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“What did they say?” I asked with a small smile. I really liked his brothers.
“If Ryan had pom-poms, he would have turned into a cheerleader in that moment. He’s always been Team Jess,” Nick said with a laugh. “And Frank was as tough as usual, promising me that we’d figure this out and make sure no one messed with your career.”
“But they were on board with you walking out?”
“They couldn’t have been more on board. The only thing they asked me to do was tell our dad before I took off.”
My heart plummeted. “Oh my gosh. Did you?” I could only imagine how awful that conversation must have been.
“I didn’t have a choice. He walked in at that exact moment, like he sensed that I was about to bolt.”
Get the Girl
Nick
Jess gasped again, and I wanted to take her pretty mouth and make sure the only sound coming from it was from the pleasure I was giving her. But I was jumping ahead of myself, and I knew it.
&nbs
p; “Dad took one look at me and knew what I was about to do. He told me to sit down, then asked Frank and Ryan to leave.”
Her gorgeous eyes widened. “Did they?”
“Hell no. They both leaned against the wall and crossed their arms, refusing to budge.”
That got a giggle out of her. I loved that laugh. I fucking missed it something fierce.
“Go on. I’m dying here,” she admitted with a grin, and it made me smile back like a lovesick fool.
“Dad asked me what was going on. For once, he actually looked and sounded concerned for my well-being.”
“Shocking.”
“I know, right? Anyway, I told him that I couldn’t do it, and then I apologized, Jess. Can you believe that? I fucking apologized to the man. But I told him I wouldn’t do it, that this was asking too much of me. Told him it wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right. And then I quit. And I told him if he ever threatened you or your future again, that I’d kill him.”
Her eyes grew wide again and she whispered, “You said that? To your father?”
“It was like once I started talking and stood my ground, I couldn’t stop. I told him I had to go. That I didn’t care what he did to me, but I was leaving. And you know what he said, Jess?” Her head tilted as she waited for me to continue. “He told me to go. He told me to get out of there before anyone saw me. That he would handle things.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, covering what I was certain was another gasp of surprise. “I can’t believe this.”
“He also apologized to me as I was walking out the door. He told me he was sorry. That almost stopped me in my tracks so I could turn around and acknowledge what he was giving me. But it wasn’t enough. Not when I compared it to you.” I touched her cheek for only a moment. “I couldn’t get here fast enough, Jess. I got into my truck and drove straight here. It pissed me off every time I had stop for gas, which was only once, but it was one time too many.”
Her expression softened, her eyes brightening with the tears that were forming. “I can’t believe you quit. I’m so proud of you.” She beamed. “So you’ll work at the bar then?”
“I haven’t talked to Frank and Ryan about it yet, but that’s the plan.”
“What does this mean? For us?” Her expression fell slightly, and I hated the doubt I was responsible for putting into her heart.
“I thought that was pretty self-explanatory. I want you, I’ll always want you, I never stopped wanting you. You’re my future. I just hope I’m still yours.”
“I still have another year left up here,” she said, her tone a little colder than it had been a moment ago.
I nodded. “I know exactly how much time you have left. I don’t care, and I never did. I shouldn’t have broken up with you, Jess. I was just so worried that you’d put me first, and I didn’t want you to end up hating me, or resent me somewhere down the line because of it.”
“Why couldn’t you just tell me that? You let me think you didn’t want me. You let me believe you didn’t care about us at all. My God, Nick, you let me think you couldn’t stay faithful.”
My insides twisted. I hated how much I’d continually hurt the one person that I loved. I had a lot of making up to do if she’d let me, and I sat there praying that she would.
