Page 72 of The Other Plan

Now that I’d let him tear down the fortress around my heart, I couldn’t imagine it getting any more painful to say goodbye than it would already be. Realizing that I’d jumped headfirst into my own personal hell, no had gotten dragged headfirst when he wouldn’t listen to my pleas to leave me alone, caused my sadness and fear to morph into anger.

“This is exactly why I didn’t want to start this thing up with you, but you wouldn’t listen! What the hell was I thinking?” I pushed out of his arms and moved to the other side of the kitchen.

“Jenna,” he soothed, “don’t you dare bolt on me now.”

“I’m not bolting, Carter. This isn’t me running. This is me taking some space to try to figure out the logistics of the impossible. It’s me pausing to use common sense instead of following my stupid ass heart that’s leading me straight into the mouth of hell—straight into the same heartbreak I never recovered from the first time we fell apart. I just need... I just need to think.”

“Okay,” he said quietly. “I get that.”

“Just... I have a shit-ton of stuff to do for the rehearsal dinner tonight, and I can’t be distracted by all this. So, just give me some time to do my job and think.”

“If that’s what you need.”

“That’s what I need.”

“Okay.” He moved toward me, but I lifted my hand.

“Don’t. Don’t blind me with your kisses. I need a clear head.”

I couldn’t even look up at him, or I knew I’d see the pain in his eyes.

“I’ll just go then, Jenna. But promise me you aren’t going to throw in the towel on us. We will find a way to be together. We have to.”

“I’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner tonight.”

Without another word, he went upstairs to get dressed.

Tears streamed down my face as I sat down and weighed the monumental decision in front of me.

CHAPTER TWENTY

CARTER

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People mingled around the Bronson’s mansion, all raving about the food. I’d been in such a daze during the rehearsal dinner that I’d barely taken notice of the elegant courses that had been brought out by the servers dressed in black.

Despite being sure the food was as good as they said, I’d been too distracted by Jenna buzzing around in the background to enjoy even a single bite. Once again, she showcased her impressive evasive maneuvering skills as she managed to keep me at least a room away no matter where I went. It seemed we had gone one step forward, ten steps backward. Just this morning, I’d had her in my arms, and now I couldn’t even get into the same room with her.

And I couldn’t blame her. As much as it pained me to admit the reality of our situation, she was right. Would I really be okay with her working side by side with an ex hell-bent on winning her back while I was trapped across the country?

No. Hell no. I’d be driven mad with thoughts that today would be the day he wore her down, won her back... stole her away from me. Tolerating that was asking too much of anyone, much less someone like Jenna, who guarded her heart like a starving pit bull with a juicy bone. I’d been fortunate enough she’d let her walls drop to let me in not just once but twice. And now that they’d gone flying back up, I didn’t know if I’d get lucky enough for a third chance.

“Carter?” Camilla asked.

I groaned and stepped away. “Not now, Camilla.”

She came up closer anyway. “I know you said it was over, and I heard you, but I just wanted to make sure that we’re okay. I mean, we’re going to be seeing each other every day. I don’t want it to be awkward. It would break my heart if you... hated me.”

I spun around and blew out a breath. “I don’t know how this is going to work, to be honest. But I don’t hate you. It’s impossible to hate another person when you have an incredible future stretched out before you. I wish you and your business well, Camilla, but there’s nothing more to say.”

She sucked her red-painted lip between her teeth and dropped her gaze to the ground. “I’m sorry, Carter. I honestly thought we’d work things out soon, and it would be a great thing to get to work near each other. I guess I really misjudged things.” Her shoulders slumped as she took a deep breath, but then she peeked up, and her eyes flickered once again with that hope I’d thought I’d extinguished. “Or maybe this will be a good thing working in close proximity. Maybe it’s just what we need to have some kind of relationship again, even if it’s just a friendship. You never know. Time can heal all wounds, and I think given a little more time, you may be surprised at how our friendship could grow.”

Though I held no ill will for her anymore, I also had no desire to be her friend. There was too much history for us to ever have a healthy friendship. Not to mention the extra stress that relationship would put on Jenna. And the sparkling look in Camilla’s eyes as she stared at me didn’t give me any confidence that she’d happily accept a cordial friendship if we ever made it that far. No, she would try to take things to the next level. Give an inch, and she’d go for a mile.

Before I could answer her and let her know that professional courtesy would be the only relationship in our future, I looked up past Camilla and saw Jenna watching the interaction... her face frozen in horror as she stared at my ex’s eager facial expression. No doubt she saw the intent in Camilla’s gaze too. Not exactly the comfort she needed to feel safe knowing I would be across the country working near my ex.

Shit.