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I shrugged. “That doesn’t seem to matter with him. He’s convinced there are a thousand reasons why it wouldn’t work.”
“You are in the midst of trying to move to Texas.”
“That’s one reason he keeps giving me.”
“It’s not a bad one, Harper.” Tuck watched me for a long second before swinging his gaze back to the road and adding. “Do you really know what you want? If you’re planning to go to Austin, then maybe it’s for the best.”
My heart ached as he said it, the dueling desires within me pulling again in opposite directions. I’d told Cam it didn’t matter, but maybe it did. My goal was to leave Kings Grove—it had been since the beginning of all this. Never mind that the thought of leaving now opened up a little cave inside me that felt darker and lonelier than ever. I knew it would only be temporary, and then I’d be settled in Austin and I’d make a life there. I didn’t lie and tell myself I’d forget about Cam, but I could move on. Couldn’t I?
“Maybe,” I said finally.
We arrived at the airport, and Tuck helped me out with my bag. I’d ordered a smaller suitcase the week before, so I wasn’t lugging the enormous bag I’d brought to Kings Grove. I gave him a hug and went inside, and before long I was landing in Austin.
* * *
“Oh my gosh it’s hot,”I said, wiping my forehead as I stepped out of the Uber and onto the sidewalk in front of Theo’s house.
He greeted me with a light hug. “It’s always hot here! It’s good to see you again, Harper.” His voice was warm, but something in his chocolate eyes was less so. He looked wary, unsure somehow. “Come on in.” He’d volunteered his guest bedroom for my trip, and since he was Chelle’s family and we’d met a couple times before, I had no problem agreeing to that. If nothing else, it saved money.
I settled my things in my room, which was simple and clean, and then wandered back out to where Theo sat at a table in the small dining room, papers scattered before him.
“Should we get right to it?” I asked.
“If you’re cool with that.” He rose, waving me to a chair. “Get you a drink?”
“Just water would be great.”
He returned with two glasses of water and sat down. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Good, me too.”
Theo was a serious guy, and though I liked him and thought we’d be fine as business partners, I saw none of the playfulness I loved in his cousin. He got straight to business, his large dark hands pushing various papers my way and eventually opening a laptop in front of me so I could see what he was talking about.
“The opportunity was there, and it didn’t make sense to wait,” he said, showing me the lease he’d taken on an office and describing the event engagement he’d already contracted for. “But just because things are rolling doesn’t mean I don’t need you.”
“Okay,” I said, not sure where this was heading. It felt like Theo had gone ahead without me, and I was working hard to avoid showing him my feelings were a little bit hurt. This was business, after all.
“It’s just that things are hitting a little faster ramp up than planned, and it’d be perfect if you could come now.”
“I… now?” I shook my head. I had more than three months before I’d committed to moving here. “I don’t know if I can. I mean…” I thought about Maddie’s wedding, which was only a few weeks away, not to mention the other events booked after it. The new restaurant was slated to open before I left—if they ever figured out the engineering issue and the permitting—and I felt distinctly like I’d be letting everyone down if I disappeared now. Not to mention my dad.
And Cam… I’d planned to leave anyway. But considering accelerating the timeline made me realize I didn’t want to leave now. Not like this.
“Harper, I want to do this with you. You’ve got a brilliant head for numbers, and there’s no question I need another set of hands. Several, actually. But I need it now.”
I shook my head. “I don’t have the money yet, Theo.”
He waved my concern away. “I need the help more than the money. I hadn’t planned to get bookings in this early, so things are already in the black. We’ve got operating funds, and enough to get things rolling smoothly. I just need help. Get here and we’ll deal with details later.”
I let that sink in. I could move to Austin now—without the money I thought I’d been working so hard to save. It would just take convincing my dad to let me out of my commitment, and at this point I thought that was likely.
Why did I still feel so much resistance inside about the idea? Was Kings Grove really that important to me? Or was it Cam?
I thought back to the last couple conversations I’d had with him. He’d never misled me about the potential for anything to happen between us; he’d been clear that he didn’t think he wanted a relationship. And what was I going to do, toss away every plan I’d made for the other areas of my life in hopes that he’d magically change his mind?
“Tell me about this client,” I said, reaching for the folder containing all the details of Theo’s first event.
“Definitely.” Theo’s deep voice took on a happier edge, and I realized he knew I was waffling. “You’re going to love this, Harper. It’s a concert series…” Theo went on, describing the series and talking about the venue he’d found to host it, explaining our role in arranging every last detail of a series of concerts that would go on over the course of six months. It was a huge contract, and he was right—I loved it. The idea of being involved already had my mind turning and ideas were flying into my head.
