Page 8 of Return to Us
She winces and then takes a step back.
“Sorry. Shit. I forgot you’re hurt.” Jack looks stricken.
“It’s fine. It’s good to see you, too.”
He sits back down, shoots me a glare, and then jerks his head toward her.
“So, how are you?” I ask, not really wanting to have this conversation. I feel like an asshole, but I can’t seem to stop myself. I’m pissed. She shows up here after all this time, and I feel like I’ve been thrown back in time. It took me years to get over her, and now, one fucking appearance and my heart is racing.
“I’m . . . okay.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Delia walks over and rests her hand on Jessica’s arm. “Hey, guys. Jess, I got a call from my mother and need to head home to help her. Jennie is packing up the food.”
She nods and then turns back to me. “It was good to see you, Gray.”
“Yeah. Sure. Good to see you too.”
I let out a low breath while my best friend stares at me. A few seconds pass, and he doesn’t say a word or look away. “What?” I ask.
“You were a dick.”
“Does she deserve my kindness? She fucking left me.”
He laughs once. “What are you, a fifteen-year-old girl? Get over it and put your big girl panties on, pumpkin. That girl has been through hell, and you were a prick, which . . . you’re not. Since when do you act likethat?”
As Jessica and Delia walk out, Jess gives me a small wave, and I lift my head. I’m not sure what anyone expected regarding our reunion. I loved that girl. I would’ve fucking given up anything for her, but she walked away without a second glance.
So, now that her life didn’t work out and she’s back, I’m supposed to forget what she did? Too bad. Life didn’t exactly gomyway either.
But something Jack said bugs me. “What hell did she go through?”
Jack crosses his arms over his chest, a smirk on his face. Clearly, I’m missing something that everyone is aware of. “Do you remember that plane crash the guy playing the Navigator was in a few weeks ago?”
“Jacob Arrowood?” He’s one of the new top celebrities that everyone is going nuts over. His last action movie was top in the box office for weeks and the plane crash only added to his fame. It was all over the news for days as they searched for him and the crew.
He nods. “Do you know who else was in that crash?”
It takes me a second to put two and two together. Jessica was a flight attendant. I’d heard that much when Winnie was babbling to Stella about her sister. I normally could avoid anything relating to her, but they were discussing how cool it was that she flew with celebrities. Of course, she’d just done a flight with Stella’s favorite musician and Jessica had sent Winnie a photo.
“What?” I ask, nearly spilling my coffee. “She was in a plane crash? Why didn’t anyone say anything to me?”
Jack’s smug grin makes me want to punch him.
“Hey now, you didn’twantto know anything. Jessica Walker is on your do-not-mention list along with—”
“Yes, her too.”
“Ever think it’s you, buddy? I mean, two girls, two horrible endings to your love story. I’m noticing a pattern.”
I tilt my head back because I wonder the same thing every day. I loved two women and they both left. Jessica and I were young and as much as I wanted to marry her, give her everything, we weren’t ready. When I met Yvonne, though, it was different. I was in grad school and she was pursuing her singing career, both from the same lifestyle and she was everything my mother wanted but I fought against—only I knew I wasn’t ready to date her, but I did anyway.
“At least Yvonne left me with something I love and was worth the hell.”
Jack grins. “Amelia is definitely worth it.”
While I never pictured life being this way, I wouldn’t trade my daughter for every star in the sky.
