Page 77 of Take Me Home

I huff a laugh. “Sorry. I was just thinking that I love it here, and it’s going to be so hard to leave.”

He removes his hand from my chin, reaching for my hand and bringing it up so it rests on his chest. “Have you decided when you’re heading back?” Lincoln’s shoulders seem to stiffen, like he’s bracing himself for how I might answer.

“Yes,” I say with a heavy sigh. “I’m going to fly back with Blair on Sunday.”

I study him, waiting for a reaction, but I can’t read his expression.

Finally, he nods. “Okay, well, we have the weekend.”

My throat feels suddenly tight. I’m not sure what I expected him to say…but it wasn’t that. I hoped he’d say we could try long distance, that he wasn’t ready to give up on us. Maybe even beg me to stay.

I swallow, trying to rid myself of the dryness in my throat. “Yeah, we have the weekend.”

CHAPTER 29

Lincoln

She’s leaving.

My body is numb as I process her simple statement…leaving Sunday. That’s in two days.

I knew she’d leave, and yet, it hurts even worse than I expected. We could try the long-distance thing, but that seems pointless since my life is here, and her life is there. And I can’t even think about an airplane without breaking into a cold sweat. How the hell am I supposed to leave Montana? And I can’t ask Hattie to leave California. That needs to be her own choice, her decision.

So where does that leave us? Nowhere.

It leaves us with nowhere to go.

“Okay, what the hell is wrong?” Owen asks.

I blink, coming back to earth after being lost in thought. I’m sitting in the booth with Jackson and Owen while the girls are out on the dance floor. Our table is a mess of empty margarita glasses, but the guys and I are still sipping on our first beers. The three girls are laughing and shaking it to Man, I Feel Like a Woman. Their cheeks are red from the tequila taking effect. Hattie’s arms are in the air, and she twirls her hips to the rhythm of the song. She’s smiling like she doesn’t have a care in the world, like she’s not devastated to leave in a few days.

I’ve been falling for her, thinking things between us might be something special…but maybe it wasn’t the same for her. She seems completely unaffected.

“Nothing,” I finally answer.

Jackson snorts a humorless laugh. “Bullshit. Talk to us.”

I take a deep breath, then grab my beer and gulp half of it down. “Hattie’s leaving Sunday, heading back to California.”

Jackson nods. “And you thought she might stay here?”

I shrug, shaking my head. “I don’t know what I thought.”

“If you want her to stay, tell her.” Owen pins me with a serious glance. “She can’t read your mind.”

Jackson takes a drink of his beer, his brow furrowed as he thinks. “Or go with her. There are more ways to travel than by airplane.”

“I can’t leave Poppy, Tripp, and Wayne,” I snap.

“Can’t…or won’t?” Jackson challenges. “They’re adults, Linc. It’s honorable you want to take care of them, but you’re allowed to have your own life, too.”

I consider his words, trying to picture myself leaving Montana, following Hattie. It’s terrifying…a new place, new people, a different job. My head spins, just thinking about everything changing. I swallow, realizing this must be how Hattie feels.

Owen leans his elbows on the table. “You’re really gone for this girl, huh?”

Ignoring him, I tip my beer up and finish it.

“You guys don’t have to figure everything out before she leaves,” Jackson says. “But at least tell her where you’re at. Tell her you’re serious about her. Communication is key.”