Built To Last

“I do. Austin and I couldn’t admire you more for taking on such a responsibility at such a young age. I could only hope my kids did the same if something happened to Austin or me.”

“But what if this isn’t what I want for my life?”

Abby tilted her head, like she wasn’t quite understanding where Erin was headed with this conversation. “In what way?”

“I never planned to stay here after graduation. Unlike you, I wanted to travel. To see the world before I started the ‘rest of my life’, so to say. I’ve been forced to settle for my current situation the past ten years. But a lot of things have finally come together, and I feel like I have a chance now I may never get again.”

“You’re thinking about leaving.” It was more a statement than a question when Abby said it.

The moment of truth. That resignation letter had been burning a hole in her desk drawer and it was time Erin did something about it. It’s all she’d been dreaming about for years. Why now was she hesitating? “I am. I just finished my degree, my sister graduated high school, and my father, believe it or not, appears to be doing better than I’ve seen him in a long time. I’m afraid if I don’t go now, then I never will.”

Erin rubbed her wrist. The world she longed to see felt so big, and so very far away right now.

Her hands flew to her mouth, hoping she could stuff the words back in. No one knew she planned to leave town. And she just told her boss’s wife. What was she thinking? “Oh, gosh, Abby. You can’t say anything to Austin. He doesn’t know yet. Please tell me you won’t tell him.”

“Don’t worry. This is your news to share with Austin. But if you are intent on leaving Laguna Beach, then you definitely shouldn’t get involved with Jake. I can say for certain he’s where he wants to be. He wants to find a woman to share his life and build a family with. I love you, and I love Jake, but if you aren’t that person for him, which it sounds like you aren’t right now, then maybe you should just leave well enough alone.”

Erin grimaced. She could always count on a straight answer from Abby, even if the truth was hard to hear.

Thankfully, that was the extent of Abby’s advice and Erin took the opportunity to set her confusion aside. Abby had given her something to think about. After that, the conversation wove its way through several topics as they finished their lunch, but they steered clear of any talk of Jake… and Erin’s imminent departure.

Standing on the sidewalk after they finished, Abby hugged Erin. “I hope you weren’t upset by what I said. I love you both, and don’t want to see either of you hurt. Just think about it, Erin.”

Like she could think about anything else. Her dreams of adventure outside of Laguna Beach mingled with her rapidly growing feelings for Jake. For the first time since she’d been forced to give up her plans f

or her future, she didn’t know what to do.

She shook the thoughts from her head and climbed in her car to return to the job she loved. That was another regretful thing she’d lose if she left town.

When did she start thinking if instead of when?

Chapter Eight

JAKE STARED AT his phone long after his brief text exchange with Erin. Disappointment flooded through him. It had only been three days but she had already wormed her way into his life further than he expected.

They hadn’t really discussed how they moved forward after their date on Saturday. He’d tried. He wanted to discuss her hopes for the future… and his dreams. But she’d pulled away each time he tried, steering the conversation in another direction.

He should have made plans for the next time he would see her before he dropped her off Saturday night. But he hadn’t and now he was stuck wondering what she was doing.

He shoved his phone in his pocket and decided to make the most of his day. He’d opted to work in the trailer today instead of on the job site. He didn’t have the focus to operate machinery and wanted the peace and quiet to think. Besides, after what happened on Friday, he was better off here.

Had that just been Friday? It felt like a lifetime ago when he was laying under a slab of drywall, wondering how he was going to get free. And now he was sitting here, his mind filled with a brunette that he hadn’t spent nearly enough time with this weekend.

Over the next couple of hours, he completed mindless paperwork, submitting building permits and requesting inspections on two of the ongoing projects. It gave him a lot of time to relive every moment of the time he spent with Erin this weekend. How she laughed easily and looked so relaxed—and so right—in his house.

His phone buzzed and he jumped. Was it Erin, calling to say her plans had changed? He could only hope. But when he looked at his phone, Nicolle’s picture flashed on the screen. He tried to hide his disappointment when he answered his sister’s call.

“Hey squirt.”

“Hey, big brother. Try not to be so excited your favorite sister is calling you.”

Their typical banter elicited a laugh, but he just didn’t feel the humor. If this is how he felt after one weekend with Erin, how would he feel if she left him after six months? Or longer? “You’re my only sister.”

“That’s why I’m your favorite. Why so down?”

He kicked his feet up on the desk and leaned back in his chair, the hinges squeaking as he did. “Well, um…”

“Oh boy, this sounds interesting. Wait, let me get comfortable.” He heard shuffling through the phone and imagined his sister tucking her feet underneath her and leaning back on her couch, her dachshund puppy tucked in her side. “Okay, go ahead. I’m ready now.”