Page 38 of Girl Between
“Well guess what, I’m fine so you can stop worrying about me.”
“I know you, Dana. You’re not fine, and the more you keep saying it, the less I believe it.”
“Talking to you is infuriating,” she groaned.
“Likewise.”
“Then why don’t we end this conversation before we say something we’ll regret?”
“Wait,” Jake begged. “I didn’t call to fight with you. I want to talk about us.”
“Jake, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. There is no us.”
“That’s a lie and you know it. The past four years we spent together weren’t a lie. They meant something to me, and I know they meant something to you, too. In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never known you to be a liar. Don’t start now.”
The sound of Dana’s agitated breathing was her only answer. Finally, she spoke. “You’re right … I’m sorry. Of course it meant something. But I don’t know what it means now.”
His throat worked at the honesty in her voice. He wished he could just reach through the phone and hold her. She was so close, yet so far away. But he was getting through to her. Maybe for the first time since he woke up and found an empty bed where she should’ve been. “That’s okay,” he urged. “We don’t need to have all the answers right now.”
He was afraid if he pushed her, he’d lose what they’d spent the last four years building. Jake spoke softly. “We just have to be willing to figure it out together, Dana. That’s all I’m asking.”
“I know,” she said.
“Can you do that?”
“I-I think?—”
A sharp rapping sound interrupted whatever she’d been about to say.
“There’s someone at the door,” Dana said.
Jake’s hackles rose. It was almost midnight in Louisiana. Who would be visiting Dana at this hour? “Put me on speaker and look through the peephole before you answer the door.”
“I am,” she said in that annoyed tone that Jake found endearing. He could almost see her eyes rolling.
The phone filled with rustling and the sound of locks being unbolted.
“What are you doing here?” Dana asked whoever was at the door.
The answer came in the familiar voice of Jake’s old Army buddy. “Sorry, I know it’s late. I just wanted to check on you.”
“George, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. But I wanted to,” he replied in that same tone Jake had heard him use to charm everyone he’d ever met.
Unwilling to let his charismatic friend tear apart all the progress Jake had just rebuilt with Dana, he spoke up loudly. “Flynn?”
His friend’s laughter filled the room. “Jake Shepard? Is that you?”
“Oh. Sorry, Jake,” Dana said as though she’d completely forgotten he was still on the line. “George is here.”
“I can hear that,” Jake answered.
“I should go,” Dana said.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” George argued. “I just came to check on our girl.”
“No, it’s fine,” Dana said. “We were finished.”
