Page 100 of Words of Love
“Are those your only choices?” Bee asked.
“Of course.”
Brooke suddenly recalled Sam’s accusation that she saw only one path to take. Well, here she had two. She either took the job in New York or she turned it down and stayed in Bliss Cove, where she’d have to start from scratch again.
Either way, she was annoyed with herself for feeling anxious over her incredible new opportunity. Yes, she’d crashed and burned during her last attempt at a big-city, big-job life, but she couldn’t just hide out in Bliss Cove forever.
She was an adult who had bills to pay and IRAs to start funding. She could still have a fondness for romance novels and memories of her One True Love, who had no idea he was even capable of beinganyone’sOne True Love, but it was time for practical Brooke to take charge.
Aria studied her with a penetrating blue gaze. “Do you remember when Bee adopted Puffalump?”
Brooke blinked at the apparent non sequitur, but nodded. Last fall, Aria had been struggling to find a forever home for the older, overweight cat. Bee had offered to foster him, but Puffalump’s excessive interest in her pet canary had made her nervous.
Instead of returning the cat to Meow and Then, Bee had turned him into the Bliss Cove Library cat. Puffalump now lived happily at the library, where he enjoyed many patches of sunlight and much petting and attention from patrons.
“I always tell people the cats are looking for a forever home,” Aria explained. “So the assumption is they need to go live with someone in an actual house or apartment. If the situation doesn’t work, the cats end up back here at the café. But Bee found a different way to give Puffalump a home. A forever library.”
“And Puff did turn out to be a rather scholarly cat.” Bee nodded sagely.
Brooke scratched her head. “So the point is…”
“Sometimes there aren’t only two things you need to weigh.” Aria lifted her hands. “Sometimes there’s a third option.”
“Maybe for cats, but not for a thirty-year-old, almost broke reporter.” Brooke put her coffee cup on the table and tucked the unfinished box of crackers into her purse. “I need this job. I love the magazine. I don’t love that Sam did what he did, but I can appreciate why he did it. It’s time for me to move on.”
And hope I don’t fail again.
She didn’t think she could stand returning to Bliss Cove in shame and embarrassment again. She knew the whole town would rally around her a second time—even a third, fourth, and fifth, if needed—but God knew she didn’t want them to have to.
“Whenever you need us, we’ll be here,” Aria promised.
Brooke hugged her friends and picked up her purse. As she left the café, she couldn’t help wondering where Sam would be.
On her way back home, she detoured down Starfish Avenue and stopped at Title Wave. If things with him had toend, she didn’t want them to end so horribly.
Somewhat to her surprise, the Open sign hung in the store window.
Taking a deep breath, she went inside. Sam was leaning against the front counter, his dark hair falling over his forehead and his features set with concentration as he studied a crossword puzzle. As the front bell rang, he glanced up.
Their eyes met. Brooke felt the contact clear down to her toes, but Sam’s expression betrayed no emotion whatsoever. He was definitely back behind the wall, and the realization caused a stab of pain.
“Hi.” Attempting to keep her voice casual, she approached the counter. “I wanted to…well, I’m sorry about how things ended.”
He nodded shortly. “So am I.”
“I also wanted to tell you I’m accepting the job.” She pushed a lock of hair away from her forehead. “I still wish you hadn’t made that call, but I know you meant well. And I wish…”
She let her voice trail off and shrugged. It was too late for wishes. Besides, Sam didn’t believe in those either.
“I’m glad you’re taking the job.” He set the newspaper down. His voice was polite and devoid of emotion. “You deserve it. I’d also wanted to tell you I finishedTripwirewhen you were in New York. Revamped romance and all.”
“Really?” For the first time in a while, pleasure rose in her. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, so thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She wanted to ask him if she could read it, but he was so remote that the question died in her throat.
She stepped back, hating the distance that was so firmly back in place between them. “Well, good luck with everything. I’m going back to New York to get things organized for the job, but I wanted to tell you goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Brooke.”
“Goodbye, Sam.”
Could he hear her heart breaking all over again?
She started toward the door, then stopped. Unclasping theCouragebracelet from her wrist, she placed it on the counter in front of him.
“I don’t need this anymore,” she said. “But I think you do.”
Not looking at him again, she turned and walked away.