Page 87 of So in Love
Luke’s eyes flickered with surprise.“Wow.That’s quite a find.”
“I know.This copy’s for Mom.”
“She’s around here somewhere,” Luke said.“You want a beer?”
“Sure, in a minute.Can I talk to you first?”
Luke nodded, and they moved off toward a corner.The pub had regular patrons as well as all the people that were here for the “town meeting,” so it was quite crowded as people waited for tables and milled around the bar area.
Jamie transferred the booklet to his other hand.“I want to give a copy of this to Crystal too.I’m just not sure… Should I text her and ask if I should mail it?”
“You haven’t talked to her yet?”
“No.Like I said last night, I’m giving her space.She left town, so I figure she really wants it.”
“I didn’t realize she’d gone.Sorry, man.”He was quiet a second before adding, “I’d probably do the same thing—give her space, I mean.”He cocked his head to the side, as if reconsidering.“Actually, I don’t know.I definitely would’ve done that with my ex, but with Kelsey?Nah, I would’ve called her.Hell, I might’ve even jumped on a plane to get to her in person.But then love does that.”His lips spread in a goofy smile.
Jamie’s heart twisted.Did he love Crystal?He thought he might.But it was hard.He thought he’d loved Sadie, and look how that had turned out.“So I had this girlfriend in England.We were pretty serious for a while.”
“No shit.You’re a secretive bastard.”
Jamie shrugged.“It’s not hard when you live half a world away.She was out of my league, man.Her father was a knight.”He shifted his weight, moving the booklet to his other hand again.“Crystal’s pretty out of my league too.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Look at her.She’s beautiful, sophisticated, and she’s just at a different place in her life.She owns a multimillion-dollar house, travels all over the world, and doesn’t answer to anyone.”
Luke looked at him intently.“Who do you answer to?”
“You guys, dipshit.”
Luke laughed.“We all answer to each other.That’s the joy of owning a business together.I’d argue you’re doing just fine for a young whippersnapper.”
Jamie snorted.“You’re not much older than me.”
His gaze was superior in a totally teasing way.“Still am.”
“Fine.The point I was trying to make—and failing miserably—is that I’ve tried falling in love once, and it was a disaster.I wasn’t good enough for Sadie or her family.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Geez, where should I start?First off, I wasAmerican.”He shuddered.
“Oh, well, then.Say no more.You should slink off to a cave never to be heard from again.”
“Right?”Jamie had to admit Luke was making him feel better.“I was also poor, and horribly messy.Sadie hated that.Her dad thought I was incredibly beneath his daughter.Once he made that known, she dumped me.I think she knew it would happen too.She kept me from meeting them for months.All the while, I wined and dined her, trying to keep up with her ritzy lifestyle.”He shook his head with regret.“Stupid.”
“No wonder you didn’t tell any of us.”
Jamie looked over at him with a caustic glare.“Gee, thanks.”
“No, no.I didn’t mean it like that.You should’ve told us.”He put a hand on Jamie’s shoulder.“We’re always here for each other, aren’t we?”
Jamie pushed the tension from his shoulders.“Yeah.Sorry.I’m a little wound up.”
“Totally understandable.I don’t know that I’m really helping.So, you’re worried Crystal will be a repeat of Sadie?I can’t imagine why.Doesn’t sound like they have a thing in common beyond catching your eye.”
He was right about that.
