Page 42 of Second Down Darling

He clears his throat. “I’ve been meaning to tell you… All that shit with Dakota pretending we were having sex all the time, that was just her playing games. I remember how she did that just before you took off. I was literally in the other room, telling her to cut her crap, while she was moaning like we were going at it. And shit, then there was that video call. I’m so sorry. You didn’t need to see allthat.”

My whole face flames. “We don’t have to talk about this.” I stand, but he grabs my hand and gently tugs until I sitagain.

“Let me put it this way. Before you left, she and I hadn’t had sex in months. Probably because she was sneaking off and fucking Troy any chance shehad.”

I fold my lips. “Not mybusiness.”

“No, I kinda think it is. I don’t know what game Dakota was playing, but she was trying to fuck with you too for somereason.”

Because she knew how I felt in high school, and she wanted me to understand that Jake belonged to her. Even if she didn’t wanthim.

Only Jake doesn’t know how long I’ve loved him, and I have no plans to tell him. I’ll die of humiliation if I tell him I crushed on him hard for years. That’s too pathetic. I’d rather get a bikini wax and dip myself in lemon juice than spell it out tohim.

I pull on a thread hanging off the hem of my jean shorts. “You know how dogs pee on every street corner to declare ownership to other animals and mark theirterritory?”

He laughs, his dimples popping. “Am I the dog in this scenario or the streetcorner?”

“Sorry to say, but the streetcorner.”

The humor in his face evaporates. “I’m starting to think I was more her property than boyfriendtoo.”

Don’t ask. Don’t.“Do you still have feelings forher?”

“Not at all.” He gets a sheepish expression. “This is going to sound terrible, but I never loved her. I wanted to. I tried to love her. She was the mother of my child, and Ishould’veloved her. But I always felt she was putting on an act. It was tough to get behind that wall, youknow?”

I nod, so relieved I can barelyspeak.

He sighs. “I kept trying to envision my life with her and always came up empty. I don’t think it was meant tobe.”

After a moment, I motion to the TV. “Want to watch the first episode ofTheHot Housetogether on Thursday? Keep each other from flinging ourselves off thebalcony?”

His laughter makes me smile. “I’ll buy the booze. We might needit.”

The texts comein rapid fire two nightslater.

You swear you’reokay?

I’ve been crying since I saw thatvideo.

Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve come down toCharming!

One-handed, I try to respond to Maggie, who’s been blowing up myphone.

As much as I hate that she’s worried, my heart is full. It feels good to know there are people who care about me. Maggie’s balancing a hectic life in Chicago with her twins and husband, who’s in the NFL, but I have no doubt she’d haul ass down here if I asked herto.

I promise I’mokay!

“Hold the light a little higher.” Jake bends over the engine of my car, his flexing arms doing magical things to myinsides.

“Sorry.” I jam my phone in my pocket and pray I can afford the monthly payments. It’s refurbished, an older model to replace the one I lost in the fire. “I really appreciate you helpingme.”

“It’s noproblem.”

My old landlord, Mr. Larson, offered to tow my car wherever I wanted, so we moved it to Jake’s apartment complex because Jake thinks he or his brothers can fix it. I’m guessing Larson’s being extra nice because he didn’t have functioning firealarms.

Roxy just told me the city is leveling huge fines at our former landlord for major code violations, not just for our craptastic building, but for the two others he owns. I’m just glad his other tenants will besafe.

“We don’t have to do this tonight,” I say as I switch the flashlight to my other hand. Jake wanted to take a look at my old Ford before he bugs hisbrothers.

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