Page 104 of Better Luck Next Time

She lifted her arms out at her sides. “My arms aren’t exactly prepared for a wrestling match with that cat. Now come on,” she said, reaching for the door handle. “We have to hurry.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t press her. He just followed her in and handed her the leash she hadn’t noticed he was carrying.

The truth was she didn’t want to see Finn again. At least not right now. She knew she’d have to see him eventually, but it couldn’t happen this weekend like she’d suggested, because even now she wanted to sweep all of her fear and anger and worry under the rug and pretend like everything was okay. And if she saw him too soon, she’d do just that. Lord knew, she’d almost relented when she pulled him back and kissed him.

Seeing him again was inevitable. She’d agreed to help with the art show, and unlike him, she was going to finish what she started.

Jezebel was sitting on the back of the sofa, but she slowly turned her head toward Jack and watched him, as enthralled as though he were a snake charmer. He had the carrier in his hand, but instead of lifting it to scoop her inside, he calmly reached for her and cuddled her to his chest.

“Wow,” Adalia said. “I’m not sure whether to be impressed or terrified that she’s about to slash you across the jugular.”

He flinched. “Let’s not press our luck. Open the door.”

Adalia didn’t need to be prodded to move quickly. She could hear sounds upstairs. She hooked Tyrion’s leash onto his collar and opened the door, stepping out onto the porch as she heard Finn’s door open.

Jack walked out past her, snuggling Jezebel to his chest while holding the carrier in his free hand. Adalia reached for the door, preparing to close it behind her, just as Finn came into view, his face hopeful when he saw she hadn’t left yet.

She pulled it shut with more force than necessary. Maybe that was harsh—okay, it was—but her heart was already begging her to stay and she could feel her willpower draining away.

How was it possible to hurt this much when they’d barely begun this thing between them?

Thankfully, he didn’t follow.

Adalia reached for the car’s passenger door but quickly changed her mind after Jack gently released Jezebel into the car. The cat hopped onto the passenger seat and stared haughtily up at her. Then, when Adalia didn’t immediately stand down, she hissed.

“I’ll walk.”

Jack studied her in his quiet way, as if trying to gauge what variety of craziness was going on.

“Look, you may feel like staring death in the eye and laughing while you drive home that feral cat who has free rein of your car, but I choose life.” She flashed him a peace sign. “See you at home.”

“Okay,” he said and got inside.

She took off walking in the direction of their house, but before she could stop herself, she cast a glance at the front of the house. Sure enough, Finn was standing in the window, the look of hurt in his eyes so painful she wanted to forget everything and go in there and comfort him. Which only made her madder.

She didn’t head directly home. She wasn’t ready for the questions in Jack’s eyes. He’d want to know what had happened.

Whathadhappened?

She was sure she’d known Finn well enough to judge his character. Sure, before they’d spent all this time together, she’d believed the stories about him, although she had to admit they’d been colored by Georgie’s disapproval. But the more time she’d spent with him, the easier it was to accept there were two sides to every story. That people were complex organisms who did things they thought were for the right reasons. And whether they were right or not depended on the vantage point.

That was why she’d let him explain, hoping she’d misunderstood. That she hadn’t been just another project. And while he hadn’t outright admitted it, hehadadmitted he’d never been all that invested in the art show. Not really. He’d done it for her.

I didn’t mean to hurt you.

She believed that. He truly hadn’t meant to hurt her, which in a way made it so much worse. She had thought he was as excited as she was to showcase the artists they’d chosen. She’d believed him when he’d said they were doing this as a team. But then he’d bailed. Granted, it was for the right reasons, but he’d given it up so quickly. So decisively, with absolutely no regret other than the fact it had hurt her.

How long until he moved on from her?

She couldn’t fault him for starting a new business, in fact, she was excited for him. A consulting business gave him endless opportunities. He could stay in Asheville, which meant that he wasn’t set on changingeverythingin his life. Maybe he was even looking for a long-term relationship. But their…entanglement hadn’t started out like a real relationship, had it? Sure, they’d known each other for a while, but he’d never shown any interest in her until he’d walked in on her destroying her painting.

A painting he’d repaired and hung on his wall without telling her.

She walked several blocks past the Buchanan house, then decided to turn around and head back home. Her cell phone was dead, and the last thing she needed was for River and/or Georgie to show up at Finn’s house looking for her.

Jack was on the front porch reading a book with Jezebel curled up on his lap.

“Aren’t you worried about losing your manhood?” she asked as she cautiously climbed the porch steps.

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