Page 100 of Courageous Hearts

My gut swoops and rolls before clenching tight like an angry fist. Ears ringing, I wonder…

Is Jameson in the closet?

But no, certainly not. We’re together at work. At least, kind of. We don’t flaunt our relationship, but people know. Especially after last night. And he had no problem being seen with me in Plum Valley.

But that was a world away from where he lives. Far away from the people he knows.

We went to the beach together. Except…no one was there.

Have we been together in public here in Chicago outside of the bounds of our workplace or Jameson’s house? We’ve picked up food a couple times, but we never really acted overly affectionate while doing so.

But Jameson told his brother about us, right? Surely he didn’t lie about that. Surely he’s not actually trying to hide our relationship?

But then how can I possibly explain what just happened?

Fuck, what is going on?

The Jameson I know wouldn’t have just brushed me off like I didn’t exist. He wouldn’t have turned his back on me so callously. That man giving me puppy dog eyes all morning wouldn’t have offered barely a shred of outward recognition seeing me just now.

And yet that’s what happened. I saw it with my own eyes. Jameson blew me off, making it clear, without words, that he wasn’t prepared to be seen with me.

How do I reconcile that with what I thought we were building? In what world does this make sense?

What do I do?

I have no clue. But the one thing I do know, as my hands tremble and my cheeks flame with humiliation, is that my first and foremost urge is to flee.

Chapter 31

Jameson

“So, no hat, then?” Grant asks, peering at me critically through our video call.

I huff a laugh. “No. Going to Texas for a few days didn’t turn me into a cowboy.”

“Shame,” Sophia replies, popping into view. “That’d be a fun new look, alongside the vests and suspenders.”

“Yeah, well, Bo isn’t all that into cowboys, so maybe it’s for the best,” I reply, looking at the time. Bo should’ve been back by now. Hours ago, actually, but they haven’t been returning my texts.

“How’s that going?” Sophia asks with a little grin. Her curly hair is up on top of her head today in a bun that rivals the size of her face. It completely blocks Grant from view.

“Really good,” I tell her, smiling softly as I recall the way Bo held me in their lap just yesterday after I fainted. How concerned they were. How caring. It felt good, the knowledge that I have someone who will be there for me if and when I need it.

“And the cheek?” Grant asks, leaning around his wife’s hair and pointing to the side of his face. My own has a bandage covering the small cut I got. “What happened there?”

“Well, that’s kind of an interesting story,” I admit. “I fainted.”

“You saw blood?” Grant guesses.

“Bingo,” I reply morosely.

Grant starts laughing. My loving brother, everyone.

“Remember that one time I cut my shin on a thorn bush when we were kids, and you freaked?” he asks.

“No,” I reply flatly. “Because I was passed out.”

Grant continues to laugh, the dick. But I chuckle as Sophia smacks him on the chest.

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