Page 53 of A Gingerbread Romance

And brash and reckless and self-absorbed, he thought, but didn’t say it.

“…and I just thought it was the easiest way to break off the relationship.”

Heaven, almighty. What was wrong with this woman? He rolled his eyes and let out a loud huffing sound.

“But you’re better than me, Jonathan. You’d never do that to someone. I know you wouldn’t now, and I knew you wouldn’t then. You’re true blue, all the way.” She dropped her head. “And that’s why I’m so ashamed of it. It wasn’t fair. I hurt you, and now it looks like I’ve scarred you for life. And you’re too good for that.”

Jonathan’s heart rate had settled into a slightly less breakneck speed. He studied her.

She went on. “We were never right for each other. We didn’t truly make each other happy, did we?”

He thought about it. Shook his head. No, they never really had. He couldn’t remember feeling true happiness, like he already had—with Greta.

“But you know what?” She met his gaze. “Don makes me happy. We’re exactly the right fit for each other. And if you and I hadn’t ended things, I never would’ve been able to find true happiness—true, lasting love.” She held his gaze. “And I’m sorry it wasn’t right between us, but I wish you could find that, too, Jon, because it would make all that heartache worth it.”

Jonathan’s chest throbbed with pain. He wanted that, too. With Greta.

“What about that woman you introduced me to in New Haven Falls last week? Who is she?” Carla glanced around, the sarcastic grin returning to her face. “More importantly, where is she?”

“I broke up with her,” said Jonathan flatly. At this point, they were both being brutally honest with each other, so why not tell her what was going on? He wouldn’t mind unloading it, anyway. Carla should know the full extent of what she’d done to him.

“You broke up with her?” she repeated. “How long did you go out with her?”

“Just a few weeks.” He’d only known her a few weeks, but those weeks had been amazing.

“So, why did you break things off?” Carla asked gently.

“If you want to know the truth,” he said, holding her gaze, “it was because I saw her with another guy, and I had a flashback to you and Don.”

Her stunned gaze settled on his face, and then he registered the pity in her gaze. “Oh, Jonathan. I’m so sorry. She cheated on you, too?”

“No,” he replied, “she didn’t.” He knew it in his heart of hearts. She hadn’t cheated on him, and she wouldn’t. Everything he’d imagined was just forecasting a pessimistic future, on his part—whatcouldhappen if he and Greta dated, while Jonathan made himself too unavailable and too jealous and too suspicious, priming her to choose someone else.

But Greta was true blue, just like he was. She’d never cheat on him, nor would she choose Berg over him if he were good to her and gave her what she needed.

The problem was that his head knew it, but his heart wasn’t so sure.

“Then why did you break up with her?”

“Because I can’t trust anyone anymore. Not after what…” He let the sentence trail off and dropped his gaze.

“Not after whatIdid,” she finished softly.

He nodded.

She reached for his arm. “For that, I am so sorry, Jonathan. I never meant to ruin your whole life.”

“Only part of it,” he said, breaking into—just barely—a grin.

She smiled ironically. “Do you love her?”

He nodded again. He didn’t even need to consider the question. He already had the answer. “Yeah, I do.”

Carla smiled, a kind smile this time. “Then you have to give her a chance. You need to get her back. You deserve happiness. I want that for you, even though I’ve got no right to ask anything of you—”

“—Except for a real estate deal for Donald?” He grinned wryly again, holding her staunch gaze, but he was listening intently, despite the comic relief he seemed to need to inject into the conversation.

She laughed. “Yes, that. Ha ha. But seriously, look, I’ve apologized many times. I’ve tried to make up for what I did to you over the years, and I know an apology doesn’t change things for you, but I want you to know I’ve learned my lesson. I would never cheat on Don. I felt absolutely terrible for what I did to you, even though you may not have realized it.”

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