“O-kay. So what are you doing on your date?” There was a definite sneer coming through the line now.
“I don’t know. He’s picking me up at eight.”
“Kind of late.”
“In the morning.”
“What! Are you spending the night with him again? Don’t give me your bull, Maryn. You slept with him, didn’t you?” His voice was so full of rage she could feel it through the phone line.
Maryn gasped and clenched the phone until her knuckles turned white, and then she hung up on him.
She poked furiously at the noodles then opened a bottle of marinara sauce and poured a quarter of it into a saucepan. “Stupid idiot. He has no right. I hate him so much!”
The phone rang and she ignored it. After five more times of it ringing she put it on silent and finished assembling her simple dinner. She was too angry to eat though. A pounding on the door made her jump. She ran to it, hoping Tucker had returned. No such luck. James.
“Let me in, Mar. I know you’re here.”
She leaned against the door and said nothing.
“I’m sorry, okay. I just get insanely jealous when I think of you with someone else, especially him.”
“Why especially him?” she asked through the door.
“He’s wealthy and mysterious and he saved you from a bear. Who does that? How can I compete with that?”
Maryn wanted to tell him he couldn’t compete, but she just wasn’t able to force the words out. She opened the door partway. James’ hair was ruffled and his perfectly pressed shirt was untucked and halfway unbuttoned.
“Hey,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” He reached out a hand and trailed it down her cheek.
Maryn used to wish she felt any kind of sparks from his touch, but it was like a good friend or brother and now that she’d experienced Tucker’s touch she understood James couldn’t compete. “It’s okay.”
“I hate this jealousy, Mar. Please tell me you still… have feelings for me.”
“I don’t know James, I want to give him a chance.” Dangit! Why was she being such a wimp? She needed to end this now, but she knew it would be the end of their longtime friendship and work was going to be a mess with the awkwardness.
He hung his head. “I understand, but can you at least give me another date? See how it goes with him tomorrow and give him his chance, but save Friday night for me?”
Maryn felt awful for him. He’d been there for her through so many different things and she really did like the guy, he was a great friend. But he was right, Tuck had saved her from a bear and stolen her heart. How did someone compete with that?
“Okay.”
James straightened up, grabbed her, and kissed her before she could jerk away. It was quick and didn’t do much for her, but it made him grin. “Thank you, Mar. I’ll pick you up Friday at six.”
He strode away from her apartment toward his low slung sports car. Maryn still hadn’t asked him how much the monthly payments were on that puppy. Not that it was her business, but it seemed silly to drive a car that spendy when you couldn’t afford it.
He lifted a hand to her, grinning like she’d been watching him go because she was pining over him or something. Maryn closed the door and sighed. Friday night she’d have to be her blunt self and explain that they were done dating. Her thoughts immediately strayed to Tucker and their date tomorrow. She was going to eat dinner now and somehow go to bed early tonight. If she had to she’d take a sleeping pill or a lavender bath and melatonin. She was going to be well-rested and ready for whatever Tucker had planned tomorrow. Her excitement over the date was so high she knew she’d need several sleeping pills to get any sleep tonight.
ChapterFifteen
The boat cut through the ocean, big enough that it went smoothly over the waves, but small enough that Tuck didn’t feel like he was trying to show off by chartering it for just the two of them. The captain was an older gentleman who was doing a good job of giving them their space.
Tuck watched Maryn as she leaned back and closed her eyes. The sun was on her face and the wind pushed her hair back. A simple pink sundress showed off her tan shoulders and slender neck. She was gorgeous. He couldn’t believe he’d wasted two weeks before coming to see her, but the fact still remained that she left. He wanted to talk to her about it, but didn’t want to interrupt the lighthearted mood that had been with them from the minute he picked her up this morning and asked her to grab a swimsuit.
“Yes!” she’d exclaimed and given him a quick hug before dashing back into her bedroom.
Tuck wished he could’ve kept her in his arms, kissed her like he did yesterday. Her flowery smell seemed to linger even after she pulled away. Yet, he knew he had to take things slow and not scare her off. Being with her again was everything he’d hoped. He felt complete and alive and happier than he’d been in his entire life when she was around.
She opened her eyes and grinned at him. “You are staring at me, sir.”