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“Jenn? Are you okay?”
Oh, God, this was the voice she remembered. Steady and focused and comforting in a way she couldn’t explain. She refused to let herself cry, clearing her throat against the urge. “I’m good,” she said.
“Are you sure? Because things seem to have come to a head.”
“Yes. I’m not sure what’s going to happen between Chloe and me, but I just… You said I could call if I wanted to talk, but I’m sure you’re busy.”
“No, I’m supposed to be at lunch, so talk as long as you want.”
“It wasn’t me.” She waited a few breaths, then made herself continue. “I don’t want you to think I’m that kind of woman. It wasn’t me sleeping with him, it was our friend, Anna. But I knew about it and didn’t say anything, so maybe that’s just as bad.”
“No,” he said immediately.
“Anna told me it was over, and I thought that should be the end of it, and that’s awful. But I didn’t want you to think it was me.”
“Even if it had been… I could tell it was killing you.”
She felt the ghosts of his hands on her back, holding her while she cried. “Elliott?”
“Yes?”
“You live in D.C., so we never have to see each other again. And you probably shouldn’t see me again if your brother is involved with Chloe because she might hate me forever. But I’m not sure I’ll have the courage to say this any other time—”
“Jenn—”
“No, don’t. I’m being honest today, so let me say this.”
He stayed silent in answer, and Jenn nodded, squeezing the key so hard that it hurt. “I like you. That may sound weird considering what a complete disaster I’ve been. I’m not good with men. They make me nervous. But I like you a lot, and I know I started crying when we were… I know you’re probably relieved to be rid of me, but…I like you. And I’d love to see you again.” When she paused, she realized she was breathing into the phone, probably sounding as close to a crazy stalker girl as she possibly could. She squeezed her eyes shut and tipped the phone away from her face.
“You’re serious?”
Oh, God. He lives two hours away, she told herself. If he says no, you can pretend this never happened. “Yes.”
“But, the crying? I was under the impression that things didn’t, uh, go well.”
“Oh, Elliott. I know they didn’t go well with you, but with me… It was just too much to handle. You felt so good, and I was in such a bad place, and…maybe we could just take this more slowly?”
“Yes,” he said, such a simple answer that she didn’t understand it. “What?”
“Yes. I’m good with taking it slow. I’ve been divorced less than a year, and you’re the first woman I’ve dated since then.”
She swiped a tear off her cheek. “Really?”
“Really.”
“What about Chloe and Max?”
“She’ll forgive you, Jenn. You’re a beautiful person and she loves you.”
Apparently, her tears weren’t dried up at all, be cause they began to fall in earnest at his words. She made herself speak past them, even though her throat screamed with pain. “Maybe I could call you tomorrow?”
“Yes. But I’ll call you tonight to see how you’re doing.”
Jenn said goodbye before she could say anything embarrassing. She was now officially dating a man who intimidated her. A doctor. A man who treated her like an equal even when she acted like a lost child. And she wasn’t going to let her fear screw up the best thing she’d done in years.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THEY MADE LOVE. And took a nap. They played three games of Yahtzee as if they didn’t have a worry in the world. Then, because Chloe could now come and go as she pleased, Max took her to the movies.
