Page 74 of Chasing Stars
Jake lets out a puff of air. “Wow. I mean, I knew too. But you aren’t dating me, so I get how you might feel betrayed.”
“I don’t have anywhere to go now. I have no roof on that stupid house. It caved in. I was staying here, but I can’t anymore. I’m not sure if I can be with him knowing what I know now.” I worry at my chapped bottom lip.
Jake’s lips form a tight line, deep in thought. He pulls out his phone. “Let me tell my mom we’re a bit late. We’ll figure this out.” He hammers out a text.
“I think I’m just going to tell Nate to handle the sale and move down south with Morgan. There’s nothing here for me.” I wipe my eyes and begin to gather myself. “Do you have another tissue?”
Jake pauses mid-text to hand me a mini pack of tissues. Then he looks at me. “Jenna, you have me. My mom. We’re here for you.” His tone is serious but comforting. “We’reyour family. Don’t you remember the fun we used to have?”
I shift in my seat. “I do. But you don’t even know me anymore.”
Jake laughs, eyeing me sideways. “It doesn’t matter. Blood is blood, Jenna. You can’t leave. You can stay with me or my mom—God, she would probably love that—at least through the holidays. We will help you figure this out if you let us.”
I nod slowly.Jake and Aunt Leona want to be my family. I’m not alone.“Okay, maybe.”
“Good. I’m starving. Can we get out of here now?” Jake jokes, half-heartedly.
“Yes,” I say, shaking my head and wiping at my tear-streaked cheeks. I feel a little better. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Sorry, Mom!”Jake calls, pushing open Aunt Leona’s front door.
“It’s okay, dear.” Aunt Leona walks into the entryway, drying her hands on a dish rag.
I thought I did a pretty good job pulling myself together, but Aunt Leona notices immediately. She rushes forward, wrappingme in a maternal embrace that makes me miss my own mom. “Jenna, sweetheart, what happened?” She pulls back, examining me.
“Why don’t we talk about it over dinner?” Jake suggests, making for the kitchen. Aunt Leona has set the table and poured three glasses of red wine. Heavenly-smelling covered dishes sit in the center. It’s the portrait of a family meal and something I haven’t experienced myself in ages—aside from dinner at the Corbin’s last night. The memory makes my throat burn. “Come on, I’m starving.”
My lips turn upward, despite my mood.No wonder Jake is still single.
Aunt Leona links her arm through mine and leads me into the small dining room. Her condo view isn’t as good, and the condo itself isn’t as modern as Miles’s but it’s cozy and warm. Leona’s kitchen opens to a dining area, divided by a half wall. The walls are painted a deep beige. She has a brown sectional couch with big, fluffy cushions in front of a gas fireplace that I imagine myself sinking into. Her balcony is smaller than Miles’s, but you can still see the ocean.
“You can sit there, dear.” Aunt Leona gestures to a seat in the middle of the round table, herself and Jake on either side of me. She makes herself busy, taking lids off the dishes and filling our plates with roasted chicken, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Jake and I are quiet, watching. When she finally sits down and pulls her chair in, she reaches for my hand. “Please, tell me why you look so upset.”
Jake clears his throat. “Maybe she’d like to eat first, Ma?” He raises his eyebrows at his mother.
I shake my head, taking a bite of mashed potatoes. “No, it’s okay. There’s a lot going on right now.”
“She was dating Miles,” Jake interjects. “You know, Miles Corbin. She just found out…” His voice trails off.
“Oh, Jenna,” Aunt Leona sighs as a look of realization crosses her face. “I’m sorry. That must be very painful for you.”
I close my eyes as tears start to well up and then open them again. I swallow the knot in my throat. “It’s only painful because he kept it from me. If he had told me right away, I probably would have thought it was some kind of fate.” I snort through my tears and blot them away with my dinner napkin.
“Maybe it is.” Aunt Leona shrugs. “The Corbins are great people.” A wistful look crosses her face. “In fact, the reason they have managed your house all these years is because of our friendship. We used to be much closer but… When everything happened and your mom took you away, Susan was upset. She really wanted to meet her. It became a point of contention between us.” Aunt Leona takes a sip of her wine.
“I know they’re great people. They’re lovely. It’s just, I’ve had a lot of hurt in my life. I really can’t take being lied to,” I mumble. “It’s more than that though. I have nowhere to go. My house is missing a roof. It’s a money pit. I lost my job right before I came here. I’m just feeling very lost.”
Aunt Leona’s face softens, and she scoots her chair closer to mine, putting an arm around me. “I’m sure Jake already told you this, but you aren’t alone. You have us.”
I nod, forcing myself to take a bite of food so I don’t start crying again. My head pounds like a jackhammer, like my brain might explode from overthinking and crying all afternoon.
Aunt Leona scoots her chair back to her side. “You can stay here if you’d like. I have a nice guest room.”
“Thank you.” I sigh with relief. “Maybe just tonight, until I figure out what to do with myself.”
“I think you should stay through the new year,” Jake suggests. “What’s the sense in uprooting your life now? You can avoid Miles. I’ll handle the sale if you want me to. Just don’t gorunning away yet. Let us help you.” He offers me a reassuring smile.
“I would love your company,” Aunt Leona adds. “I’m practically begging Jake to visit his old mama every week.”
