Page 20 of Holiday Grief

It was like he’d stepped into some sort of parallel universe.

“What? No! Of course not. Claire is just the sweetest little girl ever. I completely adore her.”

“Then what happened?” Had he done something? What could he have done when he wasn’t even here?

“N-nothing,” she stammered, but she wouldn’t meet his eye. “Claire wanted mashed potato and chicken for dinner. There’s a plate for you in the fridge. I let her have some ice cream for dessert. I assume that was okay. She had a bath, we read some stories, and I tucked her in on time.”

Frustration built inside him. “Don’t act like you were here just as the babysitter and give me a rundown of the night.”

“I was here as the babysitter.”

“You were—are—here as my girlfriend.”

“N-no. Not anymore. I … I can't.”

There was such misery in her voice, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, that his frustration fled. “Talk to me. What happened?”

Her gaze darted around the room, not settling on any one thing for more than about a second. “Claire couldn’t find Iggle Wiggle. She said she had him in your room last night. I wasn’t snooping, I swear, we only went up there so she could get her giraffe.”

So she’d been in his bedroom, so what?

Why was she freaking out about that?

If she’d been more comfortable with intimacy that room would already be half hers.

“I don’t mind you going into my room. I want you to feel comfortable here.”

“I saw,” Jasmine whispered.

He still wasn’t following. “Saw what?”

“The picture.”

“What picture.”

“Of you and your wife.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. He had absolutely no idea what she was trying to tell him and why it had upset her so badly.

“Meredith, your wife, she looks just like me. You can't tell me you didn't know that. It’s so obvious. Is that why you were so nice to me after I was assaulted because you saw your wife in me? Is that why you wanted to go out with me? Why you let me spend time with Claire? Do you want me to be a replacement for the wife that you lost?”

Her pained tirade didn't make him any less confused, but at least he knew what had her freaking out.

He guessed since she was already unsure about herself, it made sense she was upset, but honestly, she was upset about nothing.

Taking a tentative step toward her, he stopped when she darted sideways. “You and Meredith look a little alike sure. You’re both blondes. I'm attracted to blondes. And sure, she had green eyes, too, but that’s totally a coincidence. Other than that, you're just both beautiful young women. I promise you I'm not into you because I want you to try to be Meredith. You both have different personalities, you're different people. I like you both equally.”

There was clear doubt on her face, and he had to assume it really had more to do with the secrets she continued to keep. Adam wasn’t angry with her about it, she was entitled to her secrets, and they had only been together for a few months, friends for a year and a half. Whatever had happened to her, he didn't think she’d even told her family.

“I want to be with you, Jasmine. I want a future with you. I think I've been clear about that. If I didn't see a future with you, I wouldn’t let you spend time with my daughter. Claire is my world, and I want to share her with you. I know you're going to be an amazing mom to her and an amazing partner to me.”

Although he’d intended his words to be reassuring, Jasmine choked on a sob, then darted around him toward the door. “I’m sorry, I can't do this. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.”

Before he could stop her, she had bolted out the door and ran toward her car, leaving him staring after her wondering what had just happened.

Had they really just broken up?

Would Jasmine see sense when she calmed down?

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