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“It’s not the same thing!” Her voice rose, and she tucked her chin against her chest, mildly embarrassed. “It’s not the same thing,” she said softer.
Jack looked at her and exhaled. “You’re right. You had it better.”
Jo jerked her gaze to his. “What? How can you say that?”
“Because your grandma had a choice. She didn’t have to keep you or let you live with her or love you. But she chose you.”
She blinked a few times, her lips pressed together, and her face turned pink. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m done talking to you.” She huffed. “Don’t worry about working on the house. I’ve got it, and if we need help, I’ll hire someone else. I don’t want to see you again.”
He sucked in a sharp breath as his heart hit the ground. “Come on, Jo, you don’t mean that.”
“I do. We’re done, so just leave me alone from now on,” she said as she stormed off.
Jack stood there a moment. His head and his chest hurt.
His mom must have seen what happened because she was next to him before Jo even reached her car. “Is everything okay?”
Raking his hand through his hair, he said, “No. I think I just ruined everything.”
“Were you honest?”
“Yeah.” He looked at her. “I was.”
“Were you respectful?”
He replayed the conversation. “I think so, or I sure tried to be.”
His mom touched his arm and looked up at him. “Do you care about her?”
“Yes.” He didn’t even hesitate. “I’ve fallen for her.”
“Does she know that?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t even get the chance to get that far.”
She followed his gaze, and they watched Jo take off.
“It’s cliché, but if it’s meant to be, it will work out. Give her some space and some time. I have a feeling it’s not about you.”
Maybe his mom was right. Maybe this was something she had to figure out on her own, and he needed to keep his distance until she did, even if that meant indefinitely.
The only way a relationship would work is if she wanted it to, and until she wanted it, there was no point in chasing it. Or her.
CHAPTER 22
Jo
That stupid well.
Jo had a good mind to take a bat to it. It sure was tempting, but she also knew that jail wasn’t an item on her bucket list, nor did she want to take that off her never-have-I-ever list.
Pacing, she would throw a glare every few steps. She’d wished. Wished hard, too. A week later, school started, and Craig took an interest in her. No one had really filled in the gap Jack left, and Craig moved to town. Suddenly, he was new and exciting. He wasn’t the same sort of good Jack was, but he was funny and likable.
Of course, Jack had big shoes to fill. Craig wasn’t as philanthropic or as noble. He didn’t always stop the older guys from picking on the younger ones. He didn’t rally troops to fix houses or do clothing drives, but he was funny and friendly and charming.
When he’d turned an eye in Jo’s direction, she’d thought there was no way, but Craig flirted with her, did his best to be wherever she was, and eventually, he’d asked her out.
At the time, she thought the well had granted her wish. He wasn’t perfect or fit the list of things she wanted in a guy, but she’d reasoned that maybe she’d been too picky. Craig was a nice guy. He wanted her.
