Gus isn't home when I barrel onto his front porch, but I quickly find the key to the back door under a broken flowerpot. I flick on the lights in the kitchen and dash to the bathroom just in time for my wine to come back up. It burns my throat and I cry as I heave the contents of my stomach into the toilet. When all the alcohol is gone, I curl up next to the sink and cry into the towel I pulled off the towel rack.

I cry until my face stings and my chest hurts from sobbing. I can't believe I lied to Ryan and said I hooked up with Tate. Of all the lies I could have said, I already regret that one. But it got him to let me go and, in the end, that's what I needed.

I finally force myself off the bathroom floor and I dig around Gus's medicine cabinet until I find a new toothbrush. I clean myself up the best I can and then drag myself into Gus's living room. I find one of his cotton sweatshirts laying over the arm of the couch and tug it over my head. I crawl onto his couch and pull a blanket that was draped over the back on top of me. Every limb in my body feels like a lead weight and my head is throbbing from crying for so long. I curl up into myself and go over everything we said on the roof.

Austin was right. Ryan did try and take a job out here for me and he was more than willing to do it. I think if Austin hadn't warned me first, I would have allowed Ryan to quit his job and would have gleefully accepted him here in Hollis. But Austin is right, that's not fair for Ryan to do that for me. He's worked too hard and he's too good at what he does to throw it away and play house with me.

I hear the screen door whip open and Gus's heavy footsteps enter the kitchen. He follows the light into the living room and finds me balled up on the couch.

"Well, this is an odd surprise," he says to me as he drops into his lounge chair. He kicks his shoes off before leaning forward and rests his elbows on his knees, "Why you all cocooned up on my couch? I'm pretty sure your house is much cozier for that." I shake my head and pull the blanket further down my face. When he sees my blotchy face, he springs up from his chair and comes over to the couch, "Why you cryin' again? It better not be over pretty boy. I got a shotgun upstairs." I look to him and see he's wearing a nice sport coat over a tie and jeans. I pull the blanket off my mouth and ask, "Why you all fancy? Hot date?" He looks down as if he forgot what he was wearing and then shoots a look back to me.

"Don't change the subject. Why you cryin'?" I pull my knees further into me, allowing him a place to sit on the couch. He drops onto the plush cushion and pulls my legs so they lay over his lap. I take a long breath in before admitting, "I broke up with Ryan tonight. He wanted to move here and...I just...couldn't let that happen." He draws his head back in confusion.

"Why the hell not? Better than you leaving to S.C."

I frown, "Because Gus, Ryan has a real career. One that he worked really hard for- and he's good at it apparently. Turns out I'm a bit of a distraction and Austin thinks Ryan would be throwing everything away if he came here. He'd be demoted if he took a job here."

Gus shakes his head, "So? Isn't that pretty boy's decision? If he wants to come here for you that's his choice." I slap my hands against the blanket.

"But what if we don't work out? What if he comes here and realizes I wasn't worth it? What if he's not happy and I ruined his chances at being recruited by the C.I.A?" Frowning, he looks to me and studies my face, trying to process something I said and then he replies, "But what if it did work out? You just assume it ain't going to."

I look to Gus and confess, "It's too late Gus. It's over and I know it's for the best."

"It ain't too late Sawyer," he says and I feel my lip quivering again. Gus catches it too and shakes his head, "Nu-uh, don't you start the waterworks. I can't handle watchin' you cry. You'll have me blubberin' or puttin' a bullet in pretty boy's backside."

A light laugh escapes me, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to show up here all a mess but I needed to get out of my house. Ryan is staying in the next room and I couldn't bear to see his face after I said..."

Gus looks to me, "After you said what?"

I release a sigh, "I lied and said I fooled around with Tate at the grand opening last night. I thought if he thought I cheated on him it would make going back home easier. I knew him leaving is what's best. My decision has been made and now I gotta live with it." He rubs his hands across my shins trying to comfort me and I do everything I can to hold the tears back. He looks to me with his soft brown eyes and says, "You cheated yourself Sawyer. You shouldn't have lied."

I nod, "I know." I realize I don't want to talk about Ryan anymore because it just weighs my heart down so I change the subject, "Now, enough about me. Who you all dressed up for?" I watch as he tugs his tie loose and a small smile pulls on the corner of his lips. I sit up further and he looks to me.

"Don't make no thing of this Sawyer. Or I ain't gonna tell you anythin' again."

I hold up my right hand, "I promise I won't make a big deal. Tell me!" I squeal eagerly and I watch him try and suppress his smile again, "Alright, well...I took out...I took out Annabeth." My eyes widen in delight and I clap my hands together. I become giddy and ask, "And... How did it go?"

He gives me a slight shrug, "It went alright. It was kinda weird havin' her there in a romantic settin' but I think we both had fun. We went to Marco's so it was kinda fancy like. She almost had a bottle of wine to herself though, hope she don't usually do that on first dates." I laugh and wonder how drunk she normally gets on dates or if she needed the alcohol to get over the fact that she was out with Gus. She probably tried to call me but I left my phone in my room.

I smile at him, "Did ya kiss her goodnight?" Immediately Gus turns red from his forehead to his neck and I bust out laughing, "You kissed her! Did you feel anything? A spark?"

He shakes his head, "I don't know! It was weird knowin' it was Annabeth. She's been your friend and in my life as your friend for forever. I never thought of her as anything other than your sidekick who was in love with your brother."

"Well, I think she got a reality check with Austin with him being here. That, and I don't know why you've never thought of her as a pretty bachelorette before."

"This is all your fault ya know, you shoulda never put the idea in my head."

Still smiling, I tell him, "I hope it works out! I think you two could handle each other. You two would be...just...precious." Gus dramatically rolls his eyes, "Oh now, don't you go start usin' words like precious. It was one date so who knows?"

"Do you want a second?" He looks to me questioningly and takes a moment to think.

He then says, "I guess."

I giggle, still being an instigator, I say, "Y'all would have pretty babies. Your curls with her dark hair and pale complexion. And they'd have your wide eyes but her pretty blue color."

Gus scrunches his face up, "Damn, I go out on one dinner date and now you're picturin' our kids? I ain't tellin' you anythin' ever again." I laugh loudly and he just shakes his head at me. He pushes my legs away from him and disappears into the kitchen. He comes back with a large tub of cookie dough ice cream and two silver spoons. He drops down next to me again and we spend the evening laughing and stuffing our faces with ice cream. After my shit night, being with a good friend is exactly what I needed.