Page 18 of Choose You

“Keep it down, Jess. Let’s not air our problems for the town to see.”

She leans forward and pokes her finger in my chest. “I don’t care if the town knows what kind of asshole you are Matt. Maybe it’s time someone called you out on all your shit. Do they know about the promises you made me? Do they know you said you’d marry me, andnot some stranger from God-knows-where? I spent years believing you—loving you.” Her voice cracks. She sits up straight and covers her face before she continues. “Like a fool, I believed you still wanted me. And when I needed you most, you were withher.”

I start to respond but Rachel approaches. “Hey guys. I appreciate you two have some things to talk about, but do you think you can keep it down a bit?”

Jessica stands and gathers her things. “Sorry. We’re done here. I’m leaving.”

I drop my head against the back of my chair and rub my hands over my face. I understand where she’s coming from. Her feelings and anger toward me are completely valid, but she’s frustrating the hell out of me. She has nowhere else to go and she knows it.

When I look back up, she has her bag over her shoulder and she’s heading for the door. “Jess, wait.”

She doesn’t stop. I shouldn’t follow her, but all I can hear are my momma’s words insisting that I make this right.

By the time I make it out the door, she’s halfway down the sidewalk. I have no clue what I’m going to say to her when I catch up to her. All I know is I have to stop her from walking away. I’ve let her go so many times in the past, but something is different now. I can’t explain it. Everything within me is pushing me toward her, screaming at me not to let her go.

Her being here is a sign. It’s the one last chance I have to fix things with her, and I don’t intend on wasting it.

When I catch up to her, I step in front of her, careful not to touch her. She lets out an angry growl but stops.

“Seriously, Matt. Why won’t you just leave me alone?”

“Because I can’t.” The words flow out of me, and I loosen the tight hold I have on my desire for her. I let every bit of it free, and she sees it. Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. All I want to do is swoop her into my arms and kiss her, lick her, taste her.

I slowly step closer, my eyes glued to hers. With every step I take forward, she takes one backward until her back rests against the wall of the building behind us. “I’ve made that mistake way too many times in the past. I’m not making it again now.”

“It’s not up to you anymore.” Her voice is low and heady. Herchest rises and falls quickly. And her eyes give me a different answer than her words. No matter what she says, she still wants me.

I take a step closer. Our bodies are like magnets, pulling us closer and closer together until we’re almost flush. Her breath brushes against my neck. I lightly run my fingertips down her arm, and she trembles under my touch. I shift my gaze to her mouth, and she licks her bottom lip eliciting a growl from me. All I can think about right now is pressing my mouth to hers and sucking her plump bottom lip between my teeth and nibbling on her.

Her hand rests on my chest, and I expect her to push me away. I’m prepared to give her more space if that’s what she needs, but I can’t walk away from her. Not again.

But she surprises me. Instead, she fists my shirt and gently tugs me closer. It would be so easy to kiss her right now. And I really want to. I stare at her mouth as I slowly inch closer and closer to her.

Then a car door slams shut somewhere nearby, and I jerk back. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

I step away, putting distance between us, and run my fingers through my hair. She slumps against the wall and drops her head. I can’t be sure, but I think I hear a sob escape her. Her shoulders shake and she covers her face.

I can’t stand seeing her like this. And I hate it even more that I’m completely to blame. I can’t fix this, no matter how much I want to. But there is one thing I can do to make this better.

“I’ll vacate the house. Emmie and I will stay at Momma’s until you decide what you’re going to do. All I ask is that you allow me to continue using the barn for my clinic. I can’t exactly move my business somewhere else on such short notice.”

I don’t wait for her to answer. I head to my truck to go home where I have an even harder conversation waiting for me.

CHAPTER 7

JESSICA

My body is shaking, and if not for this wall behind me, I’d fall to the ground.

He was going to kiss me, and I was going to let him.

I drop my head back and mumble, “I’m not going to survive this visit.”

Rolling my head to the side, I watch Matthew as he slides into his truck and drives off. My gaze follows his truck until it disappears down Main Street.

I hate that he’s right. I don’t have any other option than to stay in my house. There’s no place to rent and I’ve severed all ties with the friends I had here. I don’t feel right asking one of them to let me crash. If I want to keep my sanity and my resolve, he has to leave while I’m there. I feel bad, especially for his daughter, but what choice do I have?

I head to my car and drive back to the house. When I park next to his truck in the driveway, I let out a slow, even breath. The house looks peaceful and welcoming even though I don’t feel the least bit welcomed.

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