“He saved my life, Sammie. He jumped in front of that animal. I could have been killed.”
Sammie slammed her mouth shut.
Hallie sighed, tears fighting to spring free. “I shouldn’t have been in that field in the first place.”
“Why were you there, anyway?” Faith asked.
Hallie stiffened. She glanced between her friends then away. “I wanted to get a better look at that tree. You know the one. With yellow flowers…”
Faith nodded with understanding. “Thatisa pretty tree.” There was something in her voice that gave Hallie pause. Or maybe it was the way she cut a quick look at Sammie. Hallie didn’t have a chance to demand to know what they were thinking between themselves before Sammie spoke up.
“Are you saying you think he’s holding this against you?” Sammie asked.
Hallie’s lower lip puckered. She couldn’t say that for certain. And part of her wondered if Jacob’s attitude had something to do with her confessing her feelings for him. She was still so mortified over the whole thing that she hadn’t told her friends about it. The pitiful look she knew they’d give her when they found out he turned her down would shatter what little self-respect she still had.
“Hallie?” Sammie pressed.
Shaking her head, Hallie sighed. “I don’t think his mood is because he blames me per se. I think he’s just having a hard time coping with his current situation. He went from being independent to having to take it easy. That would be hard on any of us.”
Faith nodded. “Agreed.”
Sammie pressed her lips into a thin line. “Then I think the best thing you can do is to be there for him. You guys are so close. I swear you’re probably his best friend.”
Hallie flinched inwardly. If they were at one point, they weren’t anymore. Based on the way he was treating her, Jacob was likely counting down the days until she was out of his house. “Yeah,” she murmured noncommittally. “I can do that.”
“Good,” Sammie said, her voice chipper. “Just be there for him. Be empathetic. Upbeat. Patient. He’ll come around.”
Nodding, Hallie forced a smile.
“And the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So how about we pick up his favorite food from Sal’s? That shouldcheer him up. You know what he likes, right?” Sammie wagged her brows and nodded toward the building. “We’ll get lunch. Then grab him something to eat.”
“Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”
All through lunch, Hallie couldn’t stop wondering if Jacob’s mood had more to do with having to live with a girl he wanted nothing to do with. She continued to fidget in her seat as Faith updated Sammie on her engagement.
Faith was practically glowing. Everything between her and Brent had worked out perfectly even though they’d started out on rocky ground.
Jealousy flared to life in Hallie’s chest though she had no right to it. She’d been friends with Jacob for a long time and there had only been brief moments when he’d shown even an inkling of interest in her.
And those moments? They could be all in her head. Maybe she’d seen something when there hadn’t been anything at all. Her thoughts shifted to the night when she’d told Jacob she had feelings for him and her skin heated with embarrassment.
“Hallie?”
Startling, Hallie glanced toward Sammie. “Yeah?”
“You okay? You’re really red.”
The fact that her emotions were so easily read on her face made the heat sear even hotter. Hallie ducked her head as she grabbed her glass of water and took a sip. “I’m good.” The crack in her voice betrayed her further. Based on the way her two friends had gone quiet, Hallie knew they weren’t going to let this go all that easily.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet Sammie’s. This wassoembarrassing. “Okay, no. I’m not okay.”
They continued to stare at her expectantly, but they didn’t press her.
Groaning, Hallie returned her glass of water to the table then put her face into her hands. “I might have told Jacob that I had a crush on him.” She peeked through her fingers at the two seated at her table. They didn’t appear to be surprised, even though she’d never told them she liked him as more than a friend. “Well? Aren’t you going to say something?”
Faith shifted in her seat, her expression blank. But Sammie’s eyes sparkled. “Really?” she whispered, excitement in her voice. “And what did he say?”
This was where the mortification started. “He said he’s not interested. He doesn’t feel the same.”
