Page 31 of When You Were Mine

She thought she’d been through the worst of it.

But in that moment, it took every ounce of strength to stay upright.

Because Darby had just driven home a terrible truth. The man she knew so intimately was a stranger to her now.

Her Wild Bill was gone. This movie star marrying a race car driver? He was nothing to her.

Nothing at all.

“You don’t like coffee?” Chris asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She wanted to say,Sure, I do—if only to reinforce Darby’s statement. But she wasn’t about to make these lovely people go to the effort of making her something she wouldn’t drink.

“I actually don’t but thank you.”

Jasper looked at her like she’d just knocked back a shot of bat blood. “How do you wake up?”

“With orange juice,” Trevor said.

Jess wanted to swing around and snap at him to mind his own business. Instead, she grabbed a plate, eyeing the platters of food. The stress was making her hot and sweaty.

“I should’ve asked,” Chris said. “I’ll order oranges and squeeze some for you tomorrow.”

“Dude.” Darby smacked Trevor’s arm. “Let her speak for herself.” Smiling, she shook her head. “This is a side of you I haven’t seen before.”

“Hey, it’s only been a month.” Trevor grinned. “Imagine what other sides you haven’t seen.”

A month? What did he mean?

But she couldn’t stand to see them tease each other, so she focused on the host. “Oh, please, don’t go to the effort. I’m good with water.”

“Bullshit,” Trevor said. “She needs her OJ like the rest of the world needs caffeine.”

Okay, she got it now. He was baiting her. Trying to force her to acknowledge him. But she wouldn’t.

Not when she was working so hard to replace the boy she’d known—the one who’d knelt to tie her boots when her hands were frozen stiff from a snowball fight, and who’d booked a motel they couldn’t afford because he didn’t want her first sexual experience to be in a beat-up old truck—with the stranger he’d become.

Conversation resumed with brother and sister trading jabs, the engaged couple teasing each other, and Jasper tossing in comments here and there.

And she was immobile, staring at a warming tray of eggs.

Get it together.

Do your job.

This Wall Street scion could hire anyone in the world, and he’d not only chosen her but said he wouldn’t work with anyone else.

There you go. Her strength came rolling in.

See that? I’m fine.

I’m better than fine.

I’m excited about this project, and I’m going to kick its ass.

She scooped scrambled eggs—laced with glistening, melted cheddar cheese—onto her plate. The pain reliever hadn’t kicked in yet, and her stomach was upset, so she didn’t go for the chocolate croissant. Too bad. It looked flaky and delicious.

But really, she just needed protein.

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