Page 82 of So in Love
Sean winced.“Can’t blame her there, mate.”
“No, but she wants to bury history, and that’s not okay, especially not when Crystal’s worked so hard on this.”
Alaina fixed him with a questioning stare.“You care about her.”
“Of course I do.”
“Ignore what she said—she didn’t mean it.”
“It was the truth.She isn’t my girlfriend.”No matter how much he might’ve thought she was.
Alaina exhaled, then nodded.“Sorry.”
“What are you going to do?”Sean asked.
Alaina ran her hands through her hair, tousling the dark-blonde locks.“I don’t know, give her some space.I’ll check on her later tonight.I guess we should go inside and try to do some damage control.Whatever that would be.”
Sean arched a brow and looked toward Jamie.“Actually, I was talking to Jamie.”
“Oh, shit.Of course you were.”Alaina went to Jamie and touched his arm.“How can I help?”
He appreciated both of their concern, but there wasn’t anything anyone could do.“Nothing.If she wants to get in touch, she knows where to find me.Like you said, she needs some space, so I’ll give her plenty.”
“I think she’ll want to hear from you,” Alaina said.“When she’s had time to process.I’m sure that scene freaked her out.”
It had freaked him out too.“I’ve got damage control to manage too.”He was pissed as hell at his mother, but she was his family, which was more than he could say for Crystal.And damn if that didn’t sting.
“Come on, then,” Sean said, waiting for Alaina to precede him.
The trio trudged back to the library and were accosted as soon as they walked inside.Kelsey and Brooke went to Alaina and the three of them stepped to the side, their heads bent together.
Meanwhile, Luke and Cam descended upon Jamie.Sean clapped him on the arm.“You okay, mate?”
Jamie nodded.“Sure, thanks.I appreciate your support.”
“Anytime.”He nodded once before heading off to his wife who stood with her parents looking concerned.Hell, after a quick scan of the room, it seemed everyone looked concerned.
Except the reporter who loitered in the corner with her cameraman, her head tipped down as she read on an iPad.
Jamie turned his back to her and allowed his brothers to usher him to a back area of the library.
“Where’s Crystal?”Cam asked.
“Dunno.She took off.”Jamie’s gut clenched anew.
Cam put his hands on his hips.“Damn, that was intense.”
“Kelsey and Brooke are really worried about Crystal,” Luke said.
Jamie shrugged.“They should text her, then.”
Luke narrowed his eyes at Jamie.“What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing.She’s upset and needs to be alone.I’m respecting her space.”Wow, that was a nice way of putting it.But it was exactly what he was doing.She’d been clear—hewasn’ther boyfriend.Going after her or texting her wouldn’t help.“Where’s Mom?”
“Upstairs with a bunch of other people.They’re pretty pissed about all this.They’re talking about whether they can get an injunction against Crystal.”Cam snorted.“Which is ridiculous.Aubrey Archer is up there telling them they’re nuts.”
“She’s explaining the legal realities,” Luke clarified.
