Page 104 of Can't Get Over You
When the pretty blonde cast a look at him over her shoulder, she had a flirty, sparkling smile.
Jealousy twisted through her, hot as a poker.
She didn’t think for one second he’d hook up with a woman while they were fake engaged, and while she was sitting right there in his bar. Besides, he’d made his feelings clear about her. She knew she had nothing to worry about.
Then please explain why my stomach’s in a knot, and I want to cry?
Okay, this is ridiculous.She needed a minute to pull herself together. “Hey, I’ll be right back, okay?”
They broke from their conversation to eye her questioningly.
She forced a smile. “Just have to go to the bathroom.” She tried to act nonchalant, but her muscles had gone tight, and her movements were jerky and awkward. Dodging servers and squeezing between chairs, she made her way around the dance floor. She just—God—she just needed space.
It was just so familiar. All through high school, she’d had to watch girls pass him notes, meet him under the bleachers, have sex with him in their cars.
I know it’s not high school. I know that.
But I’m just so emotionally invested in this man.
I want him so much.
She ducked into the bathroom and stood at the sink. Her cheeks were flushed, her pupils dilated.
It’s all right.
Everything’s fine.
The door opened, and two women entered, laughing. She didn’t want to see anyone right then, so she slipped into a stall. In the small, enclosed space, she released a tight breath. Maybe her reaction wasn’t about him sleeping with someone tonight or next week. Maybe it was because she knew, deep down, she couldn’t keep him. He didn’t want a home, a family, a dog, a lawn mower, and one vacation a year. It wasn’t his thing.
Sure, he had Cody, but that didn’t mean he had to live in suburbia and shop at membership warehouse clubs. He didn’t have to host barbecues in the backyard. He was the type of man who invented his life.
While I have a playbook.
Yeah, but you’re throwing it away, remember?
Am I, though?She might toss out the vision board, but she still wanted that life. She wanted to host Super Bowl parties and spend her weekends watching her kids play soccer and learn piano.
Mostly, she loved Calamity and wanted to stay here. She had zero interest in wandering the country. She wanted roots.
Then, there you go. That’s that.
You like him, but you might not be compatible.
But when the panic over losing him kicked up again, she decided to give herself a gift.
You can be with him for five more weeks.
Just enjoy this time with him.Because, realistically, she’d just walked away from her wedding. She wasn’t ready for a relationship, either.
Okay, there you go.
She couldn’t say she felt a whole lot better, but she needed to get back out there and spend time with her friends.
You can crash out later tonight.
Leaving the stall, she washed her hands, ran a finger under each eye to clean up the mascara smudges, and then left. Whenshe stepped out, she slammed right into a wall of heat and muscle.
Jude grabbed her arms. “What’s going on?”
