and a white shirt in all the right places. I wanted to grab him by the belt and drag him back into my bedroom to see how the real life version of him sprawled naked on my bed compared to the dream version. Anyone who thought there was anything that needed changing about Jake Maxwell was deluded. He was perfect. And not meant for me. The hollow sadness in my chest returned and multiplied ten-fold.
In the car, I told him about the wine I’d bought. “So, if you’re free tonight, I thought we could try them out.”
He looked over with an expression I couldn’t read and said, “I’d like that.”
Involuntarily, an analysis of Jake’s expression and words began to tick over in my mind before I hit the mental brakes. I needed emotional distance. I focused on Kelly instead. A realistic relationship.
By the time we arrived, my earlier sadness had seeped away and been replaced by excitement. Kelly came running out of the house and hugged me as soon as I stepped out of the car.
I returned the hug as tightly as I could. “I’ve missed you!”
“Not half as much as I’ve missed you.” She pulled back a little to wipe her face with her hand. “Oh, look, you’ve made me cry.”
“Do I get a hug?” An amused voice interrupted us, and I looked over to see Jake leaning a hip against the hood of his Jeep.
Kelly obliged, admiring his new haircut, then turned to look back at me, still with her arms around Jake. “Jake, I’m so happy for you both. I can’t imagine anything more perfect. Lisey, who’d have thought all those years ago your crush on my silly brother would turn out like this? Especially with me married to Adam.”
It took a moment for me to comprehend what was being said—and that it wasn’t a dream—before I could interrupt. Damage control required, my brain screamed. “We’re not—”
But Kelly was too excited to be interrupted. “All that time we spent mooning over these two and here we are. Didn’t everything work out beautifully?”
My eyes shot to Jake as I snapped, “Kelly!”
Kelly stopped, and I noticed two things. First, Jake was surprised by the information. Second, he was pleased by it. His grin was from ear to ear.
“Kelly, Jake and I are not together.”
“Oh. Then what are you doing here with him?” She looked from me to her brother, forehead creased in confusion.
Jake finally found his voice. “Annalise has been helping me with something, and I suggested she come to catch up with you and Mum.”
Kelly’s face drained of color as we all turned toward a voice from the house. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Um, that’s Adam calling me, I’ll see you in there.”
I watched Kelly’s retreating back, trying to make my lungs work. Now the initial crisis of gagging Kelly was over, my body had fallen into a strangely familiar state of shock. Third time in a week. Apparently, Jake Maxwell was not only bad for my emotional well-being, but also bad for my health.
Maybe I should leave? Yes, I’d leave. Except I’d come with Jake. Hmmm. I could walk. Yes, I’d walk home. Except my body had stopped obeying my commands. Hmmm. I could melt into the ground, in the fashion of the witch from The Wizard of Oz . Yes, melt. Good idea.
“You had a crush on me?” Dark eyes dancing, Jake was clearly trying to restrain a laugh.
He was laughing at me! All vestiges of shock instantly evaporated, and I was suffused with an anger born of humiliation.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Jake. I was sixteen. A lot has changed since then, including both you and me. I am definitely over you.” I turned and followed Kelly, trying to look composed and confident as I did, because that was one of the biggest lies I’d ever told.
…
Jake
I stood, leaning against the Jeep for several minutes after Annalise left. How much more stupid could I have been? Normally I was good around women, but laughing and teasing when she was emotional? Giant fail, Maxwell.
Then she’d left before I could make
In the car, I told him about the wine I’d bought. “So, if you’re free tonight, I thought we could try them out.”
He looked over with an expression I couldn’t read and said, “I’d like that.”
Involuntarily, an analysis of Jake’s expression and words began to tick over in my mind before I hit the mental brakes. I needed emotional distance. I focused on Kelly instead. A realistic relationship.
By the time we arrived, my earlier sadness had seeped away and been replaced by excitement. Kelly came running out of the house and hugged me as soon as I stepped out of the car.
I returned the hug as tightly as I could. “I’ve missed you!”
“Not half as much as I’ve missed you.” She pulled back a little to wipe her face with her hand. “Oh, look, you’ve made me cry.”
“Do I get a hug?” An amused voice interrupted us, and I looked over to see Jake leaning a hip against the hood of his Jeep.
Kelly obliged, admiring his new haircut, then turned to look back at me, still with her arms around Jake. “Jake, I’m so happy for you both. I can’t imagine anything more perfect. Lisey, who’d have thought all those years ago your crush on my silly brother would turn out like this? Especially with me married to Adam.”
It took a moment for me to comprehend what was being said—and that it wasn’t a dream—before I could interrupt. Damage control required, my brain screamed. “We’re not—”
But Kelly was too excited to be interrupted. “All that time we spent mooning over these two and here we are. Didn’t everything work out beautifully?”
My eyes shot to Jake as I snapped, “Kelly!”
Kelly stopped, and I noticed two things. First, Jake was surprised by the information. Second, he was pleased by it. His grin was from ear to ear.
“Kelly, Jake and I are not together.”
“Oh. Then what are you doing here with him?” She looked from me to her brother, forehead creased in confusion.
Jake finally found his voice. “Annalise has been helping me with something, and I suggested she come to catch up with you and Mum.”
Kelly’s face drained of color as we all turned toward a voice from the house. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Um, that’s Adam calling me, I’ll see you in there.”
I watched Kelly’s retreating back, trying to make my lungs work. Now the initial crisis of gagging Kelly was over, my body had fallen into a strangely familiar state of shock. Third time in a week. Apparently, Jake Maxwell was not only bad for my emotional well-being, but also bad for my health.
Maybe I should leave? Yes, I’d leave. Except I’d come with Jake. Hmmm. I could walk. Yes, I’d walk home. Except my body had stopped obeying my commands. Hmmm. I could melt into the ground, in the fashion of the witch from The Wizard of Oz . Yes, melt. Good idea.
“You had a crush on me?” Dark eyes dancing, Jake was clearly trying to restrain a laugh.
He was laughing at me! All vestiges of shock instantly evaporated, and I was suffused with an anger born of humiliation.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Jake. I was sixteen. A lot has changed since then, including both you and me. I am definitely over you.” I turned and followed Kelly, trying to look composed and confident as I did, because that was one of the biggest lies I’d ever told.
…
Jake
I stood, leaning against the Jeep for several minutes after Annalise left. How much more stupid could I have been? Normally I was good around women, but laughing and teasing when she was emotional? Giant fail, Maxwell.
Then she’d left before I could make
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