When I pull it open, I almost burst out laughing. It’s a stray all right, but not anyone in need.
“Declan.”
He grins. “Sydney.” His eyes move to the person beside me, and he smiles so wide it could break his face. “Devney! Get the fuck out of here! You work here? How did I not know that?”
She rushes toward him, arms wrapping around his neck as he pulls her tight. “Yes, you big idiot! I’ve been here for a few years, but you would have known that if you’d made time to see me since you’ve been back.” Devney slaps his chest as he puts her down.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Declan pulls her to his side and kisses the top of her head. “I missed that level of honesty.”
She pushes out of his arms, turns to face him, and plants her hands right on her hips. Oh, he’s in for it now. “Really? So, you’d like me to be honest about how you suck and need to get your cute butt out of here?”
“What did I do now?”
“You”—she pokes her finger into his chest—“were a jerk.”
Declan looks to me, but I raise my hands. I happen to agree with my spitfire of a friend. He is a big jerk.
“I’m going to assume you’re talking about Syd?”
“Were you a jerk to more women in this town that I should know about?”
I smirk, and he purses his lips. “No, but did she tell you that I’m helping her to sell the farm? I can’t be that big of a jerk.”
Oh, dear fucking God, can the man ruin anything else for me?
I let out a long breath and wait because the tables are about to turn as soon as Devney does. Sure enough, her body starts to spin, and then her eyes are on me. “You’re what?”
“I hadn’t told anyone yet,” I say to him through gritted teeth.
“Don’t look at him. Look at me. You’re selling your farm?”
“Yes.”
“To buy another farm in Sugarloaf?”
I shake my head. “I was going to talk to you about it this week. It’s time, Devney. It’s time for me to move on.”
I see the hurt in her brown eyes, but she doesn’t comment further. “I see.”
“Nothing is final yet.”
I really didn’t want to have this talk now. I planned to tell each of my friends very carefully, and since Ellie and Devney are my two closest friends, I wanted them to hear it from me. Moving wasn’t a decision I came to lightly, and I want them to understand.
She looks to Declan and then back to me. “You’ll talk to me later?”
I nod. “Of course.” Her phone pings, and we both know that’s Oliver letting her know he’s here. Each date night, it’s the same routine. “Go. Come by my house tomorrow.”
Devney laughs. “You can bet your ass I will.”
With that, she gives me a quick hug and then kisses Declan on the cheek. When she’s gone, I head back toward my office, planning to leave him in the lobby. I have nothing to say to him that isn’t curse words or threats of bodily harm.
“Sydney, I didn’t know ...”
I turn with a giant huff. “Didn’t know that I wouldn’t have told my friends yet? I have a lot of ducks to get in a row before I move. This town may not have meant anything to you, but it’s been my world. I wanted to make sure that I was one hundred percent sure before telling them.”
“I see that now. I’m truly sorry.”
I’m not even angry, just upset. I hate disappointing my friends.
“It’s fine. What brings you by, Dec?”
His lips part, but he closes them before starting to move around the room. “I came because I got back from New York City a few minutes ago. I met with a few people and wanted to tell you what I found out.”
“Okay.”
I motion to the seat in front of my desk and then take my own chair. The desk between us allows me to relax a bit. He can’t touch me or make me feel weak. When I’m here, I’m in charge.
“Milo Huxley is a good friend of mine, he is a real estate investor and would like to come see the property. Based on what I’ve told him, he feels he can help, and might even purchase it himself if he sees an opportunity.”
This is what I wanted. I’ve told myself dozens of times over the last week that I was ready to sell my farm and move on. I talked at great length with Jimmy, who seemed almost relieved that I was considering it.
But now, I’m not so sure.
There’s an ache in my chest as I think about someone else living there, sitting in the tree swing out back, or going near the pond that holds memories I will never forget.
“When?” I choke the word out.
“He lives in London, but he’s in New York for the next few days to see his daughter. He’d like to come out as early as the day after tomorrow.”
My stomach flips. “Two days?”
“If you’re not busy.”
I’m not busy other than my normal farm-life thing and finding a way to explain this to my friends.
I have things that are bigger than my sadness to consider. My life isn’t going to be the same, and I can’t pretend that staying here is the right thing.
A support system is what I need, and that’s my mother and sister.
Declan has made it abundantly clear that he won’t be that for me—or anyone—and a child is not something he wants.
So, if this friend of his can help me, then I’m not going to be a fool and pass it up.
“No, I’m not busy. That’s fine.”
He smiles and nods once. “All right. I’ll set it
