Page 68 of Finally Moore
“I’m sorry… I thought—”
What the hell was I thinking?
“We told them it was being sized. We had it covered.” Her words stab me in the chest. “This is too much. Here—” She tries to take it off, but I stop her.
“No, keep it,” I say. She shakes her head, so I add, “At least until tomorrow.”
“Sure…”
Best to keep up appearances.
The thought hits me like a semi-truck, and it takes me a moment to pull my head out of my ass. When I finally do, I find myself searching for the quickest escape. “Look, I should get going.”
“Going?”
“Yeah, I want to stop by and wish my family a Merry Christmas.”
“Oh, yeah, of course.” Scarlett nods, her eyes focused on the snow piled up by her feet.
“I mean, if you want me to stay—”
“No.” She swallows hard. “You should go. Be with your family. I should spend some time with mine before they fly out tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I take a step back and immediately tuck my hands into my pockets to keep myself from reaching out for her. “Are you still going to visit the café in the morning? I was hoping to give them a farewell breakfast.”
“Are you not coming back tonight?”
“Yeah, I was just curious.”
“Of course. We will be there tomorrow.” She smiles, and I want to believe that there’s hope there, but now I’m not so sure.
“Okay, I’ll see ya.” I fight my urge to kiss or hold her, and force one foot in front of the other as I make my way to my car.
Chapter twenty-eight
Scarlett
WhydoIfeellike I’ve just been dumped? Maybe because I think I have.
God, Scarlett, why are you such a spaz?
Here Scott is, giving you this gorgeous ring that is a family heirloom and happens to conveniently fit you like a glove, and what do you do? Say thank you? No, because that’s what a rational adult would do. Instead, you panic and kill whatever this is between you before it starts.
I walk around the inn, taking my aggression out on the wrapping paper that litters my entryway, shoving it with more force than necessary into the giant black bag.
It’s all just for show…
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to ignore my toxic self-doubt. But I can’t, because that finicky bitch is right. We had the ring situation covered, meaning the only reason to give me one was to put on a show for my family.
Or he was trying to tell you that this is real for him with some big romantic gesture… befitting of a guy who loves romantic comedies even more than you do?The rational part of my brain finally speaks up.
“Where were you an hour ago?”I grumble out loud to myself.
“Is everything okay?”
I jump at the question, press a hand to my chest, and drop my collection of garbage.Scott? He came back?I quickly turn around, only to be immediately disappointed by the sight of Kasey.
“You scared me,” I tell him.