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Wrapping my arms around my body, I thought about last night and how amazing Preston had made me feel. The idea of how much I needed Preston still scared me, but that wall had finally fallen and I couldn’t wait to start over with Preston. Closing my eyes, TJ’s smile appeared. My heart would forever have a piece missing. I knew that there would always be a part of me forever lost. But Preston had given me hope. Life was moving on.
—
A week had passed since my birthday and things couldn’t have been better. Preston had stayed with me at my condo every single night when he wasn’t on shift. I felt so alive. Even my friends from school and work said they saw a difference in me.
Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I pulled it out to see Jake was calling me.
“Hey!” I said with a smile.
“Hey, back at you. You’ve been radio silent the last week. When do I get to take my baby sister out to dinner and drinks to celebrate her twenty-first birthday?”
Laughing, I said, “Sorry. I’ve been kind of busy.”
“Mmm, let me think about this. I sent Preston a text a couple days ago asking if he wanted to hang out on one of my rare days off and he said he had been really busy. You’re busy. That leads me to the conclusion that you’re getting busy together.”
Feeling my face blush, I continued to throw a load of laundry into the washer. “I’m not even going to give you the satisfaction of knowing that I heard that.”
Laughing, Jake said, “I knew it. Harmony, I can hear it in your voice, sweetheart. You sound…happy.”
Leaning against the washer, my smile weakened as the guilt came flooding back with the thought of my being happy without TJ in my life. Pushing it aside, I walked into the kitchen and checked on the roast I was making for dinner. The smell of rosemary filled the air. Preston would be getting off later so it would be a late dinner, but that didn’t matter. It could sit in the Crock-Pot on warm.
“Jake, I am happy. Preston has this way of making me feel like I’m the center of his world and I’m not used to that.”
“He better fucking make you feel that way or I’ll kick his ass. Doesn’t matter that the guy can probably bench-press me ten times, I’ll still pound his face if he hurts you.”
Giggling, I took out a peach cobbler from the oven and set it on the cooling rack as I leaned over and smelled the heavenly smell of sugar and peaches. “Stop it. There will be no ass kicking or face pounding.”
Jake mumbled something to someone, then continued talking. “I hope not. I really like his uncle’s pub.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “How is Sandy?”
Jake became very quiet all of a sudden. “Jake? Is everything okay between you guys?”
“Yeah. Everything is great. I…um…well, I…I kind of…”
“Holy hell, spit it out already.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Jake said, “You can’t tell anyone this. Promise?”
Crossing my fingers, I said, “I promise.”
“Uncross your fingers, Harmony.”
Damn it.
“Fine, I promise.”
Blowing out a few quick, sharp breaths, Jake said, “I bought an engagement ring. There, I said it.”
Dropping my mouth open, I started jumping. “Shut up! When are you going to ask her?”
“Christmas. Do you think she’ll be surprised?”
“Yes! I think she will be very surprised. Oh, Jake, I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Harmony. I’ve been kind of waiting until things settled down with you and all.”
Wait. What? What does he mean he has been waiting for things to settle down with me?
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, you know, I didn’t want to ask Sandy too soon after the, um…well…I didn’t want to feel like I was kicking you while you were down.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. Jake had put off asking Sandy to marry him because of me?
I was about to say something when I heard someone calling out for him. “Hey, sis, I’ve got to run. Remember! Don’t tell Sandy anything! I love you.”
Trying to find my voice, I said, “I love you, too.”
The line went dead and I stood there staring out the window. Setting my phone down, I made my way over to the sofa and sat down. I was stunned that Jake would wait for me. Was I that pathetic after the accident? So frail and fragile that my own brother would think I wouldn’t be happy for him?
Standing up, I decided to go for a run. After changing into my running gear, I headed out and started pounding the pavement. I wasn’t sure how long or how far I ran, but by the time I got back, I saw Preston’s car parked in my spot. Smiling, I raced up the stairs and into my condo. I called out his name. “Preston?”
