Page 95 of Fairy Tale Lies
Greta’s heart pounded in time to her rapid footfalls. She rushed from the ballroom, down the carpeted lobby, and through the main double doors. Once on the sidewalk, she frantically scanned the parking lot.
Jacob was halfway to his truck.
He’s leaving!
Hurt, anger, and indignation ripped through her.
“Wait!” She rushed in his direction, trying not to slip on ice, and stopped less than a foot away from him. “Where are you going?”
He stopped and twisted around, throwing his hands in the air. “I don’t know. Away. I need to get away.”
Dismay propelled her forward, and she clutched his arm. “From here or from me?”
He yanked his hand back, making her heel slide into a piece of cracked concrete. She stumbled.
Jacob caught her but let go as if her touch burned. His next words hurt more than a fall to the pavement. “I need to get away from everyone. From this God-forsaken place. And yes, Greta, even you.”
“Why? What did I do?”
“That’s the problem. You did nothing. As usual. You never say a word. Tell me, why? Embarrassed of me, or are you afraid they’re speaking the truth? Or is it I’m not worth the effort?” He leaned in closer, rage pouring off him in waves. “Can you tell me which it is? Because I’m tired of fucking wondering.”
“None of them,” she sputtered. “Why are you overreacting?”
It wasn’t her fault Mr. Turner had been rude. The awful conversation had escalated so fast she’d been shocked into silence. She’d known the Turners were taciturn, though she never dreamed they’d be outright rude.
“Overreacting?” Jacob bellowed. “You hid we were dating from most of your family. Hell, the only reason they learned of me was because of that stupid fucker Blake. Now they know and treat me like shit, and you don’t care.”
“I do, and I know you’re upset with my stupid neighbors, but why do you have to bring up my past mistakes or make today into a major crisis between us.” She inhaled, grasping for calm and glanced around the parking lot. She wished he’d lower his voice.
Does the whole city have to know our business?
“This isn’t just about your fucking neighbors. It’s you and me. Something is very much wrong with us. You’re content to have your family and their friends treat me like dirt. Their opinions matter more to you than me.”
They didn’t. However, when she tried to tell him this, he talked over her.
“They always have, always will. Then there’s the fact, after all this time, you still doubt me. I saw you with Trisha. You wondered if her lies were true,” he spat each word louder and louder. “Doubt should never have crossed your mind. I’ve never given you a reason.”
A couple getting into their Bentley, three cars over, stopped and stared at her and Jacob.
“Would you lower your voice?” Greta pleaded.
Jacob’s gaze flickered to the gawking couple before slamming back into her. Thunderclouds gathered within him, impatient to burst forth with destruction. Panic gripped her heart.
He leaned in, mere inches from her. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot the important thing is not to make a scene in front of your country club friends. That’s much more important than us, or what it does to us. To me.”
“Stop putting words in my mouth. Of course I care, but it doesn’t mean I want to share our problems with everyone.” Desperation and anger tore at her. Everything was spilling out of control, slipping away.
She wanted to shove him in frustration and, at the same time, tug him closer. To make him understand he was the most important person to her. He was her heart.
In the end, she didn’t get a choice.
Jacob took a deep breath like he was going to shout. Instead, he exhaled through his nose and glared at the winter sky. When he returned his gaze, it was cold as the air around them. “I’m done. Go back inside,” he said flatly.
Her heart froze, falling from her chest and cracking on the icy pavement. “Done with what? This argument or us?”
“Both. I knew we wouldn’t work.”
“Because you never expected us to.” A single tear escaped, running down her cheek. She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging her shoulders tight. A shiver ran through her body and heart, and neither had to do with the cold. “You had us failing from the beginning.”
