I wanted something that felt like mine.
I was still struggling to find the right words for Jamison that would be honest yet protect my ego, and keep the past in the past, when the doors slid open to our floor. We fell into step, side-by-side, my eyes trained on my feet.
“Mike mentioned, I hope it’s okay, but there was a guy?” Jamison prodded.
“A guy?” I forced out, my throat suddenly tight.
“Yeah, Mike said he might of broken your heart”—a self-deprecating grin fit onto Jamison’s face—“sorry if that’s a dramatic way to say it.”
I made ahuhsound, my pulse returning to a level place. “A broken heartfeelspretty dramatic.”
His head snapped up to look directly at me, the crease between his eyebrows was etched even deeper than usual. He came to a stop halfway to our rooms. I turned to face him. “So, he did? Who is it? Do I know him?”
Oh, the irony.
“I don’t want to get into it,” I said, walking again.
“What happened?”
Was he mad? He sounded angry.
“Um . . . I liked him more than he liked me.”
Pausing outside his door, Jamison turned to consider me. He tilted his head, taking me in from my toes to the top of my head. I tucked my chin into the neck of my sweatshirt, wishing there was somewhere to hide. His appraisal didn’t feel sexual, more like an assessment.
Finally, he flicked his gaze to the side. “He’s an idiot.”
Laughter burst from me, it stung like a bitter taste at the back of my throat. It stung like salt in the wounds of my heart. It stung like the tears in my eyes.
“Sadie,” Jamison breathed.
“I’m fine.” Pulling my key card out of my legging’s pocket, I unlocked my door sliding my toe over the threshold to keep it open. “But you’re right, the physical aspect is done, and we’ll just be friends.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
It was good that he accepted without any protest, right? That was healthy, accepting boundaries. So, why did I have to fight for my voice not to waiver? “I’ll see you tonight.”
I didn’t wait for his response before I disappeared into my room retreating into the solitude with its nearly black brown wainscoting and white bedding. I flipped the switch to the crystal-strung chandelier above the bed. But still the image of his mouth growing soft, and the corners of his brown eyes turning down with tenderness for me was vivid in my mind.
I felt more naked in front of him than I ever had before.
Chapter 9
Sadie
“They’ll take all of the seating out. Except for Belle’s desk, of course.” June spoke just above a whisper.
Other resort guests sat in leather chairs clustered in sets of four on either side of the main aisle leading to the ornate mahogany desk facing a wall of windows that broke up the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves making up the rest of the circular perimeter. Up the spiral staircases banking either side of the room were the rare first editions safely behind glass doors. The second floor overlooked the lower level, and just past the carved railing, people bent to put their faces close or took selfies with their favorite titles. There was a reverent energy to the room.
Even my ridiculous sister was cast under its spell.
“We’ll get married right there.” She pointed toward the desk where her favorite author wrote the most hopeful and heartbreaking love stories. Tales that over a century later still ensnared readers causing romantics like her to believe in happy endings.
“Will they take down the chain around the desk for the ceremony?” I asked.
She pinched her lips to the side. “No, but at least it’ll be in the background of the photos. The officiant will be just to the left of it.”
“I bet Belle Wether would love that.”
