Page 101 of Any Second Now
I let out a low growl and Raleigh’s eyes widen as she looks between us.
Why does she look so confused?
“Raleigh?” I say, and she finally seems to see me.
“Um.” Raleigh clasps her hands together like she doesn’t know what to say.
Um? That is not the response I want from her. It feels clear what should happen right now, and it’s Jacob getting the fuck out of this campground.
“I just need to think for a second.” She squeezes her eyes shut.
What is she thinking? She doesn’t want to be with her ex-husband. I know that. He’s had boundary issues from the moment they got divorced.
So what’s going on here?
But I have a feeling I know.
It’s me.
She’s not unsure about her feelings about Jacob. She’s unsure about her feelings aboutme.
Insecurity roars over my head and I can’t catch a breath.
This is why I don’t date.
It’s too complicated. Too messy. I don’t want to be insecure about anything.
Something aches in the pit of my belly. I take a deep breath.
“Well. I’ll give you two some time to… catch up.” I pause for a second, hoping she insists I stay, hoping her ex-husband leaves instead, but nobody moves. Nobody says a thing.
Fuck.
I spin around and stride quickly back to my car, jumping in and throwing the Wrangler into reverse.
“Atticus!” Raleigh calls, but it’s too late and I don’t even turn around.
This thing with Raleigh has gotten out of control.
I’mout of control.
And it’s going to end badly, just like Lachlan and Melissa.
CHAPTER 21
You’re My Kind of Weird
RALEIGH
“Ican’t accept that you really feel that way.” Jacob dips his head into his hands. I finally gave in and led him to the captain’s chairs facing the lake. There was no way I was letting him in the RV.
“You need to.” I have no idea what I’m doing on so many levels, but I do know that I need to make Jacob accept what I’m telling him.
That it’s over. That we need space.
Permanent space.
Maybe we can’t even be friends.
