I shook my head. “You don’t know Dusty very well, then.”
“Maybe it’s you who doesn’t know him well. He’ll sucker you, seeming like the nice, straight-up honest guy, but watch out.” He straightened and reached for the door handle. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. And don’t take too long about changing your mind because I won’t wait forever, angel.”
Then the door closed.
That was the first time I’d had a door slammed in my face. I’d been met with tears—yes, tears—anger, denial, and even casual acceptance. But this was the first time anyone had actually been rude.
I stood on that porch for about ten more seconds, my mind tumbling with the unjustness of Austen’s accusations about Dusty. How dare he claim the nicest guy in town was a fraud and a disloyal friend? Didn’t Austen even know who he was talking about? The Walker brothers probably had their picture in the dictionary under the word “Trustworthy”! I wanted to pound on that door and tell him off for saying such terrible things about a great guy.
But what was I thinking? I was free! Without another second’s hesitation, I spun on my heel and sprinted for my car.I was free!
How had I never noticed that dark cloud that settled in my spirits when I started seeing Austen? Now that it was gone, even the stars in that night sky sparkled brighter. I felt more alive than I had in months, and I knew what to do next.
I thought about calling Dusty right then and there, while my car was still idling in Austen’s driveway. Wouldn’t that be poetic justice? But I didn’t want Austen looking out his window and thinking I was having second thoughts. I wanted nothing more than to be away from there. So, I jammed my car in gear, glanced in the rearview, and enjoyed the spray of snow in my tail lights as I hit the gas.
Then, I spent the rest of the drive home trying to figure out what I would say to Dusty.
“So?” My dad looked up from a magazine when I blazed my triumphant way through the door. “Success?”
I held up my left hand, plain and bare. “Look!”
His face was bewildered. “I don’t see anything.”
“Exactly!” I bent to kiss him on the cheek and tugged off my coat. “He was upset, but I stood my ground, and it felt terrific. I’m going to try to call Dusty now. You don’t think it’s too late, do you?”
Dad chuckled and lifted his magazine again. “I think you could wake him at two in the morning, and he wouldn’t complain.”
I tossed my coat in the closet, and I was hurrying toward my bedroom, but something made me stop. “Dad, you’re sure, right?”
His brow furrowed. “About what?”
“About Dusty, that he really…” I chewed my lip. “He really likes me? Because if he does, I missed it for I don’t know how long. He didn’t exactly come out and confess it.”
Dad grinned. “Well, seeing as how he admitted it to me when he gave me that note, I’d say yes, I’m sure.”
“Note? What note?”
“The one from when he stopped by the shop. I gave you that, didn’t I? I know I did.”
I felt like I’d just taken a bucket of cold water to the face. “There was a note in my box at work,” I whispered.
“That’s the one. I figured you’d take up with him right away, but then Austen came along. I felt bad for Dusty, but—”
“I thought that was from Austen!” I was dizzy. Queasy. I’d given my time and almost my heart to the wrong man! I didn’t need to ask Dusty if we could see each other. I needed to ask him to forgive me for being so stupid!
“Hey, are you ok?”
My vision was suddenly flooded, and I tried to blink, to focus. Those were definitely tears. I gasped and tried to breathe. “Not even a little bit. It was him, Dad. All along, Dusty was the one I was looking for.” I sniffed and tried to wipe my face, but the flood of regret was coming too fast, the weight of it too much. I crumpled to the couch. “I’m such a fool! He deserves so much more than I could ever give him.”
“Hey.” Dad got up and came to sit beside me, magazine still in hand. “It’s not the end of the world, honey, and it’s not too late. Go call that boy.”
“Oh, I don’t even know where to start! What must I have put him through? He had to watch me dating Austen, when the whole time, it was his note that started it all!”
“Well, he might not know that,” Dad offered.
“He’s not stupid. He was there in the restaurant when I went to find Austen! I looked right past him and he never said anything! Why wouldn’t he at least try to clear up the misunderstanding?”
“Because he shouldn’t have.”