Page 80 of Wild Highway (Runaway 2)

My heart stopped. Please, please don’t quit. I couldn’t handle it right now. I couldn’t deal with leaving the Greer Ranch and having Benjamin leave me all in the same day. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” There was genuine concern in his voice, probably because mine sounded flat and lifeless.

“Sure. I’m great.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. No doubt he was debating whether or not it would be smart to call his boss on a blatant lie. Thankfully, he let it go. “Would you like company in San Francisco?”

“Who? You?”

“Yes, me. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” My eyes flooded.

As much as I would like to see a familiar face, my days in San Francisco would be miserable. I had a broken heart to mend. It would be better to see Benjamin when the two of us could laugh and talk without a cloud of sorrow hanging over my head.

“How about we meet up after I deliver this Cadillac? We can spend a week or two somewhere tropical. Bring Taylor and the three of us will spend a small fortune gorging ourselves on food between spa appointments. You two can pick where we go.”

He chuckled. “Taylor is going to want Bali.”

Escaping to the opposite end of the world with Benjamin and his spouse seemed like a good idea at the moment. “Bali it is.”

“Keep in touch, please. I don’t like the idea of you driving alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “Talk soon.”

“Bye.”

With the call over, I tucked my phone into my purse and slung it over my shoulder. Then I stood from the couch in the living room and took one last look at the cabin.

My temporary home.

It had always felt temporary. That had to mean something, right? That I’d never wanted to live here forever? I liked the cabin. It was cozy and warm. But it wasn’t home.

This place wasn’t home.

So I drew in another breath, savoring one last inhale of the fire I’d built this morning that had nearly burned out. Then I walked to the door, twisted the lock on the handle before closing it behind me and got in the car.

I wouldn’t let myself look in my mirror as I drove away.

It was simply another fleeting stop.

And like I’d done before, it was time to search for the next.

* * *

“Stay another week,” Katherine pleaded. “Or two.”

“I can’t.”

“Please? I already have your Christmas present. Just stay until then.”

She wasn’t making this easy on me. Our friendship had bloomed in my time here and I’d miss her terribly. I dearly hoped our relationship wouldn’t end.

“I’m going to miss you.” I pulled her into a hug and squeezed tight.

We were standing in the middle of her office. I’d found her behind her desk, as always, working with a smile on her face.

I envied that and so much else. But I was so happy for her. I was glad she’d found her place.