“Hang in there, brother. Everything always works out the way it’s supposed to.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
She knewit was only a matter of time.
Hallie closed the front door quietly so as not to alert Jacob that she’d heard everything he had to say. The second her name came from his lips, she’d felt herself start to crumble. She might have gone out there to confront him if she hadn’t heard the anguish in his voice.
Jacob was struggling with his own views of what should happen between them. And she wasn’t going to be the one to push a decision on him. Besides, by the end of the conversation, she could tell he was already leaning toward one side.
Jacob Hines was the sort to have a singular mindset. He focused on what mattered most to him and he put his whole heart into it. If Hallie were being honest with herself, she’d admit that during the last couple of months she could tell he was holding back. He didn’t feel secure enough to give her all of himself.
Perhaps that was why the dull pain in her chest wasn’t ripping her apart from the inside. Because she’d already known from the beginning that whatever this was—it would be temporary.
So, she focused on preparing the hoagies she’d gotten the ingredients for. She sliced the cheese, tomatoes, and onions. Then she layered everything on some buns and plated the meal. Something told her that by the end of the upcoming party, everything would go back to the way it was before.
Before she’d allowed him to have her whole heart but after the awkwardness of confessing her feelings. At least he’d be traveling, and the strained part of their friendship would be allowed to breathe for a bit.
The front door opened and Jacob glanced at her briefly before gesturing toward the hallway. “I’m going to use the restroom. Then can we watch that show?”
She nodded, fighting back the tears and forcing a smile to hide the grief that threatened to overwhelm her. “Of course.”
He flinched. It was so small no other person would have been able to see it.
But she did.
Jacob didn’t meet her gaze again until after he’d returned from the restroom. The air was thick with the anticipation of the hardest conversation she’d have to experience in her life, second only to when she’d laid her heart bare for him.
“He looks so good!”Faith nudged Hallie and nodded toward the group where Jacob stood. He was smiling with his friends. Brent, Tate, Jason, and Mack were only a few of those who were here in full support of Jacob’s return to the arena.
She didn’t miss the way Jacob continued to seek her out and lock eyes with her during the event. There was a pain there that she wished she could take away. At the same time, she battled with the knowledge that this chapter of her life was completely temporary. She needed to remind herself to enjoy what she had.
“So…” Wendy said with an excited drawl. “You finally got the guy. How does it feel?”
Hallie dragged her eyes toward Wendy. She was married to Tripp and their relationship had started off rocky but in the end, they’d made it work. Heck, as she looked around the group of women who were watching her with rapt focus, she could recall moments in each of their relationships where hardship had come between them and the men in their lives.
There was just one big difference.
The men who belonged to these women were raised to understand how important love was. Hallie knew her aunts and uncles. They were all strong in their relationships and they’d set great examples for their sons.
She could feel Jacob watching her again, but this time she didn’t give in to the temptation to look at him. He’d lost his parents. His father was a drunk who got them both killed. She couldn’t remember a lot about what Jacob had gone through as a child but based on how much importance he put on his career over any relationship including the one with his brother, she’d assumed that he simply didn’t have the tools to maintain one.
Hallie was nudged again, this time by Faith. “You okay, sweetie?”
Forcing a smile, something she’d been doing a lot more frequently these days, Hallie nodded. “Yeah, it’s just… it’s been…a lot has been going on, you know? I moved back home and Jacob is diving into work again. But everything has been great. Better, even.” Shoot, was her voice too peppy? Was she overcompensating because she felt like she was lying to her friends?
The truth was, everything had been going great. If she hadn’t heard Jacob’s side of the conversation with his brother, she probably would be on cloud nine.
Changing the subject seemed to be in order. Otherwise, she might reveal the truth of her feelings. Hallie’s friends were the sort to back her up and if they thought Jacob deserved it, they’d go to bat for her.
Clearing her throat, she glanced around at the women. “Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you guys.”
All eyes turned to her, locked on her face and making her squirm. She blushed hot and let out a laugh. “Sheesh, can you guys be just a little less intense? I mean, seriously.”
There were some quiet chuckles and she drew in a nervous breath. “I entered a competition of my own.”
They waited expectantly.
“In photography. There’s a magazine that’s looking for some new talent… and…”
