Kaitlyn ached for Axel like she had the flu. It wasn’t just her heart. It was her entire body that wanted to be near him, talk to him, touch him, smell him, look at him. She’d tried to be strong these past few days and not chase after him. To wait until she could clear things up with Mason and then give herself fully to Axel, but it was absolutely, completely killing her.

Saturday, she had the late shift, so at least, she would be busy. She didn’t know if Axel would leave town or come talk to her first. She wanted to see him so badly, but she had put herself in this self-inflicted state of misery, and she was going to see it through until the end. The town of Echo Ridge might bemoan her and Mason breaking up, but at least she would be doing it right and be free to be with Axel without any guilt.

“You have a customer who needs you,” Jessica said. Her friend smiled sadly at her, knowing the pain she was going through. Thank heavens she had Jessica since Lolly was traveling through Europe right now.

Kaitlyn nodded and walked toward the cash register. Emma was there waiting for her. She saw Kaitlyn and gave her a soft smile. “Can you talk outside?”

Kaitlyn glanced at Jessica, who nodded. “Sure.”

Kaitlyn walked next to Emma, neither of them making an effort to talk. They made it outside and, without verbal agreement, turned toward the park and the lake. The irony wasn’t lost on Kaitlyn when they sat on the same bench by the lake that she had last kissed Axel on. Forcing the memory of Axel out was impossible. Dang she missed him.

She turned slightly to face Emma, blinking against the bright sunlight reflecting from the lake. “Everything okay?” she asked, knowing nothing was okay, at least in her world.

Emma took her hand. “I was worried about you.”

“You know.”

Emma nodded.

“And you hate me?”

Emma tilted her head to the side and released Kaitlyn’s hand. “Should I hate you?”

Kaitlyn cleared her throat and clasped her hands together. “You know I’ve always loved Mason.”

Emma nodded.

“But in the last year, it’s changed. We’re great friends, but there really isn’t any kind of romance anymore.” She grimaced. “I know that sounds silly and like a fairy tale or something, but there needs to be some romance, right?”

Emma nodded again. “Chayton can just look at me and I start tingling.”

Kaitlyn smiled. “You two definitely have that spark. I see it with Jessica and Gentry, Chelsea and Drew.” She stopped. “They told you, right?”

“They came over last night.”

Kaitlyn didn’t blame them. They were close friends with Chayton and Emma. She was surprised they took that long.

“I wonder if I’ve just been selfish,” Emma said.

Kaitlyn’s eyes widened. She’d been the selfish one. Wanting to not hurt Mason while she pursued Axel. “You are the least selfish person I know.”

“Mason’s my boy.” She choked up and blinked quickly before continuing. “I saw how happy you made him, and I fell in love with you too. I just assumed you’d be happy together, but it was selfish of me to never take how you feel into consideration.”

“I love Mason too,” Kaitlyn said. “I never want to hurt him.”

“But you’re going to have to.” Emma sighed. “Sometimes life is like that. How long have you known?”

“Known?”

“That you and Mason weren’t going to work.”

Kaitlyn looked out at the sparkling water. “About a year.”

Emma nodded. Then she eyed Kaitlyn perceptively. “You truly love Axel?”

Axel. Kaitlyn felt the light start inside and radiate out. “I think so.”

“You think so?” Emma arched a delicate eyebrow. “You are not breaking my son’s heart on a think so.”

Breaking Mason’s heart. It was horrible, but Kaitlyn knew that it was right. She and Mason wouldn’t have had the happiness that Emma and Chayton had, that she and Axel could have.

“Yes. I love Axel.”

Emma stood so quickly it took Kaitlyn off guard. She reached out a hand and tugged Kaitlyn up. “Then what are you waiting for? Go get him.”

“I think he’s already left town.”

“I saw him walking into the bed and breakfast when I pulled up to Kenworth’s.” She squeezed Kaitlyn’s hand. “Don’t forget about us.”

“Not possible.” Kaitlyn gave Emma a quick hug then ran toward the bed and breakfast, not an easy feat in heels. She was still half a block away when she saw his Lexus driving on the road headed north out of town.

“No!” Kaitlyn ran after him, but she was way too slow. His sport utility gradually got farther and farther away until she couldn’t see the sparkle of silver any longer. She pulled her phone out and scrolled down to his number. Should she call him? Her hand froze, clinging to the phone. She wanted to call him, but he’d just driven away without saying goodbye. What did that mean? She’d told him they should wait until they were both back in the city in a couple of weeks to pursue their relationship, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want him to say goodbye. Then there was the promise she’d made to herself to talk with Mason and make a clean break before she pursued Axel. Emma had gotten her excited about being with Axel, but the timing still wasn’t right.

Clinging to her phone, she turned and slowly walked back to work. How was she going to explain this mess to Jessica?