Page 26 of Chasing Stars
I keep my voice level. “I am.” I exhale to steady my brewing frustration. “I am taking Jenna to pick up her car and then I’ll be in.”
“Okay…then we need to talk,” Nate says, and I don’t like the forewarning in his voice. I snag a glance in Jenna’s direction,but her expression remains stoic as she stares straight out the windshield. “I’ll call you back, Nate,” I say, ending the call before he can reply. Then, I’m pulling into Frank’s Auto.
When I park, I glance over at Jenna again. She slowly turns and looks at me.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” I offer.
Jenna shakes her head. “It’s okay. I think I’ve got it from here.” Then she pulls me into a hug that gives me a strange sense of goodbye. I don’t like it at all. “Thank you for everything, Miles.” Her breath skims my neck, sending a chill up my spine.
I pull back and search her face for answers. “I’ll call you later about the fumigation,” I say uncertainly.
Jenna shakes her head. “It’s okay. Maybe it’s just better if I call.” She gives me a grim smile.
“Okay.” I nervously drum my thumbs on the steering wheel and meet her gaze. “Why do I feel like this is you saying goodbye to me?” I furrow my brows.
Jenna blushes. “It’s not. It’s not goodbye. Just…see you later.” Jenna gathers her bag at her feet and opens the car door. “We’ll talk soon, Miles, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure,” I mutter. And then she’s gone, leaving me feeling bereft.
This is not goodbye. It can’t be.
13
JENNA
“That son of a bitch,” I mutter, staring at the invoice Frank slides in front of me—PAID IN FULL.
Frank sucks in a breath and raises his eyebrows. “That’s not the reaction I’d expect from having your bill paid for you.”
“I just…didn’t know.” I sigh, exasperated. “Why would he do this?” I grumble. “He shouldnothave done this.” I know why Miles did this; he feels bad for me. I’m trying desperately to keep my guard up around him and he keeps knocking it down. I hate it.
“Maybe the guy likes you.” Frank shrugs with an amused glint in his eye. “I took the liberty of giving you a little tune-up too. You werewayoverdue.” Frank looks pleased with himself.
“Thanks, Frank,” I mumble, offering him a smile so he knows it’s not him I’m mad at.
He hands me the keys with a warm smile. “Don’t mention it.”
“See you later.” I wave, rushing out the door. I whip out my phone to call Miles immediately and yell at him for paying my two-hundred-fifty-dollar bill, but Danny’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hi, Danny,” I huff into the phone.
“Hey Jenna—everything okay?” Danny asks warily. I must sound exasperated every time this guy talks to me.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m sorry. I just picked up my car and found out Miles paid the bill,” I grumble, climbing into the front seat. Attached to my steering wheel is a Post-it note.Thank me later. - M. I groan. He must’ve beaten me here at some point, though I have no idea when he would have done that.
“Wow.” Danny lets out a low whistle.
“Wow, what?” I snap. It comes out harsher than I intend.
“No, nothing. It’s just…he must like you.” Danny laughs, and for some reason, it annoys me.
“That’s what Frank said. It’s not funny. I’m not staying here. I don’t want to be indebted to anyone,” I whine, banging my hands on the steering wheel in frustration. The horn beeps angrily. I’m not used to people doing nice things for me. In fact, I’ve had to do most things myself for most of my adult life.Of courseMiles is super thoughtful, and one might even say this is a romantic gesture. But he’s really complicating my feelings about selling my house and leaving Cape May—and him—behind. He’s making me want to stay.
Danny chuckles. “You’re going to have to tell him that.”
“I’vetried,” I say, sighing in defeat.Well, first I tried to hook up with him, but Danny doesn’t need to know that.
“Try harder. The Miles I know doesn’t do nice things for girls he doesn’t care about… Just think about that.” Danny is quiet after that.
