Page 92 of So in Love
Having heard more than enough, Crystal grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder.Then she pulled her coat from the chair and threw it on before snatching up the diary.“A pleasure as always.”She stalked from the café.
Outside, Jamie slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to a stop in front of the shop next door.“Hey.Wait up.”
She turned into him.“I’m sorry.I just couldn’t listen to her.”
“I don’t blame you.”He shrugged into his coat.“Are you going to tell me about that?”
“I sort of already did—the part about my ex and the drugs.”
“Sure.I didn’t realize it was still a thing.Wasn’t that like fifteen years ago?”
“Yes, when I was a teenager.Something Judgmental Judy in there can’t seem to remember.”She clutched his lapel and crushed it in her hand.“This is why Ihatecoming back here.”
“Wait, you run into her every time you visit, and this happens?”
Okay, that almost made her laugh.“No, I tend to avoid coming into town, especially into Bitsy’s because it’s one of her hangouts.But just being here reminds me of that time—and she’s not the only one that can’t seem to let the past be the past.”
“Shit, are you telling me people attack you like that all the time?Where the hell is your damn family?”
She smoothed her hand over his chest.“No, it’s not like that.Patty’s the only one who says anything to my face anymore.A few did—a long time ago when I first came back after moving to LA.Now they just look at me with disgust or whisper.Patty told them plenty of stories about me—some true, some not.”
“That’s so obnoxious.I can’t believe you put up with that.”
“I don’t.That’s why I stay away.”
“But you do—I’d put that woman in her place.In fact, I think I will.”He started to turn and she clutched his lapel again, tugging him back around to face her.His eyes were hot with anger.“You don’t deserve to be treated like that.If anyone in Ribbon Ridge pulled that kind of shit, they’d be ridiculed.”
She flinched.“I can’t imagine they think too highly of me either.”
“Not true.My mother sends her best.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.She encouraged me to come after you.Because I love you.I know it’s not convenient, and you’ll find a million reasons to tell me we can’t work, but fuck it.I’m in love with you, for better or worse, and you have to live with it.”
Happiness spread through her, lighting up inside her like Christmas.She stood on her toes and kissed him.“I’ll be right back.”
She marched back into the café.Patty had just picked up her coffee from the bar and was turning toward the door.Her eyes narrowed and her mouth quirked into a nasty smile.“Back for more?”
“No.In fact I’m done listening to your trash.Your son got me into drugs, and if it weren’t for my mother and Alaina, I’d probably have overdosed and died.Yeah, I got lucky.And don’t think for a moment that I don’t know it.But you know what?I tried to get Tommy to go clean.I called him so many times from LA, but he wasn’t having any of it.I realize you must feel pretty awful to have spawned a kid like him—isn’t he back living in your basement after, what, his second divorce?”
Every bit of natural color drained from Patty’s face, leaving nothing but bright green eye shadow, stark pink blush, and scarlet lips.Crystal felt instantly horrible.That had felt good, but it didn’t justify sinking to her level.
“I’m sorry, Patty,” she said softly.“I know how much you love Tommy.I loved him too, once.But that was fifteen years ago.I’m not the same person I was then, and I’m guessing he isn’t either.I’m not to blame for whatever you think happened to him, and I don’t deserve your rudeness.”
Patty’s mouth tightened, the flesh around it wrinkling, showing just how much time she spent with that expression on her face.“You deserve that and worse.”
Crystal suddenly realized she’d never win.And she didn’t have to.There weren’t any winners or losers here, just a sad woman clinging to something she thought would give her peace.“I’m done.I forgive you and your vitriol.I hope you’ll find it within you to just look the other way if we cross paths.”
She turned and practically ran into Jamie.“I didn’t realize you followed me.”
“I did,” he said quietly, almost reverently.He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fast.“I love you.”He raised his voice, his gaze glued to hers.“Hear that?I love this woman.”
She grinned, love filling her heart.“I love you too.”
Patty walked around them and left the café.The few patrons that dotted the interior broke into applause, and Bitsy whistled from behind the counter.“Come over here and get a donut, Crystal!”
Crystal grabbed Jamie’s hand.“Come on, you have to have one of Bitsy’s donuts.”
