Page 43 of Keeping Happily Ever After

No distractions.

“Between you and my career.” She hoped he wasn’t doing that. More than anything, she hoped he wasn’t going to make her choose. Her heart squeezed in her chest. “Please don’t make me—”

The sharp ring of his cell phone interrupted them. Bella wanted him to let it go to voicemail, but she knew that he couldn’t do that.

And he didn’t.

She watched while Jeremy pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’s…shit.” He looked up at her. “I’m sorry, it’s the chief.”

She nodded and he took the call. She waited and tried to gather her thoughts while Jeremy talked—or more specifically—listened to the call.

“I’m sorry,” he said a moment later. “It’s Char.” He was already up and out of his seat. “She’s on her way. I have to go.”

ChapterFourteen

It wasall happening so soon. Jeremy wasn’t ready. Not that it mattered. As soon as Ed Walker called to say that Charlotte was safely on a plane and headed to him, and home, there was nothing that was going to keep him from hopping in his car and driving the two hours to the city to meet her at the airport and bring her home. For good.

Nothing.

The image of Bella flashed through his mind.

Even Bella.

No. That wasn’t true. Bella would never have made him choose between her or his sister. Not the way he was asking her to choose.

Washe asking her to choose?

He didn’t even know what had come over him earlier. What was he saying? He’d gotten caught up in the moment of being there with everyone who had what he wanted to have and…dammit.Had he really told her that she didn’t need to go do the movie?

He had.

But had he meant it?

That was a harder question to answer. At least to answer honestly.

She’d asked him outright whether he was going to make her choose. But he didn’t have the chance to answer her.

“Go,” Bella had said. “Go make sure she’s safe.” Because Bella never would have told him to stay.

And so he had. Because there was really no other choice. But he couldn’t get the image of Bella in the Ever After barn, that look on her face as if he’d just screwed up in an epic way and there was no coming back from it, out of his head. She looked at him like…it might be the last time.

No.

He couldn’t even let himself think that way. They’d had an argument. It wasn’t even an argument. It was more like a disagreement. A difference of opinion. And if they’d had time to talk it through, it would have been cleared up. It’s just that he’d had to leave and…yes. It would be fine. What he had with Bella was stronger than whatever had just happened at the baby shower. So much stronger.

But still, doubts filled his head as Jeremy drove. So many doubts.

At least thinking about Bella took his mind off the situation with his sister. But the moment he parked at the airport, and ran to the gate, just as the flight was letting out, the only thoughts he had space for were for Charlotte.

As soon as she appeared from the sliding doors, her blonde hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, nothing more than a backpack and a small purse across her unusually thin body, Jeremy ran forward, all but pushing the other passengers out of the way, and pulled her into an embrace.

She resisted at first. Her body instinctively stiffened. But only a few seconds later, she melted into his hug and he felt her relax.

They stood that way for a long time. Jeremy had no idea how long had passed, but finally a security guard, obviously sensitive enough to see they were having a moment, tapped him on the shoulder and gently asked them to move on.

It wasn’t until they were in the car driving back to Glacier Falls and Charlotte was staring out the window at the snow that had started to fall while they’d been inside, that Jeremy asked, “Are you okay?”

It should have been a simple question, but they both knew it was anything but.

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