start.”
