Page 78 of Keeping it Local

“Well, okay. Let’s figure this out then.”

Chapter 28

Johnny

The last few days had been hell. Not only was I still churning from festival night, but there was a leak in one of the rentals, the A/C was out in another, and the final paperwork from the city loan was still in process.

It had only been a few days since I’d last seen Beth, but it felt like a year. I was on edge, waiting for the next thing to happen, yet at the same time, my days passed in slow motion.

I didn’t know what I wanted.

Scratch that. I knew what I wanted, and it wasn’t this pit that I felt like I’d fallen into.

I was still working on one of the rentals when I looked down at my phone.

Lane: Still on for tonight?

I liked the message, not texting back.

Lane was coming over for a bonfire. Originally, we were getting the whole group of guys together, but I didn’t want to see everyone. I didn’t even want to see Lane, but he insisted he come over and we have a beer.

After a couple more hours of tinkering and finally getting the right repair men booked, I was able to swing by and grab a pizza before Lane beat me.

Too late. As I pulled in, I already saw his Subaru in my drive.

“Brought the beer,” Lane said.

“Brought the pizza,” I said.

“Lead the way.”

After I went in and put my bag down, I grabbed a bottle and a slice. We headed out to the backyard, and I groaned as I took a seat in the oversized Adirondack chair.

“You look like hell.” Lane took a seat next to me and crossed his ankle at his knee, leaning back.

I huffed.

“I’m serious. What’s going on?”

“It’s just all gone to shit. All I’m doing is fixing leaks and breaks and issues with the rentals—more than even the usual. I haven’t gotten any answers from the city and the title company yet, and basically, it’s been a tough week.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And what about Beth?”

“Nothing. She left. I told you. I haven’t seen her since the night of the festival. She went home. It’s done.” Even as I said it, my stomach leapt into my throat.

“You said she left, but what happened, man? One minute you were crazy about her, and the next you’re just letting her walk away?”

I gave him the quick version of the story. Michael wanting her back. Him coming to see her. Us breaking up at the end of the night. Me needing to protect myself.

“That can’t be it,” he huffed, sipping his beer. “Why the hell didn’t you tell her how you felt? I know you care about her.”

“Not worth it.” I shook my head. “She was going one way or the other. I can’t do this… again.”

“She’s not Anne.”