“Hey,” Audrey tried protesting, but they both knew she didn’t have a leg to stand on. “I’m trying to be cautious.”
“Why?” Roxy questioned. “For God’s sake, woman, stop being your own worst enemy. You like this guy, yes?”
Audrey blew out a breath. “Yeah,” she whispered.
Roxy waved a hand in the air. “Actually no. You love him.” Audrey opened her mouth, but Roxy was faster. “I don’t want to hear anything out of your mouth besides how right I am.”
Audrey leaned back in her chair. “I’m thinking maybe I should have had brunch with Stevie.”
Roxy just shrugged. “I like Stevie, but she doesn’t tell it like it is the way I do.” Roxy stated her words with a small grin.
Audrey grinned back and picked up her fork again. “You’re right about that. But at least with Stevie I could have a peaceful meal.”
Roxy leaned across the table and whispered, “What fun would that be?” Her expression grew serious. “I refuse to let you get in your own way. Go be with Piper. Be with Cameron. Give it a shot and see where it goes.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” she found herself asking.
Roxy just shrugged that away and stuffed more food into her mouth. “Then at least you can say you tried. And maybe I’ll come visit you up there just to see what all the fuss is about.”
Twenty-Two
Audrey had decided to stay one extra day in Boulder. Last night on the phone, she’d thought she’d seen a cloud of doubt in Cameron’s eyes when she’d told him. Instinctively she’d wanted to reassure him, to remove the insecurity her delay had caused him. But she’d kept her thoughts to herself, knowing she needed to take care of some things before she could clue him in. He’d agreed to get Piper ready for school this morning, and Audrey told him she’d be home by the time the girl got off the bus, so he wouldn’t have to find someone to stay with her after school.
Home.
It felt right, and Audrey wondered how she could have ever doubted. Roxy had been correct when she’d said that Audrey needed to get out of her own head.
Audrey had timed her arrival for the middle of the day, so she could have some time to think before she had to face Cameron.
She drove past the high school, barely managing to keep her gaze from wandering to the parking lot to search for his car.
Finally, she reached Cameron’s house and was surprised to spot his car in the driveway.
Why wasn’t he at school?
She wasn’t ready for this. If she didn’t have time to prepare herself, the minute she saw those wide shoulders and lean hips, all she’d want to do would be to thread her fingers through his hair and kiss him, beg him to drag her to bed, and then she’d forget everything she wanted to say to him.
Maybe she could slip into the guesthouse without him noticing she was home.
There was no sign of him outside, so Audrey parked her car behind his and edged her way to the guesthouse in the back. She shoved away the feeling that she was deliberately being sneaky and used her key to open the door.
But the door was already unlocked.
She supposed that wasn’t so strange since all of Piper’s stuff was here…
Audrey paused in the doorway and looked around. The place seemed the same. Clean. Quiet. Quaint.
And yet…something felt off. The place felt empty.
Too empty. Which was strange because all the furniture was there. The couch, the small coffee table, the barstools. Everything looked and felt exactly as it had when she and Piper and first moved in.
Then Audrey figured out why.
All the personal touches were gone. The throw over the couch. The vase of flowers on the kitchen counter. Even Piper’s drawings had been removed from the fridge.
Audrey set her keys and purse on the bar top and glanced around. Everything she’d added to the place had been taken away.
Had Cameron lost faith in her after all and boxed up all her stuff? Did he expect her to collect it and be on her way?
She swallowed past the lump in her throat and made her way to Piper’s room.
Just like the main living area, all the furniture was still there. The bed and nightstand, but that was it. All of Piper’s stuff was missing. Her alarm clock, her snow globe collection. The framed photograph of her and Dianna that had been next to the bed. Even Pinkie Pie’s bed was gone.
Okay, so clearly Cameron had moved Piper to the main house. Wasn’t he supposed to do that? It was where Piper belonged and what Audrey had been pushing for from the beginning. So why wasn’t she happier?
Turning, she moved to what had been her room, knowing what she’d find. Or what she wouldn’t find. Furniture? Check.
Personal belongings? Nada.
No scented candles, no stack of magazines. And the closet was empty.
Audrey’s heart plummeted to the bottom of her stomach as she stared at the space where her clothes had hung just a few days ago.
All gone.
What the hell?
Audrey ran through every conversation they’d had while she was away, trying to figure out a clue.
Cameron and Piper had been their normal selves and they’d talked about normal things. Cameron hadn’t clammed up like he always did when he had something on his mind.
Well, now she had something on her mind, and she wanted answers.
Everything she’d originally planned to say flew from her mind as she stalked out the screen door and across the back lawn.
Just who did he think he was, cleaning out all her stuff like that? Without even giving her a chance to say what she wanted to say? He’d said he understood her need for some time to sort through her thoughts. Had he lied? Changed his mind?
Well, Audrey wasn’t going to give him a chance
