Free Finding Haven by T.A. Foster

to let you know I’m not mad. I don’t want
     you to think I’m mad.” According to the grocery store headlines, he was in hiding
     with a broken heart, plotting a comeback with a bombshell supermodel.
    “Can’t you give us another chance? Just talk about it at least? You told me you wanted
     to take me home to meet your family. We were supposed to go to Texas. Let’s do that.
     We can go to the ranch and get away from the cameras. I’ve always wanted to see where
     you live. As much as you talked about Texas I always felt like I’d actually been there
     with you. We need to be alone. Just you and me.”
    It was hard to hear. He didn’t expect it. She wasn’t supposed to fight him on it,
     but for some reason, Emmy was grasping at straws and clawing for memories and promises
     that shouldn’t have been made.
    “Darlin’, we both know we were only together for the movie. Don’t spin it into something
     it wasn’t.”
    Although, he was starting to doubt what it was they had. Was Emmy more genuine and
     sincere than he realized? Maybe he was the one doing the spinning. Everything was
     muddled and blurry. It didn’t matter. They couldn’t start over. The media would always
     be the third person in their relationship, and he was done living his love life on
     the front page.
    “Dammit, Evan. It was not just a publicity tactic. That trip to Cabo? The night in
     San Francisco? Really, that was all for our images? There were no cameras; it was
     you and me. You’re a real asshole, you know that!”
    He took a swig of the cold beer. At least if she was mad at him, she would stop trying
     to stir up feelings. “I just needed to say it. Set things straight. Ok?” He paused.
     “Take care, Emmy. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.” This was not the time to
     tell her he had walked his last red carpet. That would really set her off.
    “Take care? Who am I even talking to? Why didn’t you just text me a break up?”
    He sighed. “It’s not even a break up. You moved on weeks ago. This is more of a good-bye.”
    “I told you I was sorry about Hawaii. Evan, come on. Tell me where you are. You’re
     sounding crazy and not like yourself at all. Say something that makes sense. Say something
     that sounds like Evan Carlson!” The desperation in her voice had picked back up.
    He closed his eyes. This had to be it. Everything there was to talk about had been
     said. There wasn’t any reason to drag it out. The longer he stayed on the phone, the
     longer Emmy had to surprise him with more memories they shared. He didn’t want that.
    “Bye, Emmy.” He slid the phone across the table and finished off the beer.
    It was over. She wouldn’t call or text anymore. If she did, it was her own damn fault
     for not listening. This was all for the better. One day she would realize it. Evan
     hoped, for her sake, it didn’t take her two weeks on a lonely beach to figure it out.
     
    T HE WATER was calm again today. Evan didn’t know if it was normal for the ocean to be like
     this two days in a row, but he had a feeling he should make the most of it.
    He opened the door to the campground office. “Good morning, Shug.”
    “Well, hey, Jay.” She thumbed through a gardening magazine and glanced in his direction.
    “I’m headed into town. I was hoping you might be able to tell me if there’s a place
     to rent those kayaks I keep seeing out there.” He pointed to the orange and blue boats
     drifting near the shore.
    “Kayaks? You mean you’re not going to sit and drink on the beach all day?” She cleared
     her throat and flipped to a page on summer gardenias.
    Evan shoved his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t cared much about what people thought
     about him. He didn’t want them to think about him at all, but Shug’s accurate description
     stung a little. From a distance, he could see where people might get the wrong impression
     of him.
    “I thought I should see the beach from the waterside.” He laughed,