Page 48 of When You Were Mine

Yes, that was the same year you bought a home in Calamity—our dream—and moved your two-year-old son into it.

A son who wasn’t mine.

So, let’s stop pretending we can ever be friends, okay?

But her attempt at a withering look didn’t pan out as she’d hoped. Because he nodded and said, “Do you spend your time traveling from one job to another?”

Darby nudged him. “She just opened her own resort. Chris told us at breakfast.”

“That’s right,” Jess said. “But to answer your question, no. I rarely take consulting jobs.”

Darby seemed subdued, and she couldn’t help wondering if it had something to do with Emil. It had to be, considering the woman wasn’t touching her fiancé this morning.

Jess didn’t see any flirtatiousness at all.

“Where’s your resort?” Trevor asked.

And here it comes.She had no choice but to say it. “Calamity, Wyoming.”

His fork clattered on the plate. “Are you serious? You live there?”

His shock was almost insulting.

Did you think you were the only one who got to live our dream?“I do.”

“I live there too.”

“Yes, Trevor. I know.” And with that, she was done with the conversation. “Anyhow, I hope you got some ideas for your menu from this tasting.” She stood up. “Try that lemon cake. It looks delicious.”

As she fled the dining room, her heels clacked on the floor, and white noise filled her mind. A flurry of conflicting emotions made it impossible to identify exactly what she was feeling. Anger, definitely.

No, it’s not anger.

It’s hurt.

I’m hurt.

And she couldn’t stand carrying this pain anymore.

Of course I know where he lives.

I’ve searched the internet countless times, greedy for every morsel of information I could get.

And him? He’s been filming movies, raising a son, and getting engaged to race car drivers.

I stopped existing to him the moment he walked out the door.

As she neared the lobby, Chris and the chef’s voices grew louder, and she didn’t have the composure to talk to them. So, she made a quick turn down a hallway. Out of sight, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

Shaking, she crossed her arms over her chest in a hug-like gesture.

How did she stop feeling this pain?

I beg you to release me from it.

“Elzy.”

Dammit. She didn’t hear his footfalls because this section was carpeted. She lowered her arms and pushed away from the wall. “What?” Unfortunately, her tone came out more plea than exasperation.

---