Page 93 of Gimme Some Sugar

“Yeah.”

“Then how about a good, old-fashioned sincere apology? I mean, you’ve done it before, right? Why not do it again?”

The suggestion sent a thread of hope through Jackson’s chest. Still… “I don’t think she’ll hear me out this time.”

“Well, if you’re going to take a shot, you should probably hurry, unless you want to do your groveling long-distance,” Shane said, frowning at the text that had just popped through on his phone.

“What?”

“See for yourself. Bellamy just sent me this.” Shane deposited his cell phone into Jackson’s unsteady hand.

Am @ Carly’s for a team mtg to discuss job in NYC. WTF?

Jackson’s mouth went dry as he remembered the job offer from Carly’s old boss, but his pulse ripped through him as he scrolled through the rest of Bellamy’s text message.

She’s leaving tomorrow.

Feed her.

In that instant, everything snapped into place. Carly took care of everyone she loved by feeding them, and damn it, he loved her enough to take care of her right back. It wasn’t about feeding her, literally.

It was about loving her unconditionally.

It was about telling her the truth.

This time when his instincts kicked in, Jackson listened without thinking.

“Please tell me you drove your Mustang, because I need to get down Rural Route Four. Likenow.”

* * *

“Haveyou thought out how you want to do this, dude? Because Adrian is going to…ohhhkay, maybe not.” Shane trailed off as Jackson wasted no time putting a purposeful knock dead center in Carly’s front door.

“I’ll get past Adrian,” Jackson said, and meant it. Right about now, he’d get past ten Adrians to get two minutes of Carly’s attention. He had something to say, and he was goddamn well going to say it.

Even if she still went back to New York tomorrow.

Sloane swung the door open, her voice immediately choked with surprise. “Oh, holy shit! What’re you doing here?” She boomeranged a glance over one shoulder before slipping outside to the porch.

“I came to see Carly, and I’m not leaving until I do.” Right. Apparently being in love with someone meant getting pretty bossy. Jackson filed it squarely under the I-don’t-give-a-shit heading.

“It’s not that easy, Jackson. She’s, um. Kind of busy.” Sloane narrowed her eyes on him. “Plus, Adrian’s here and he wants to kill you. And I really don’t mean that metaphorically.”

“I know about her meeting, Sloane. I know Adrian’s here, and I know she’s going back to New York. But I need to talk to her before she goes, and I don’t care if I’ve got to do it in front of everybody in that fucking room.”

Sloane cocked her head, the strangest smile perched on her lips. “I always knew you were her swan. By all means, come on in. But I’msonot kidding about Adrian. Watch your back, would you?”

“I think between the two of us, we can at least hold him off,” Shane said, a hard flicker passing over his eyes as he gave Jackson an I-got-your-back stare.

“Okee dokey. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she said, ushering them inside.

From down the narrow hallway, Jackson could hear the indistinct murmur of voices locked in discussion, although it was impossible to make out the words. He stood on the threshold for just a second, but he was done hesitating. He was done hiding.

He needed to do this, even if she told him to go to hell.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have something I need to say to Carly.”

Every head in the living room whipped around, and Adrian launched himself from his seat next to Carly so fast that all Jackson could see of her was one jeans-clad leg and her bare foot.

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