Page 25 of Mountain Pine
He chuckles quietly. “I could have said just that. Or told them to mind their business.” He shakes his head and stares at the container again. “I saw him last week picking these things with a headlamp on his hat before sunrise over at Honey Pete’s farm when I was heading to work.”
My heart bursts. “You did?”
“Mm hmm. No man who thinks of you as just a friend would go out of his way like that.”
“He’s just being proactive. He’s used to my weirdness and knows I’m probably going to ask for his help anyways. It’s not that deep.”
“Open your big, beautiful eyes, Taylor. You might think you and him are just friends, but he wants more.” Austin rubs his jaw and winces. “I think heneedsmore, or he’ll end up tearing the town apart in a fit of rage because someone didn’t do right by you the same way he can.”
“I don’t think…”
“Give him a chance. I know you love him too.”
“I…”
“Don’t lie to law enforcement. It’ll get you in big trouble.”
A giggle bubbles out of me. Austin is a nice guy. I hope he finds his person one day soon.
“So anyway…” He drains the last of his coffee and stands up to put the mug in my sink. “Those dandelions are mygo get the love you deserve and happy break up to uspresent.”
“Does this mean…” I stand up and lean against my counter. “You’re not mad enough to press charges on him then?”
Austin regards me with this soft-eyed look that always makes me feel peaceful and safe. “Not this time.”
“There won’t be a next time. I’ll make sure of it.”
He scoffs like I just said something pointless. “I should give him a fine though. He called me a twatbag.”
I clutch my chest and gasp. “Very offensive.”
“Truly.”
We both laugh and a weight lifts off my chest.
Austin cups my cheek and grins. “Go get him, Taylor.”
Chapter 8
Conner
Apologies are best made when you’re showered, shaved, and looking semi-less lunaticky than normal. As soon as I get home, I take an everything shower—scrubbing layers of shame and skin off. Then I floss, brush, mouth wash, and repeat to make sure my mouth is extra clean for all the profuseI’m sorriesI plan to say. After I shave the whiskers from my face, I regret it because now all the bruising is on full display. While combing my hair back, I wonder if I should hit the barber shop. Nah. That’s overkill. I’m going to apologize to Austin, not take him out on a date.
Wait. Do you think bringing him lunch would help me?
I think this is my rock bottom, guys. I’ve lost myself and I have no idea how to get my sanity back.
Russel was right to send me home from work and keep me away. I’m so strung out I’d probably mow a pond.
Man, when did I get this low? I’ve always considered myself a happy-go-lucky guy. I just go with the flow, keep myself busy, and enjoy the simple life. But if I’m honest, the simple life is more like a miserable one. Nothing’s very enjoyable anymore.Not the way it should be. Not the way it is for others.
I’ve put Taylor in the center of my world for so long, I don’t know how to be any other way. Not even her boyfriends could ever come between us.
To find out Austin and Taylor broke up, and she didn’t even tell me, shakes my very foundation. I thought she always told me everything. I know her secrets, her dreams, her preferred loose teas and what kinds of tampons she uses. We don’t hide things from each other. I’m the guy she calls when she needs help. I’m the one she runs to when she wants advice. I’m the one…
Who beat the shit out of her ex-boyfriend while I was drunk out of my mind.
When she finds out what I did last night, she’ll likely never forgive me. She’ll call me an animal. An asshole. And I am. Fucking hell, I totally am.
