As if she hadn’t just rejected the love of her life, Becca calmly went inside her shop, shut the door, and locked it. She had an appointment in about fifteen minutes, but she calmly texted her next appointment and asked to reschedule. Then she scooped up a wiggly, happy Alaska, went upstairs to her bedroom, and collapsed into bed.

She thought she would cry. Burst into tears and sob all day long. There weren’t any tears yet, though. Maybe it hadn’t sunk in that she couldn’t have a life with Hank. Maybe the disappointment was too crushing, too new.

She felt dead inside. She was calm, though. So, so calm, unlike how it had been with Greg. When Greg had broken up with her just two days before the wedding, she’d lost her mind. She’d screamed and raged, thrown things at him, and had the biggest temper tantrum ever. She’d sobbed until her eyes felt permanently swollen, and she’d been so angry. So disappointed, because he’d robbed her of a life that she thought she deserved. Not wanted, deserved. She’d waited him out for all those years and had nothing to show for it.

Looking back? With this new heartbreak slowly tearing her apart inside? She hadn’t ever truly been in love with Greg. Oh, maybe she had when she was a teenager, but over the years it had turned into something that was comfortable and easy, and something she’d expected to go her way. It was safe to be with Greg, even if whatever passion they’d had for each other had long since turned into familiarity and just a hint of contempt.

This was different.

This was soul crushing and deep. This made her feel hollow with the ache inside her, as if she’d never smile again. She loved Hank. Loved Libby. Wanted nothing more than for them to be a family.

But Hank didn’t care enough about what she wanted. He hadn’t confessed his love back. Didn’t care enough to suggest that they work it out and that he stay in town. So it wasn’t meant to be.

It. Wasn’t. Meant. To. Be.

Every word gutted her. Made the pain double in her chest until she was moaning with misery. Alaska licked her face, little tail wriggling, and Becca realized she was crying after all, silent tears sliding down her cheeks only to be licked away by the puppy.