Page 80 of Just One Spark

24

Hattie

Iran inside the cabin to gather up the rest of my toiletries and stuffed them into a duffle bag.My clothes were already packed in the truck.

A few more seconds and I'd be gone.Rowan wouldn't have to worry about running into me at home.

I hadn't fully processed his words or the clear dismissal.But I felt the pain in my chest from his words.It felt like he'd taken a knife and carved out my insides.

I opened the truck door and threw the bag inside.

"You can't leave," Clara cried as she ran up to me.

I turned to face her."Why not?"

"Beck asked me to stop you.To tell you that Rowan needs to talk to you."

I crossed my arms over my chest."He told me to leave.That I was making everything worse."

"Please stay.Don't run away."

I felt a twinge at that because I wanted to escape."I don't know."

"Beck said Rowan wanted me to get you back."

"Why couldn't he come himself?"I knew he was busy with the brewery, but I wanted to come first just once.

Clara's phone buzzed."He's giving his speech now.I don't know why, but Beck thinks you need to hear it."

I didn't want to go.The pain of Rowan's dismissal was still fresh in my mind, but I couldn't say no to Clara either.

I closed the door and clicked the locks.

"Come on.Hurry," Clara said as she stumbled in her heels along the path strewn with sticks and the occasional rock.

This whole thing was my fault, and if being present helped, then it was the least I could do.

When we walked inside, Rowan stood at the podium, and everyone was gathered around to hear him.

Clara placed a hand over her heart."Aw.He's talking about how Beck and I fell in love in this very room before it was renovated."

That was sweet, but I couldn't bring myself to feel good about someone else falling in love.

Clara hooked her hand through my elbow and maneuvered us closer to the stage.When we were within a few feet, Beck beckoned for her.

He smiled when he saw her and pulled her into his side.

Now I was standing alone, and Rowan's gaze was on me.

My cheeks flushed pink.How did I know it was Rowan that requested my presence and not Beck or Clara who'd orchestrated this?

"When Jane, the reporter fromThe Telluride Timessaid she was planning on holding a contest where single women could win a bath with me, I panicked.Hattie Collins was standing at her hot-cocoa table, and all I could think about was how much I missed our childhood friendship.And maybe this was my chance to find out why she stopped talking to me all those years ago."

The other people in the room fell away until it was just us.

"So I told Jane that I was engaged to Hattie."

A twitter went through the crowd.