“Emily and I won’t be seeing each other anymore.”

“Why?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

“We just aren’t, and I don’t want to get into it right now. Just not right now, Jules. Please.”

“Fine.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Just tell me one thing. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

I’d spent the day with my mom in the waiting room while my dad was in surgery and Jules was back in the ER finishing her shift. She and Carter both came up to check on things between patients.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Emily

It had been a long week, and I kept myself busy by burying myself in my work, working twelve-to-fourteen-hour days to keep my mind off of Jackson. Evelyn and Katie tried to get me to go out with them, but I didn’t feel like it. All I wanted to do was work and go home and sleep. I missed him so much, and this adjustment without seeing him was incredibly hard. My first heartbreak ever, and believe me when I tell you, I don’t ever want to experience it again. I now see why my mother went to great lengths to protect her heart after Gregory.

“Hey, Emily,” Katie spoke as she stuck her head in the backroom. “Jules is here to see you.”

“Thanks. Tell her I’ll be out in a second.”

She was the last person I wanted to see right now. Even though we were friends, she was a reminder of him. I wasn’t sure what he told her if he said anything at all. Getting up from my chair, I walked out of the back and saw her standing by the jewelry display.

“Hey, Jules.” I forced a smile.

“Hi, Emily.” She hugged me tight. “How are you?”

“I’m okay. How are you?”

“I’m good.”

“Are you doing some shopping?” I asked.

“I’m on my lunch break and thought I’d drop by to see you. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah. It has.” I looked down.

“Why don’t we head down to the deli and grab a little something to eat?”

“I’m not hungry, but I’ll go with you.”

As soon as we stepped out of the shop, she wrapped her arm around mine.

“What happened between you and Jackson?”

“He didn’t mention it?” I asked.

“Not really. He just said that you wouldn’t see each other anymore and didn’t want to talk about it.”

“I broke rule number nine,” I spoke as I stared straight ahead.

“And rule number nine was what?”

“A simple one, really. I fell in love with him.”

“Oh, Emily. Of course, you did. Even though he doesn’t deserve your love.”

We walked inside the deli and sat at one of the tables next to the window.