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“Katie? Are you okay?”
After Jake left me at the barn, I went back out and called the wedding off. I looked for Jeff, but he was nowhere to be found. I’m a mess, and I really could use his calm strength.
I look up at the door when I hear my best friend’s voice. Callie looks just as panicked as I am, and that does nothing to calm me. I push past the need to run to her and collapse in her arms and let her make things feel better–as only a best friend can do.
I can’t allow myself that luxury. Right now, I need to talk to Jeff. I need to explain to him why I didn’t go through with the wedding. I should have spoken to him first, and I’m currently kicking my ass that I didn’t. The thing is, you don’t really thinkwhen you’re in shock. At least I don’t. Mostly, I just react and then kick myself for weeks.
“Do I look okay?”
Damn it. That came out bitchy, and that’s not what Callie deserves. I’ve been so hateful the last two weeks that I’m surprised she hasn’t slapped the hell out of me and called me on my shit. Although, I know that’s not Callie’s style. I’d be so lost without her. I try to remember if I ever told her that, but I’m not sure. Right now, I can only think of the fact that Jake Ryan showed up and made a disaster out of my wedding to his brother.
“Katie–”
“I’m sorry, Callie. My brain is a mess. Can you find Jeff and bring him here? I desperately need to talk to him, and I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“He was talking to Reed earlier. I’ll go see if I can find him,” she says, her face etched with worry.
“Thank you,” I whisper as she goes out the door and leaves me alone.
I’m shaking so hard that I don’t know how I’m still standing. I’m afraid to sit down, though. If I do, I might not get back up. Finally, I force myself to sit, completely enveloped by the silence in the room, I hope to God that I can somehow make sure that Jeff knows that I may have called the wedding off, but I still plan on making our lives together. I just needed to mitigate the damage that Jake seemed intent on causing. Hell, half the county already talks about me.
Katie Smith with the loose morals. Single mother who has fooled around with not one but both of the Ryan boys.
Damn busybodies. It has been so bad that I’ve thought about moving to shield Lennon. My grandmother needs me, though, and Jeff loves Macon. I do my best to hold my head up highand ignore them. They don’t know my pain. No one really does, except maybe to some extent Callie.
And Jeff.
Jeff knows because he’s been here with me the entire time. He’s held and kissed me while I cried, and a million other things that I sometimes forget but try to never take for granted.
I can feel tears stinging my eyes, and yet, they won’t fall. Maybe it’s the shock. I don’t really know. All I can do is stare at the door. I’m numb–completely and utterly numb. I can’t even tell you how long I stay like this—willing Jeff to walk in and save the day like he has so many times before. Ten minutes? An hour? Time seems rather meaningless. When it finally opens, I stand up—prepared to run into Jeff’s arms. He’ll make this better. He always does.
Only it’s not Jeff at the door.It’s Jake.
My face falls, and I push aside the feeling that I want to cry and concentrate on the hate bubbling up inside for the man who nearly destroyed me once and seems intent on finishing the job now.
“Not the brother you were looking for?” he asks with a snide look.
“I can’t talk to you right now. I need to talk to Jeff and–”
“Jeff’s gone,” he says simply, and my heart flips in my chest.
“What do you mean?”
“He loaded up his truck and headed out about twenty minutes ago.”
“What did you do?”
Jake laughs, but the sound is more bitter than anything else. “It’s not what I did. It’s what you did. Calling off your wedding without even consulting with the groom. Then again, you didn’t tell the father of your child you were pregnant either, did you? Not talking with the men you’ve slept with seems to be a weakness with you,Kathryn.”
I don’t think. I just get up and march over to him. I look at him and let the misery of the day and my anger collide. I slap him, hoping to erase that cocky look from his face. “Fuck you, Jake. You didn’t exactly make it easy to tell you a damn thing when it came to being pregnant.”
“It might have beeneasierif you had fucking tried. I want to see my son tomorrow. Don’t try to put me off, and don't try to get out of it. I’ll be here at six tomorrow evening.”
“But Jake—”
“This isn’t up for discussion. My son better be here tomorrow at six. If not, you won’t like how I respond.”
I watch as he walks away. When the door closes, I slowly sink to the floor. Finally, the tears I’ve held at bay since Jake appeared begin to fall. The sobs are so violent that I barely notice when Callie gathers me in her arms and holds me, letting me cry.
