Page 2 of The Jellybean Dilemma

I studied him for another moment, wondering about those six years between us. Now that I was twenty-one, it felt like it shouldn’t matter. My crush on him was as strong as the day it began two and a half years ago. Maybe even stronger.

But my feelings didn’t seem to matter. He still never looked at me as anything other than an employer, at most a friend. I turned to make my way up the steps, dreading the emptiness of my huge, dark house.

“What should I do with the presents?”

The question halted me in my tracks, and I had to stop myself from wrinkling my nose. Just thinking of all the beautiful packages I’d ripped open, all labeled with my name, unsettled my stomach. I appreciated the thought our friends had put into picking out my gifts, but the idea of dealing with all the new stuff overwhelmed me. I sighed.

“Rhonda?” Concern laced Greg’s voice.

Suddenly the steps seemed impossible to climb as the next week stretched before me, a depressing runway into another year. Just the thought of starting over made tears burn against my eyes. I turned to look at him as I asked, “What are you doing for New Year’s?”

Frowning, he left his post by the car to stand in front of me. “What’s going on, Jellybean? You’re not yourself. Is it the breakup with Kevin, or is something else going on?” One gloved hand reached out, hovering in the space between us, stopping just shy of my arm.

I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t close the distance either as annoyance flashed through me. “I’m tired of people assuming my life ended when my relationship with Kevin did. Or apologizing for it. ‘I’m so sorry to hear about your breakup!’” I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I knew exactly what I was doing then, and I haven’t regretted it for a moment.”

Truth rang through my statement, echoing in the silence between us. Yet my words fell short. I really didn’t regret breaking up with Kevin, but it didn’t change the fact that I was floundering.

My entire life I’d been raised for one job—to marry someone wealthy, and accept my place on that pedestal, visible for everyone’s admiration and scrutiny. The thing about pedestals was they were only built for one. And it was hard to get down on your own.

Greg cleared his throat, looking like he might apologize.

But that was the opposite of what I needed, so I repeated my question, more firmly, “What are you doing for New Year’s?”

He sighed. “I was thinking of going home. It’s been a while, and my sister’s having this big New Year’s wedding…”

My jaw dropped. “Wait. You haven’t said if you’re going to your sister’s wedding yet? It’s only a week away!”

As he always did when he was uncomfortable, he adjusted his hat. “It’s not that simple. I don’t have a date, for one. And if I show up by myself, my family will try to set me up with every single girl there.”

I practically felt him shudder, and my wheels started spinning. “Take me.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could think twice.

“What?” His hat nearly flew off his head, the way his eyebrows shot up. He scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

The more I thought about it, the more perfect the idea sounded. “Why not? No one knows me other than your uncle.” I shrugged. “Sure, they’ve probably heard of me, but that just makes you sound better.” My last name carried weight in all the right circles. “No one has to know you’re my driver, unless you want them to. I’ve got nothing going on and I desperately need a change of scenery. Where is this wedding?” Images of warm, tropical places floated through my head.

“Marquette.”

Those two syllables shut down any vacation fantasies I had. “In the middle of winter?” Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was harsh at the best of times, but during the winter it was simply brutal. I frowned. “That’s where you grew up? No wonder you’re so grumpy.”

A noise escaped from him, part snort, part grunt. “So, you don’t want to go?” He folded his arms, staring at me with those unnerving gray eyes.

He was still taller than me, even though I stood on the step above him. “I didn’t say that.” The very thought of spending New Year’s here threatened to send me into a panic.

“Then you want to come?”

This time I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“And you’ll go as my date?” Skepticism laced every word.

“Yes.” My stomach flipped at the idea.

A slow smile spread across Greg’s handsome face. “Rhonda Elgin going out with the chauffeur. What are you going to tell your parents?”

His words punctured a hole in the carefully erected barrier I’d placed my fantasies in. There had been a time when not a day went by without me dreaming of that very thing, but I’d ruined my chance of those dreams coming true in one short night.

I swallowed, fighting to keep the tremor out of my voice. “Unless you plan to announce it to them, I doubt they’ll find out. Especially since they’re out of the country.” With a quick glance at the limo, I said, “Could you please put the presents on the dining room table? I’ll sort through them later. Text me the details about the trip.” I started up the steps, then I paused.

Greg was bent over the open trunk.

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