AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jo chalked his mood up to him not being a morning person and decided that she’d give him a ride to his brother-in-law’s office, as he asked, and give him some much-needed space. Maybe some time apart would be good for Stone, but she wasn’t getting her hopes up.
After she walked in on him telling his sisters that he didn’t want her and that she was nothing more than his physical therapist, she made a fast retreat out to her car. Jo thought about leaving his ass there, but that wouldn’t be fair. She had a job to do and if that’s all Stone wanted from her, that’s what she’d give him. She’d be professional and take care of him, but there would be no more late-night kissing in his kitchen, and no more admitting that she wanted him. She was done giving in to her feelings for Stone, and tonight was just the wake-up call she needed. Hearing him call her “just his therapist,” was like a bucket of cold water on her overly active libido.
Trying not to cry only made her want to more and when the tears started falling down her face, she felt like a complete fool. Jo just hoped that she’d work it all out of her system before Stone got done with his little family meeting. She was an idiot and now, she would have to hide away in her room when Stone didn’t need her, trying not to think about that kiss.
He finally came out about a half hour after she ran out of the office like an idiot. Usually, she got out of the car to help him, but Jo decided to let him work it out on his own. He’d have to learn to get in and out of the car on his own and today was that day. “Hey,” he breathed, stowing his crutches in her back seat.
“Hello,” she spat. “Ready to go?” Jo knew that she sounded like a bitch, but she wasn’t going to let him think that his comment didn’t hurt her feelings. She thought about putting on a brave face and letting him think that she didn’t care what he had said about her, but her feelings were hurt, and there would be no hiding that fact. Her brother liked to tell her that she wore her feelings on her sleeve.
“Listen, about what you walked in on,” he started.
Jolene held up her hand, stopping him from saying what he was about to say. She didn’t need pretty promises or sappy excuses as to why he said what he had. “No need to explain, Stone,” she insisted. “You were being honest with your family. I’m your therapist and we don’t have anything between us that needed mentioning. Honestly, I’m happy to know where I stand with you, Stone,” she said. “Last night was a mistake, and hearing you say that about our kiss was a relief, honestly.”
“Liar,” he growled. “You’re just saying that because you think it’s what I want to hear, but it’s not.”
“Really, because I walked in on you insisting that I mean nothing to you. That I’m just your therapist, did I not?” she questioned.
“You did, but I was just telling my nosey sister’s that because they are relentless. They think that because they fell for their husbands and are blissfully happy, I should be too.”
“Oh, that’s just awful,” she sassed, “your sisters want you to be happy like them. How do you live with all of that? It must be horrible for you, Stone,” she said.
“I really hate sarcasm,” Stone said.
“Aww, you don’t like sarcasm?” she asked. “Well, tough. I didn’t like hearing that I mean nothing to you, Stone. It hurt my feelings,” she admitted.
“That wasn’t my intent,” he whispered. “I just wanted Lulah and Bobbie to lay off. I didn’t mean what I said, Jo. I’m sorry.” She wanted to believe him, but she wouldn’t fall for his pretty words again.
“I appreciate you saying that, and the apology and everything, but I think that it’s for the best that we keep things professional from here on out, Stone,” she said. The hurt on his face had her wanting to take back her words immediately, but it was too late for that. They were out there, even if she didn’t mean them.
“Fine,” he spat, turning to look out his window. “Can we just go home now?” he asked. She turned on the engine, knowing that saying anything else now would be futile. The damage was done, and Jo wasn’t sure that it could ever be undone, no matter how badly she wanted that to happen.
* * *
Stone had spent the next two days locked away in his room, only coming out when she insisted that he eat or do his physical therapy. She hated that he was avoiding her when she was the one who should be angry about the whole situation. He was sulking like a giant toddler, and she wasn’t sure how to stop him from hiding away from her.
Even if she could get him to spend time with her, what would she do or say? Telling Stone that she didn’t mean anything that she said in her car wouldn’t work. He was hurt, and she had caused that. It seemed like the more they talked, the deeper she dug herself into a hole she wouldn’t be able to get out of.
She was doing their lunch dishes when his cell phone rang. He had left it downstairs on the charger and gone back up to his room. Jo thought about letting it go to voicemail when she noticed that it was his sister, Lulah calling. She decided to answer the call, knowing that was probably crossing the professional line that she had drawn in the sand.
“Hello,” she said.
“Oh, hi, Jo,” Lulah said. “I didn’t expect you to answer Stone’s phone.”
“Yeah, he’s up in his room and left his cell phone in the kitchen on the charger,” she explained, not wanting Lulah to get the wrong idea.
“Okay, is he around?” Lulah asked. “If he’s sleeping, don’t wake him.”
“Um, let me check,” Jolene said. “I’m not sure if he’s sleeping or not.”
“I’m awake,” Stone said, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
“Sorry, I answered your phone when I noticed your sister’s number on the screen. I didn’t mean to overstep,” she whispered, holding her hand over the phone. Jo handed the phone to Stone, and he growled his sister’s name into the phone. Jolene went back to doing the dishes, trying not to eavesdrop as Stone talked to his sister.
“Can you pick me up?” he asked. Jo wondered why he’d have his sister come all the way out to his place to pick him up when she could just drive him where he needed to go.
“Sure, I’ll ask her, but I can’t promise that it will work with her schedule.” He put his call on mute and looked over at Jo. She pretended to be busy, but she could feel his eyes on her.
“What’s up?” she asked.
