“So are you,” Diane replied. “I just wanted to check that you made it home safely.”
“Yes, thanks. It was a long drive, but uneventful. How are you guys doing?”
“We’re fine. We found a cute little B&B just outside the city, so we’re trying to think of this as an extension of our original vacation.”
“Hmm.” Rachel sipped her coffee. “A bit different than a Hawaiian cruise.”
“It certainly is, but I can’t imagine being anywhere but right here, with your brother.” She paused. “How is Jamie doing?”
“He’s fine,” she answered cautiously. “Why?”
“So he’s not there with you?”
The question was so unexpected that Rachel blurted out a denial before she had time to really consider her words.
“No! Jamie is not here with me,” she said, indignant. “It’s barely seven o’clock. Why would you even ask that?”
“I don’t know,” her mother mused thoughtfully. “I got the sense there might be something between the two of you. Dylan certainly seemed to think so.”
“Well, Dylan is an idiot, and he’s on some serious painkillers, so I wouldn’t take anything he says as truth,” she retorted. She didn’t know why she couldn’t tell her mother the truth. If there had ever been a time to come clean about her relationship with Jamie, this was it, but Rachel found she couldn’t do it. She wasn’t ready. Not yet.
“So you’re not…dating?” her mother pressed.
“No! Jeez, Mom!” Rachel exclaimed. “Jamie Colter and I are definitely not dating!” She squeezed her eyes shut, hating the lies coming out of her mouth. “First of all, he’s way too young for me, and secondly, he’s probably no better than my ex, too impressed with himself to make a good partner.”
A sound behind her startled her, and she turned in her chair to see Jamie standing in the open door to the house. Now he stared at her with an expression of stunned disbelief.
Rachel’s mouth went dry, and her heart plummeted to her stomach.
“Mom, I have to go,” she said, and disconnected the call.
She stood up, but Jamie was already turning away. “Jamie, wait! Let me explain!”
Jamie spun around on his crutches, and Rachel’s throat constricted. His face was pale, and twin patches of color rode high on his cheekbones. His blue eyes blazed with anger, and something else. Disappointment? Regret?
“Don’t bother explaining,” he bit out. “I get it.”
“Jamie, please let me explain—”
“Don’t bother. You already said it all, and when you begin comparing me to Deke Narducci, then there’s nothing left to say.” He started to turn away, and then spun back, his face tight with suppressed emotion. “But you know what? You’re right about one thing—the age difference is never going to work for us. You keep harping on how you’re too old for me, but you’re the one who’s acting like a teenager.
“I need a woman, Rachel. I want a partner, equal in every way, not someone who can’t make up her mind, who’s more worried about what people will think, who doesn’t know a good thing when it’s staring her right in the face, and who doesn’t appreciate something like this only comes around once in a lifetime—if you’re lucky. So call me when you grow up.”
Rachel reached for his arm, intent on stopping him, but he threw her off with one angry motion and kept going. She listened as the front door slammed shut, knowing she’d just made a terrible mistake.
*
Jamie couldn’t remain in his parents’ house, not with Rachel living across the street. He went hour to hour, alternately despising her and then despising himself.
He didn’t want to see her.
He didn’t know if he could go one more minute without seeing her.
He kept replaying the conversation he’d overheard, over and over again in his head. She couldn’t have said anything more insulting if she’d tried, especially considering what they’d shared just the night before. He’d actually convinced himself that she was falling in love with him; that they had a chance of making a go of a real relationship. He was such an idiot.
He could maybe have forgiven her for lying to her mother about the fact they were sleeping together, and even the comment about him being too young for her. But he didn’t think he could forgive her for comparing him with Deke Narducci.
He felt all torn up inside, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t have a plan. All he could think was that he’d blown it. He’d had two weeks to prove he was perfect for her, and he’d blown it. He couldn’t stay. If he did see her, or if she decided to come over, he’d lose it. He’d tell her he loved her, and beg her to stay, and that’s not what she needed.