“I don’t know how it would sort out long term, but if you feel strongly enough about this girl that you want to move down there and see, then you need to do it. You can’t give up on something like that. Even if it doesn’t work in the long run. Sometimes you take the risk, even if it doesn’t make sense on paper.”
He hated hearing even the thought of it not working in the long run, even if he couldn’t picture how it would work. Relationships weren’t easy—that’s what people always said, right? Then there was the one other complication, which wasn’t so small. Shelby might not be willing to try at all if she knew about the land deal. He swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Thanks for talking to me, Sis. Or should I say, Dream Crusher?”
“I’d smack you if I were there, little bro.”
“Just like old times. I’ll give you a call when I come back. Give my love to the two main girls in my life. Would they want stuffed alligator heads? That’s something they have here.”
“Ew. You bring something like that back and you’re banned from the family.”
“Okay. But remind me to tell you about how I went swimming with an alligator.”
She paused. “Jake, I think you need to get back to Chicago, stat. Do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars. I think Texas broke you.”
He laughed. “Maybe. But I think I like me broken.”
“I’ll let you know when I see you next.”
Jake hung up, a smile on his face. Maybe he didn’t have a full plan. How could you plan a life with someone you just met anyway? Candace was right. He needed time. Tomorrow he’d call Xan back and they would figure out the rest of this project. Today the focus was on Shelby. If he wanted to move down and give this a chance, he needed to know she was on board. But that would also mean being honest and telling her about his role in her losing the house.
He had to think positively. It would work. She would forgive him. He would come back. They would figure this thing out.
His heart sped up as the miles closed, beating in time with his thoughts: Shel-by, Shel-by, Shel-by. It felt like he’d been gone from her for hours, though it had only been two. She probably wasn’t even done at the spa yet. He hoped that she was having a good day. One more stop and then he would be back with her. As he turned into a parking lot, Xander called again. Jake glanced at the phone. He had three voicemails and fifteen texts. This was bad. He hesitated for a moment, his finger over the phone. Instead of opening it, he turned off his phone and stepped out of the car.