Page 55 of As Long As You Kiss Me

“Is that why Jackson limps?”

“Yes. It’s why he got out of the military.”

Aubrey shook her head sorrowfully. “That’s so awful. Jackson was always so gung-ho about being in the military when we were growing up. I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to give up his dream like that.”

“He certainly doesn’t like to talk about it much.”

“I can see why not.”

Aubrey sat up straighter on the foot of the bed. “So that’s it then? You’re dumping Jackson because of his deep, dark secret?”

“I can’t be with him anymore,” Sully said in a low voice of finality.

“Why don’t you give it some time? You might change your mind later.”

“I don’t think so,” Sully said. “I’ve made my mind up.”

Aubrey frowned. “But you guys were so perfect together.”

“Sometimes good things have to come to an end,” Sully said in a mournful voice.

“Just listen to yourself. You’re miserable. There’s got to be a way for you to get over this.”

“Not this time. I’m just going to have to spend the rest of my life as a single woman.”

“And why is that?” Aubrey gave her a confused look.

“Because I’m in love with Jackson. There won’t be anyone else for me,” she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Because it was to her.

Aubrey threw her hands up in the air. “You are the most frustrating person on the planet.”

“Sorry to be such a disappointment.”

“Hey,” Aubrey said, her voice perking up a bit. “I forgot to tell you. I’m going to be gone this weekend. I’m meeting with a celebrity client in LA who wants to come to the Whitmore House for their wedding.”

Sully pushed down her dark attitude. “That’s great. Your business has really been booming lately.” It would be better to feel happy for her friend than to wallow in her own misery.

But like it had been a lot lately, her mind went back to that now-familiar place of suffering. She hadn’t told her parents about what had happened with Tyson. She needed to tell them. Because she didn’t want to be like Jackson and keep it all inside. That would make her quite the hypocrite.

But telling them wouldn’t be easy.

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