Chapter Sixteen
By the time Dylan returned home on Friday, he was hungry, tired, and worried. He’d tried to phone June several times during the day, he’d texted her, but he hadn’t heard from her.
Daisy was barking inside the house as he opened the front door. Giving a happy yelp, the dog jumped up against his legs.
“Hi, Daisy. You’re probably hungry too?” He kept up an inane conversation with the dog while he got her food ready. Being alone had never bothered him before, but the strange emptiness of his house was very loud right now.
When Daisy was happily eating her food, he checked the fridge to see what he could eat. He badly needed a shower before he could drive into town to see June, maybe take her for a pizza.
Stunned, he stared at the content of the fridge. Apart from last night’s food June had mentioned, there was also milk, cheese, and various kinds of vegetables in his fridge.
It took another moment for reality to hit. A hollow feeling settled in his stomach and stunned, he leaned against the kitchen counter.
June had left this morning. Not to go back to Marietta where she’d been staying temporarily, but to return to her real home. In Seattle.
Cussing, he closed the fridge and got out his phone to talk to her. She didn’t answer. How the hell was he supposed to know she was fine if she didn’t answer her phone? He checked and no, she hadn’t even seen his texts yet.
Outside was the sound of a car pulling up. Daisy barked and ran to the door. Quickly Dylan followed and opened the door. It wasn’t June though, but a very worried-looking Ellie.
“Has she left?” he asked without greeting her.
Nodding, Ellie came closer. “We’ve all tried to get hold of her today, but she hasn’t answered any of our calls or texts, so I drove to the house after work this afternoon.
She left the key under the pot next to the door and on the table inside were the library books she borrowed.
The bedroom was empty. She’s gone. What happened? You guys were so happy!”
Just then, Willow’s truck pulled up as well. As she got out and approached them, he didn’t even have to ask whether she knew June had left.
“Has she said anything to you?” Willow asked.
He shook his head. “She was here last night and spent the night in the chair next to my bed, and this morning we kissed …” A memory that had been niggling him all day surfaced. That last hug she’d given him—that was her goodbye. “Why the hell didn’t she tell me she was leaving?”
“Because, you idiot, you told her you’re not ever getting married,” Willow said.
“What’s that got to do with anything? She knows the childhood we’ve had—”
“You know, Dylan,” Willow interrupted him, “it’s really time you got over yourself.
So, your family wasn’t ideal, but at least you had a home, a room, parents who obviously hadn’t been the greatest, but they took care of you and Carson.
June had nothing, she doesn’t know what a family, dysfunctional or otherwise, even means.
And yet, she’s been brave enough to open her heart. Why the hell do you think she left?”
With a last withering look his way, Willow stomped back to her car and left.
Baffled, he stared after Willow. “Why is she angry with me?”
Sighing, Ellie gave him a quick hug. “Because you let June go.”
“I didn’t do anything!” he denied hotly.
“Exactly.” Patting him on his arm, Ellie smiled. “You’ll eventually figure it out. Talk to your cousins. It seems to me all the Westons have a problem listening to their hearts.”
What the hell was everyone talking about? “Come on, Daisy, I’m going to have a shower and then I’m going to sleep, damn it.”
Daisy whimpered.
Crouching down, he stroked her. “I don’t know why she left either. We’ll be okay, though, won’t we? It’s not as if we’ve been talking about getting married or …”
As the words left his mouth, a clear picture of June in a pale blue silk dress, the material falling in soft layers to the floor, her back bare, looking over her shoulder at him flashed through his mind.
Quickly he stood. He was too tired to know what anything meant. He needed sleep.
*
Tired but grateful her car had behaved all the way back to Seattle, June locked the apartment door behind her. It was nearly ten o’clock at night. For a moment, she leaned against the cold wood. The last few hours were harrowing, to say the least. She’d really struggled to keep her eyes open.
Dropping her luggage, she walked over to the wide window facing the city and opened the curtains.
Cars driving by, the noise of the city, other familiar noises—sounds that had been part of the rhythm of her life since she could remember, were suddenly way too loud.
She’d only been in Marietta for two weeks, but her soul had recognized where she really belonged.
Sighing, she quickly texted Abby to let her friend know she was back. As she put the phone down, it rang. It was Dylan. She’d have to talk to him at some point, it might as well be now. “Hi, Dylan.”
Silence. Just when she thought he’d ended the call, he cleared his throat. “Are you safely back in Seattle?”
Her heart sighed. Even though he was probably ticked off with her, he was still worried about her safety. “Yes, thank you, I am.”
“You didn’t tell me you were leaving.”
“I couldn’t stay.”
“But why leave so soon?”
Sighing, she looked at the city lights. “Because the longer I stayed, the harder it would’ve been to leave.”
“Damn it, June, what the hell am I supposed to do with this craziness inside of me? I can’t stop thinking about you!” he just about roared.
“I’m sorry, Dylan. Look after yourself, okay?” Quickly, she ended the call.
This time when the tears came, it was ugly and straight from her broken heart. Sobbing, she fell down on the couch and for the first time in her life, she cried her heart out.
At some point, a noise reached her in between sobs. Someone was knocking on her front door. Wiping her face, she walked to the door and peered through the peephole. It was Abby she saw, and she opened the door. “Abs?”
Abby gave her one look before she pulled June into a hug. “What happened?”
*
Dylan was up early Saturday morning, he’d hardly slept. His mind went round and round in circles trying to figure out what had sent June back to Seattle. Damn it, she’d been in his bed!
Baffled, irritated, and frustrated, he called her again.
When she picked up on the other side, he didn’t wait for her to say anything, the words simply spilled over his lips.
“Maybe you’ve forgotten what we had, maybe you didn’t remember the perfect way our bodies fit, the easy manner in which we read each other’s needs.
Maybe I have to remind you about the sheer bliss …
” He was still searching for the right words, when someone on the other side cleared her throat. “June?”
“No, I’m Abby. June’s friend. I stayed with her last night, she was so upset. She’s still sleeping at the moment. You’re Dylan, I presume?”
“Oh … um, hi, Abby. Yes, I am.”
“What happened?” Abby asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I don’t know why she left. We were having a great time—”
“What did she say?” Abby interrupted him.
“She didn’t say anything before she left! I thought she was going back to Marietta when in fact, she was heading back to Seattle. When I spoke to her last night, she said she had to leave because the longer she stayed, the harder it would’ve been to leave.”
“Aah, I see,” Abby said as if he’d given her a perfectly logical explanation.
“Well, I don’t, dammit,” Dylan barked. “I don’t know why she left!”
“You’re whining like a schoolboy, you know that? You’re a grown-ass man, so figure it out. All I know is that my friend is hurting, and I have an idea you’re the reason. And don’t phone her again until you know why you’re so upset she left, okay?”
Before he could reply, she ended the call.
Just then there was a knock on his door before it opened. Carson stepped in. “What’s wrong?”
Ticked off, Dylan looked at his brother. “I’ve just been told I’m whining like a schoolboy.”
Laughing, Carson slapped him on the back. “Well, are you?”
“I’m not whining, I’m trying to understand why she left!”
“Who left?”
Snorting, Dylan put on the coffee. “I’m sure everything has been discussed either at last night’s dinner or this morning’s breakfast.”
“I had a date last night and had breakfast at my own place this morning. Who left?”
“June.”
Frowning, Carson stared at him. “Oh. I thought she was staying for a while. Did she say anything?”
“Just that if she stayed here, it would be harder to leave later on.”
“You’re upset.”
“Of course, I’m upset. She just left!”
“You’ve never reacted this way about any other girl before. You should ask yourself why. I’m heading out, see you at dinner!”
Of course he hadn’t reacted this way about any other girl leaving. He hadn’t been bothered in the least. But damn it, he’d never felt about anyone the way he felt about June.
Cussing a blue streak, he made sure Daisy had enough water before he left.
*
Tiny men were pounding nails into her skull. With a groan, June opened her eyes.
“She’s awake!” Dressed, Abby was sitting on June’s bed.
“Headache,” June got out. “You didn’t have to stay.”
“Of course I had to. You cried a river last night, I thought you were never going to stop. Come on, sit up. Take this, it’ll help.”
Closing her eyes against the harsh light, June swallowed the pill before she laid back against the pillows. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to tell me why you’re back here and why you’ve been crying. I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I …” Her lip quivered and rolling her eyes, Abby joined her on the bed.
“No, you’re not going to cry again!” Abby nudged her shoulder. “Seriously, I can’t stand it. You’ve fallen in love with Dylan, haven’t you?”
“I don’t know!” June blubbered. “How do I know what I feel is love, Abby? You and I don’t know anything about love or relationships or family!”
“That’s not true. You and I love each other, we have a relationship and even though we don’t have the same blood, we’re always there for one another.
Isn’t that what being a family is all about?
I know loving someone romantically is different—not that I’ve experienced it.
Romantic relationships and I have never worked out, but it’s also about caring about each other, looking out for each other.
Just don’t ask me about the sexy stuff. Like you, I’ve never experienced anything remotely earth-shattering when kissing a guy …
” She trailed off, staring at June. “You’ve actually had such an experience, haven’t you?
I can tell. It’s written all over your face. Come on, spill.”
“Earth-shattering doesn’t begin to describe what I feel when Dylan … well, when we …” She couldn’t simply call it had sex because what had happened between them had been so much more.
“Aah, now I understand. He said maybe you’ve forgotten what you two had, and he talked about the way your bodies fit.” Frowning, she looked away. “And something about the manner you read each other’s needs. The word bliss was also used if I remember correctly.”
“He? Who said?”
“Your Dylan phoned early this morning while you were still sleeping.”
June sat up. “He phoned?”
“Yup. So what’s up with the two of you? You’re crying, he’s upset.”
“Oh, Abby, I don’t know,” she said touching the stone around her neck.
“He made me feel things I haven’t thought was possible, but it may also just because he’s a great kisser.
And living in Marietta, visiting the ranch …
It was the strangest feeling, like I belong there, I feel at home there.
Is the feeling real, though? It may not last, who knows?
A month from now I may not even remember his name, let alone the way he kisses … ”
Touching her lips, she remembered every sexy line of his mouth, the way he smelled, touched her. She never doubted that he wanted her—it was clear in every touch, every kiss, every look.
Chuckling, Abby got up. “If you need to declutter your closet, I’m your girl, but when it comes to matters of the heart, I have no clue how to help you.
Give yourself a few weeks. See how you feel by then.
If you still miss him; if you’re still clasping that stone around your neck, which if I had to take a wild guess, is from him; if you still get that stupid expression on your face when you talk about him; you’re obviously in love. And June?”
“What?”
“We’re not those helpless little girls we were way back when anymore.
You’re allowed to leave Seattle, you’re allowed to be happy, and if Dylan Weston makes you happy, don’t you dare let him slip through your fingers.
” Pretending to cool herself down with her hand, Abby grinned.
“Now after all this talk about feelings and love, I’m hungry.
Come on, wash your face, I’ve ordered food for your empty fridge, and we’ll make breakfast.”
As Abby turned to leave, June got up. “Abs?”
Abby looked over her shoulder at her. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
Smiling, Abby walked toward the door. “Go and wash your face, you look terrible.”
“Love you too!” June smiled. After all this time, she knew this was Abby’s way of showing how much she cared. She’d never been one to display affection in any obvious way.
She could do what Abby suggested—see how she felt in a few weeks. Maybe that was all she needed to get over whatever this feeling inside her was. Maybe here in Seattle, far away from the Marietta bubble, she’d come down from whatever pink cloud she’d been living on.