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She followed suit. Maybe light conversation wasn’t the way to go after all.
“Eric.”
“Juniper.”
“This isn’t working.”
Their words tangled together as though neither could get the words out fast enough.
Shock passed over Eric’s expression and Juniper slowly offered a smile. She tried for comfort but worried it came out a bit contrite instead.
“I’m sorry. It’s not that this is a bad thing, both of us knowing,” she waved a hand between them, “that what we share just isn’t working, you know?” she began. “It’s just that—” What? She couldn’t put a finger on it. They had clicked from the start when they first met. Late-night calls, lunchtime video chats when he was off on a project, and their random dinner dates when he could make it back to town.
Her chair suddenly became like cement and she couldn’t get comfortable no matter how she shifted.
“I hope you can understand.” She folded and unfolded the ends of her napkin. During his last time in town was when she noticed something different between them. Truth be told, she should have seen this day coming. Did see it coming, only refused to acknowledge it.
“Yeah. I get it. I guess we’re on the same page after all.” He paused and the hard line of his jaw twitched. “I’m sorry, Jun. I really am. The wholeit’s not you, it’s mething is cliché but it’s true, for me anyway.” He looked so heartbroken and she was tempted to reach out and retract every word and never mind her silly words. Maybe they just needed to try harder to make things work. But her heart wouldn’t let her mind have control over this one.
“I know I’m the one that convinced you to give us a try and all but,” he lifted a single shoulder when he couldn’t find the words to continue.
The part of her that wanted everything perfect craved a do-over. “It’s okay, Eric. You don’t need to cushion the blow or explain. Neither you nor I can help how we feel. I have to admit I didn’t think we would last this long. Did you?”
This time he reached for her hand, slipping both around hers in a warm hold. “You’re not upset? I am sorry if I hurt you.” Now it was his turn to look contrite and it made her stomach hurt. She hated to see the happiness he spread dim because of her.
He would make some girl-next-door perfectly happy but she needed someone willing to demand she deep throat him the second he walked through the door after a long day at work. Or bend her over the couch arm any day of the week wearing nothing but a kiss the cook apron as he whipped up breakfast for them.
Kinky shit she didn’t tell anyone about. Not even her sisters.
Juniper may look perfectly put together, the quiet laid-back woman but she had dirty ideas for her perfect man and Eric didn’t fit the bill.
She shook her head and offered a tiny smile as she looked into his eyes. “Not at all. Promise.” She glanced at the calm waters beyond the window then let her gaze rove over the crowd before returning it to him.
“Actually, I’m a little confused about something.”
“Why was I in the jewelry shop?”
Her mouth fell slack and she stiffened in surprise.
Eric’s eyes brightened with mirth and the laughter she knew him for returned as he relaxed. “Don’t be so shocked. I’m not a mindreader.” The soft crinkles around his eyes deepened as he smiled and with that, the conversation spun in a one-eighty.
“I saw your friend at the same time she spotted me.”
Juniper nodded. “That would explain it.”
He pulled his hands from hers and sat back. “Iwasshopping for a ring. But when I couldn’t find the perfect one, I started thinking maybe I’m not the perfect man. Not for you anyway, Juniper, and you deserve the best. Only the best. You deserve someone that will be there when you wake in the morning and someone to hold you as you sleep.”
His admission had her brows pinching together in confusion.
“The last time I visited your shop I stumbled across a little something in your planner. It was wide open on your desk.” He threw his hands up, palms out. “At first I didn’t think anything of it.” He scratched his jaw before making eye contact with her. “It took me a while to digest what I had read and realized I couldn’t be what you wanted. I hope you understand.”
It took a moment for realization to dawn.
Sting with a side order of burn. Ouch!
“Err…Yeah, I’m sorry. No one is really supposed to read that. It’s—” What? She never had to explain her list before. “It’s just something for fun that I did…do.” She scrunched her nose. Her heart picked up and she suddenly wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
“You’re right,” she continued. “We both are. Maybe it’s best we part ways after all. So you can find that perfect someone too.” With that thought came another. “Is there someone else? Someone that does that for you?”
