Page 99 of Good Directions

My stomach lurches, that realization sinking in deeper. Everything between us these last few weeks was a lie. No, not a lie. But still not real. All his charm, and charisma, and all those “you’re my girls”—they were nothing more than Mr. Too good-looking for his own good fruit-stand guy putting the moves on another girl.

Because that’s all I was—this year’s summer fling. A distraction from the worst peach season since 1954.

Until I went a step too far and believed him. Believed that what we had was real. That it went beyond that agreement we made and could maybe even have a future. That was my fault. I got too wrapped up in it. Let my walls down.

Well, it’s time to build them back up.

“No, I think it was me who made the mistake in trusting you.”

To my surprise, my voice doesn’t waver. It’s as strong and steady as it’s ever been. Thank goodness.

Slamming my laptop shut, I grab my bag and shove it inside, giving the counter a quick once-over to make sure there isn’t anything else I need to take with me. There isn’t. I’ve kept this workspace pretty minimal, not wanting to overstep my boundaries. Small mercies.

I sling my bag over my shoulder, hardening myself as much as possible. I can break later. I will break later. When I’m on the phone with Eliza, pouring out all the things that I can’t say out loud right now. Like how I had fallen for this man harder than I thought. How he’s made me believe that my future could look different than I expected and made me start to rethink everything I thought I wanted.

And how now I don’t know that I will ever recover from this.

“I’ll make sure that Cary gets a copy of my final report and all the results from the tests I ran this summer,” I say, making my way toward the door. “And if you need someone to interpret them, don’t call me.”

Anton remains silent, letting me walk out of the lab. A move that tells me everything I need to know. Gone is the happy-go-lucky, golden retriever of a man I met a few weeks ago when I first walked in here. He’s been replaced with someone I don’t recognize. Someone I don’t want to know.

Someone who broke my heart.

None of that matters now though. I need to focus on my future. Which doesn’t include Hayes or Hickory Hills. I need to pack my shit and get back to Atlanta. Back to what really matters. Now I simply have a new goal to add to my list.

Forget Anton Hayes.