Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Layla
I ’d practiced my break-up speech a dozen times. It was going to be the classic version of “it’s not you, it’s me,” but when I spotted Dustin at the ice cream stand with a big, enthusiastic smile, my resolve to break up with him crumbled. No wonder so many people broke up through texts.
Maybe he wasn’t so bad—that’s what I was telling myself as I walked half-heartedly toward him. He immediately leaned in for a kiss. I quickly turned my head, so the kiss landed on my cheek. Dustin looked disappointed, and I felt that same disappointment. My instinctive move to turn my face was the alarm bell I needed. I had to end things.
“Rocky road?” he asked excitedly.
“Sure.” Rocky road was his favorite, but I wasn’t in the mood to make ice cream decisions. I felt bad. I should have never let it get this far.
The summer crowds had swept into town weeks ago, and each day they seemed to grow in size and liveliness. Juniper Road, the street that cut through town, was packed with cars and bikes, and the sidewalks were a maze of pedestrians. Isla’s bakery had blown up on social media a few weeks into summer, and I was sure the increase in visitors was directly connected to the bakery. Aria’s café was always a popular hot spot, too. Both of my sisters were doing incredibly well with their businesses, and I couldn’t have been prouder. I was front-of-shop manager for Isla’s bakery. She’d come up with the title, and I couldn’t deny that I liked it.
“Wow, this town sure gets crazy during summer.” Dustin sold tools for a living. He lived in Fairview, which was inland and much more like a city than a small town.
“Our summer tourist season is crucial to our economy,” I said.
Dustin was a few inches taller than me with blue eyes and blond hair. He was nice looking, but he tended to make a lot of faces that made him look almost childish. Like now, as he looked around while we waited in line.
“Not sure what the big draw is.” His face crinkled.
“Really? You don’t see the draw? It’s one of the prettiest beach towns on the coast. But you don’t have to see the draw. Obviously, thousands of other people do see it.” Maybe I’d find that courage to break up with him after all.
Dustin was never tuned into my feelings (another check against him) but there was no missing my angry tone. He stupidly decided that turning on some condescending charm would help the situation.
His face drooped slightly as he tilted his head at me. “Aww, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just a town. It’s no big deal.” He pressed a hand against my back and actually thought this was a good time to try again for a kiss. I leaned far away from his puckered lips. He opened his eyes. The girls behind us in line giggled behind their hands, and that made Dustin’s jaw tighten.
“Why are you being so grouchy?” he muttered between clamped teeth.
“I’m not grouchy. I’m angry. There’s a difference, but you wouldn’t know because you never, ever pick up on cues. You know what—I don’t want ice cream. I don’t want this anymore either.” It was definitely not the tactful breakup I’d been envisioning on the way over, but Dustin had suddenly made the whole thing much easier.
I left the line. Dustin followed. “Oh, come on, Layla. You can’t seriously be this mad because I don’t think Whisper Cove is worth all the hype.”
He caught up to me and tried to grab my hand. I snatched it away quickly. I turned to him. He looked genuinely distraught, but I forged ahead. “Look, Dustin, this just isn’t working. It was a nice three months, but it’s time for us to move on.”
This was supposed to be the moment where he said, “If that’s what you want, then fine. Later.” And then he was supposed to turn on his heels and stomp away without another word.
Instead, he reached for my hand again. I moved it behind my back. “You can’t mean that, Layla. This has been great.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s been nice but not great, Dustin. I want great. You want it, too, but the two of us are never going to be great together.”
His expression of sadness morphed quickly into rage. “Fine. What a waste of time you were. You think because you’re some spoiled little brat who grew up in a stupid beach town and because you turn a lot of heads that you can just use people.”
Tears poked my eyes as I spun around and hurried to my car.
“Look, I’m sorry I said that, Layla. I didn’t mean it. Let’s talk this over,” he called to my back.
I hadn’t expected him to react that way. I was glad I never had to see that ugly side of him again. I climbed in the car and started it. I startled when he knocked on the passenger window. “Come on, Layla. You’re making a mistake. Let’s talk about this.”
I discreetly brushed away a tear, worried he’d think it was because I was hurting from the breakup, but it was from his harsh words. I shook my head and put the car in gear. The traffic delayed my dramatic exit. I didn’t look his direction, but I could feel him staring at me through the window. Finally, there was a gap between cars, so I shot into the hole. Again, traffic really ruined my big exit at the stoplight, but at least I was on my way. I got far enough that I found the courage to look up in the rearview mirror.
Dustin was still standing there, fists down at his sides, flared nostrils and an expression that was half rage, half hurt. I should have stopped this sooner, but three months was hardly a long commitment. I’d ended it abruptly, but I was sure once he got over the sting, he’d move on to someone else. For the first time since I’d told him it was over, I felt the tension leave my body. My hands shook slightly as I gripped the steering wheel, but it was finished, and I was relieved.
A text came through as I reached home. It was from Dustin. “This isn’t over. We’ll talk after you’ve cooled down from your tantrum.” I jumped out of the car and ran to the house.
I was shaking again as I shut the door behind me. Ella was sitting on the couch, typing away on her laptop. She looked up and immediately pushed aside the computer. I ran straight into her arms and sobbed. I was too shaken to spit out the words.
“Does this have something to do with Dustin?” Ella asked.
I nodded against her shoulder.
“Did you break up with him?” she asked.
I was still unable to speak. The words were caught in my throat. I nodded and showed her his last text. She stared at the phone for a long minute, then looked up. “This is just his male ego talking. I’m sure he was hurt. He’ll realize it’s over soon.”
I shook my head, sniffled and finally got the words out. “I thought he’d just say ‘whatever’ and walk away, but he followed me, insisting we should talk about it. I didn’t think we were together long enough for that kind of reaction, so it scared me.” I lifted my hand to show her how badly I was shaking. Ella took it and pressed it between hers. I could feel the adrenaline and angst floating away, standing in my cozy cottage with my sister.
“Let me make you a cup of herbal tea. In the meantime, block him so he can’t call or send texts.”
“Good idea.” I sat down on the couch with a plop, as if my leg muscles had given out on me. “At first, I wasn’t even going to break up with him, then he got rude and that cruel streak I’d seen a few times came out, and next thing I knew I was telling him it was over. I wasn’t mean. I just said we both needed to go our own ways. He was angry and hurt and all the things that might come after dissolving a long-term relationship but not a short one.” I shook the whole scene out of my mind. “You’re right. I’ll block him and that’s that.”
Ella filled the kettle. “You’ll be fine. Like I said—you hurt his ego, and some people have a hard time dealing with that.” She came out and sat next to me on the couch. I rested my head against her shoulder. “I knew I’d feel better once I talked to you. Thanks, El.”
“Look, Layla, I know this has been hard for you, all of us having boyfriends, but you know you’re still top priority in all our hearts.”
“I know, El. You guys are top priority in my heart, too. And since I’m now giving up on men completely, I’ve resigned myself to becoming the one unattached Lovely sister. Men are not worth the stress.”
Ella shrugged. “Well, some of them are.”