I was?
Jade grabs her car keys from the hook inside the door and tosses them at me. They land on the pillow with a jingle, and that’s when I realize: Jadestilldoesn’t want Ruby to know about us. Talk about a boner killer.
The revelation really shouldn’t bother me; I told her it was up to her when or even if she told her sister, but after everything that’s happened, I thought maybe she wouldn’t still be ashamed of being with me.
My heart twists in my chest.
Looks like I’m wrong.
Not wanting to make things more awkward than they already are, I clutch the keys and stand to give Jade’s sister a wave. “Hey, Ruby. Perfect timing. I was just headed out.” I can feel Jade looking at me when I slip on my shoes, but I don’t spare her a glance in case Ruby catches me staring for too long. My jaw pops as I cross the wide wrap-around porch and take the three steps down to the winding flagstone path.
I’m not mad; I get why she doesn’t want Ruby to know. I’m just disappointed.
Really fucking disappointed.
A harsh wind whips through the creaking pines that stretch toward a gray sky. Should’ve probably grabbed my coat on the way out. Too late now. No way am I going back in there when I feel like this.
“Dylan?” Jade calls. “Dylan, wait up.”
Talking is the last thing I feel like doing, so I keep going. We can talk about this later and set some ground rules or whatever shit she wants, like who we’re allowed to tell: My family. And who we’re not: Everyone else.
Jade catches up to me right when I slide into the driver’s seat.
“I’m sorry about acting so weird,” she says, pink-cheeked and a little out of breath.
Great. Now I feel like shit for making her come all this way. I give her my best smile. “Fear not. You’re hardly the first girl who wants me to be her dirty little secret.”
She catches the door when I try to close it. “I don’t feel like that, Dylan.” Her gaze darts to the cabin, and the stain on her cheeks deepens. “Ruby knows that you and I have hooked up.”
“Wonderful. I’m sure she’s thrilled.”
And there it is, another frown confirming my suspicions. Instead of trying to deny it, Jade asks where I’m going. I could head back to the apartment and get some shit done, but that doesn’t hold any appeal.
There’s a whole thread of texts from my sisters asking me to come to Mom and Dad’s. I’m already in a shit mood, so maybe I’ll get that over with. “I need to go to a family meeting.”
“Oh…” Her shoulders sink. “Will Hayley be there?”
“Probably.”
“Do me a favor? Ask her to call me? I haven’t heard from her since she rang to see if I was okay.”
I tell her I will, and we say our goodbyes. As I pull out of the long driveway, I notice Jade watching me from the porch. I’ve already promised to help her with the store—and I’m going to. But my reasons for sticking around after Christmas are feeling awfully one-sided right now.
The more time I spend with Jade, the more I care about her. Which is a feeling I’m not used to and have no fucking clue what to do with. All I know is that it’s going to hurt like hell if she decides in the end that I’m not worth the hassle.
* * *
I walk into my parents’place to face three scowling women. I’d expected Hayley to be angry, but not Iris or Alex.
“Nice of you to finally join us,” Iris clips.
I take no offense at her snippy tone. She is pregnant, after all, and Ella’s had the chicken pox, which must’ve been pretty scary for everyone.
I’m about to apologize until my therapist’s voice drifts into my ear. Why should I apologize when I’ve done nothing wrong, and Idon’tfeel sorry? “I’ve been busy,” I say instead.
“I’m sure you have,” Alex mutters from where she’s leaning with her hip against the island.
Beside her, Hayley watches me through narrowed eyes. I wait for her snide remark, but she says nothing. And I thought she was scary on Halloween. This silence is much worse.
