Page 46 of Could Have Been Us
Jessica steps closer. “Did he hurt you?”
I give her a look, letting her know she’s nuts to think that. Jack is not that man. He hurts me, but not like that.
“We have a daughter.”
And just like that, the box is opened and the truth is exposed.
Chapter 13
Jack
I’ve survived days in the wilderness with very little food, a wet sleeping bag, and a broken arm. I would like to consider myself a tough man, but today, I’m weak. My best friend in the world is dancing with his wife while I stare at his sister.
What a fucking joke my life is.
Josh comes up behind me, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “What a fool.”
“What?”
He laughs. “Grayson thinking he was ever going to resist Jessica when she came back. There are women we love and never get over, right?”
I clear my throat. “I wouldn’t know.”
“No? I remember Gray talking about some girl.”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Huh, well, I have one.”
His eyes follow over to where Delia stands with Winnie and Stella, all three of them dabbing their eyes as they watch the happy couple.
“Delia?”
Joshua shrugs. “It’s complicated.”
“How?”
“She wants things I’ll never give her. It’s better this way.”
Delia is a catch. I’m not sure what his issue is because he’ll never find someone who is more devoted and kind. And yet, he won’t allow himself to even think about it.
“I doubt she agrees.”
Josh rubs the back of his neck. “We’ve been through some crazy shit in our lives.”
“Meaning?”
“Just that life isn’t always kind to people. We love. We lose. We fuck up, and we’re the ones who have to accept it. We live with it, knowing that another blow is right at the corner of happy.”
My eyes narrow as I try to understand what the hell he’s saying. “So, you’re saying that staying away from Delia is better for her?”
“Absolutely. I’m not going to fill her head with bullshit about a future that can’t be.”
“Why can’t it be?” I counter.
“Because there’s no way I’m ever going to be in a serious relationship. I keep my distance to keep her heart from being destroyed.”
I swear I’ve heard all this shit before in my own head. I wasn’t going to love Stella. I wasn’t going to kiss her. I was going to stay far away from her. And here I am, watching her and feeling my heart rip from my chest because there’s not a chance in hell I can keep this up much longer.
