Page 130 of Unlikely to Stay
“Brant?”she said softly.“What was that about?”
Brant turned around quickly at the sound of her voice.She hated the look of shock on his face.“Freckles…wha…what are you doing?”he stammered.“I thought you were in the café.”
“A lady forgot her purse in a booth so I ran out to give it to her,” she said softly.“What job, Brant?Are you leaving?”
“I…I…”
“Spit it out, Brant.At least have the decency to man up and tell me what you have obviously been hiding from me for the last couple of weeks since you’ve been back.Don’t you think you owe me that much?”
“When I was staying with my mom, I applied to some hospitals and clinics in the city,” he said.“I was trying to decide what I should do.I didn’t really think one of them would call me so soon and offer me a job.”
CC threw her hands in the air.“You didn’t think this was something I should know?”
“It is!I did!I just didn’t have the time.”
“Have the time?Have thetime?You’ve been back for two weeks!”CC hated the tears welling in her eyes.“I think that’s plenty oftimeto say, ‘Hey, by the way, Cees, I applied to hospitals in the city.Even though I told you I love you and all, I might just leave.’Did that ever cross your mind?”
“Yes!I’ve been trying to tell you!I swear.”
“Funny how I don’t really believe any of the words coming out of your mouth right now.”
“Freckles, I—”
“People who are in love are supposed tosharethings with each other, Brant.You should’ve told me the second you hit submit on that application.Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because I was afraid you would be upset.That you wouldn’t understand.It was something I wanted to tell you in person.”
“Well, it’s too late for that,” CC said, hating the shakiness of her voice.Damn him.Damn her for thinking he would choose her over his mom.“I’m not just upset.I’m heartbroken.”
CC turned and started to head back into the café but he grabbed her arm to stop her.“Freckles, please.Can we just talk about it?”
“Why?You didn’t want to talk about it when you did it.I don’t want to talk about it now.There’s nothing left to say.”
“I haven’t taken the job yet.”
The tears welling in her eyes started streaming down her face.She wiped them away angrily.“Well, I’ll make the decision for you.Take the job.There’s nothing for you here.”
At her words, CC started to walk back into the café but then thought better.She was an ugly crier.Ugly crying meant questions being asked.She didn’t want anyone to ask her questions.She’d just go to her house and cry by herself.And wash all her sheets to get the smell of Brant Billings out of her house.The sooner she forgot about him, the better.