“There you go.” She swivels back to her desk.
My heart sinks to my stomach. Will he want to see me?
Will he finally talk to me?
I’ve been looking forward to seeing him all morning, and now, I don’t know if I can stomach it.
I hop in my golf cart and ride over. It’s a nice breezy day today, a bit gloomy, but we’re not supposed to be getting any rain.
Maybe it’s just me?
I’m holding my breath as I walk up to the door of the Saddle Room. Pushing it open, I freeze at the threshold.
“Oh hey, Rose,” Dallas greets me from Wilder’s chair.
I step in tentatively, closing the door behind me. “Where’s Wilder?”
“We were just in here going through the budget, then he said he had to run out for a bit.”
Run out.
HeknewIwascoming.
And he left.
My chest is tight with something even I can’t figure out. I’m not disappointed.
I don’t even think I’m hurt.
This is more of a hollow ache. Like something that was never mine to lose.
“Rose?”
I blink up as Dallas pushes off the chair like I’m about to faint.
“Are you all right? You look pale.”
“I’m cold,” I whisper honestly. Because I do feel cold.
And empty.
Heleft,knowingIwascoming.
My hands shake as I cross the room to the desk and place the cards down.
“Oh, here.” Dallas pulls his black hoodie off and hands it tome. “Take this.”
“Thank you.” I accept it because I can’t do anything else. A reality that I’ve been avoiding hits me like a ton of bricks.
Nooneiswaitingforme.
I’m the one who’s waiting.
And what I’m waiting for, I won’t find in this room.
In my haze, I see his eyes drop to the stack. “I’ll have Wilder take a look at these.”
I stare at them as my mind searches for the next right thing.
