I let out a small laugh. “What did the old lady down the road do to you to elicit a toilet papering?”

“She’s always staring at me with her stupid little squinty face when I drive by. She’s judging me, I can tell.”

“She’s not squinting at you, those are her wrinkles.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “Well, she needs to get a face lift then. She looks like she’s pissed off all the time.”

I laughed a bit harder. “You need help.”

“Whatevs.”

Harper smiled and shook her head before she turned serious. “So really, what are your plans today?”

“Do you have to work?” I asked her.

“Until three, but then I’m free.”

“Are you and Ky doing anything today?”

“Nope. He and Finn are going to his parents’ house for dinner. He asked if I wanted to go, but I think the whole ‘meeting the parents’ thing is a bunch of crap. We aren’t ready for that.”

“But you already know his parents.” I pointed out the obvious.

She looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “It’s different now Em. I’ve not been around them since I started dating him.”

Apparently Harper and Ky had been sneaking around since I moved in with Finn. But they hadn’t said anything until that day in the hospital when Ky announced his claim on her. As stupid as it was to me, it sort of melted her crazy heart. He came over in the evenings and would often stay the night. They both tried really hard not to show any sort of affection in front of me—not that I minded—but I think they thought I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing them holding hands or kissing. I was fine. They both deserved happiness, and I didn’t know two people that fit better than them.

“If you say so. I think I’m just going to stick around here.” I looked over at the clock by the bed. It was already eleven in the morning.

“How about I grab some Chinese food and we can have a Will Ferrell movie marathon and repeat stupid quotes all night.” She smiled at me.

“You got it Ricky Bobby! I guess I better get dressed for my date.”

Laughing, Harper got up from the bed and left my room.

It’d been getting easier to put on a happy front around the people that mattered. I saw no reason to drag Harper or my parents under my dark cloud. I behaved the way that I knew would make them more comfortable around me, but behind closed doors it was a different story. I was ready to find something new. In the many hours that I stayed in my room in the quiet, I’d thought about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Nothing would change what happened, and that was precisely why I’d made the decision to leave Mountain Home.

I got up, grabbed some clothes out of my dresser and took a shower. Standing in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around me, a thought hit me. If I was leaving, I’d need to get my things from Finn’s house. I didn’t have much, but I’d left my clothes and some pieces of jewelry that I wanted back. As it happened, today would be the perfect opportunity to do just that. Harper was at work and Ky was at his parents’ house; as was Finn. I could be in and out in thirty minutes and I wouldn’t have to see anybody. I decided I would wait until just before Harper was due home since I wanted to make certain that Finn was at Kyler’s house.

Time seemed to tick by slowly. I paced the house at least two dozen times, cleaned the bathrooms, and baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Looking at the clock I saw that it was almost two. If I left now I could get there, pack a box or two and be back before Harper even got home. I grabbed my keys and walked out the door.

Ten minutes later I pulled into Finn’s driveway. I didn’t see his car anywhere. He wasn’t here. I got out of the car and used my key to unlock the front door. Emotions I’d suppressed began to bubble to the surface, but I quickly beat them back before they had opportunity to root themselves. Looking around the living room, everything appeared the same. Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that I needed to get moving. Taking two boxes that I had brought in with me down the hallway, I walked into the master bedroom that had so recently been mine. I was shocked by what I saw.

Everything was the same.

The bed was unmade, exactly the way it had been the last time I was there. The dress that I’d worn—and haphazardly thrown on a chair in the corner of the room--hadn’t been moved. I slowly made my way into the bathroom and found the same thing. My toothpaste was on the counter with the cap off, my toothbrush next to it, and a towel lay in a heap on the floor.

Why had he left it like this? It had been at least two months since I was last here and yet it looked like I’d been there that morning. Any normal person would have come in here to clean the mess. In fact, I’d half expected to see my stuff already boxed up, and his stuff in its place. That was certainly not what I saw now. Snapping out of it, I reminded myself that it didn’t matter anymore. I’d box up as many of my things as I could and ask Harper to come get the rest. I was trying my hardest to not to feel, but it was becoming increasingly hard the longer I was in his space. Remembering what Finn and I had shared in this very room; the conversations, the physical contact… I knew I had to be quick; in and out before my emotions got the better of me.

I’d went as quickly as I could—rushing around the room, not even bothering to fold the clothes that I’d found in the laundry basket before I put them in the boxes. When I’d grabbed the last of my jewelry I closed the boxes, pushing the ends together and tucking one of the ends under the other to keep them from popping open. I really should’ve brought some tape. Oh well, I made do. Another glance at the clock had my heart racing. I’d taken much longer than I had planned and it was now ten to three. Harper would be home soon. She would be there before me so I needed to come up with story about where I’d been. I decided to say that I’d been to Beans to talk to Rose about returning to work; despite the fact that I had no intention of going back. In fact I’d already broken the news to my boss the week before. She understood my need to get away, and she said that I would always have a job there if I needed it.

I took one last look around to make sure I hadn’t missed anything that I couldn’t live without, before making my way out of the room with my box in my arms. The other was already on the couch waiting to be put in my car. I walked towards the front door but before I reached it, it was thrown open and a soaking wet Finn stood in front of me, shoulders heaving, hair dripping, and blue eyes that looked ferocious. What was he doing here? Better question, when the hell did it start raining? It was a shock to my system to see him again. I’d successfully managed to avoid him for the past two months and seeing him now—looking the way that he did—I almost faltered with my need to touch him and be near him again.

Finn’s wild eyes noticed the box in my hands and then the box on the couch. He turned back towards me with narrowed eyes, “What are you doing Emilyn?”

“I thought it was time I came and got some of my things. I don’t want to keep taking up space at your house. Plus I’ve missed wearing my grandmothers pearl earrings.” Excuses, excuses Emilyn.

“This isn’t just my house. I’ve told you before, it’s our house. So why are you packing?”

“Finn, I don’t live here anymore and you know it.”

The intensity in his eyes jumped a notch. “Yes, you do.”

Jesus, I didn’t come here to argue with him. He loomed over me as I walked forward and moved passed him. Making my way out the door I was immediately met by freezing rain. It was literally coming down in sheets. Not even three seconds outside and I was soaked.

Great!

Reaching my car I opened the back door and slid the box across the seat. I would be pissed if any of my silk shirts got wet. One box down, one more to go. Turning around I ran right into a solid wall of muscle. I started to stumble backwards but Finn caught me by my arms. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through my body, and a shock to my empty heart.