Page 88 of My Fiancé's Brother

He picked up a stick and threw it a ridiculous distance for Chloe. “You want kids that bad?”

I pushed both my hands through my hair. “I don’t know! I'm so mixed up about everything.”

“What are you mixed up about?”

Anxiety flooded my body. My stomach hurt. “Nothing.”

“Okay.”

I dropped to my haunches and put my arms over my head. I moaned. “I'm so fucked up.”

Two strong hands grasped my wrists and gently pulled them off my head. Jackson crouched in front of me. I looked withanguish up into his face. “I don’t know what I'm doing anymore.”

His expression was a mixture of concern and curiosity.

I took a deep breath. “I'm a hot mess.”

A smile grew on his face, and then he started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. I began to laugh too.

“This isn’t funny,” I protested, laughing. “Nothing is working out. And instead of doing anything about my problems, I just pretend they don’t exist.”

Our laughter subsided, and he said with meaning. “You deserve your happy ending.”

“What about you? What’s your happy ending?”

“Not everyone deserves one.”

I frowned. “You deserve one.”

“No. I don’t.”

“Jackson.”

He cupped my face with his large hand. “Don’t let him hurt you, okay?”

My eyes were wide. I wanted to ask him why he cared. I wanted to ask him what his happy ending was? And why he didn’t think he deserved one. But I didn’t. Chloe came bounding over and then Jackson was rolling around and wrestling with her.

I watched from the side, wondering how my heart was going to survive saying goodbye to this man.

CHAPTER 30

The birthday partydinner was a disaster before it started. Matt was scheduled to pick us up on his way home from work. No later than 6 PM. It had been over a week since I had seen him.

Now it was half past six, and there was still no sign of him. Nor had he answered any of my texts or phone calls. I paced the length of the kitchen in my heels, while Jackson sat silent, waiting for me to make up my mind.

Finally, after the second text from Julie asking where we were, I said, “I guess we should go. We're running late. Matt's just going to have to meet us there.”

Jackson drove.The restaurant was typical Julie. Elegant, expensive. Dark lighting with a French menu. We walked to a private room in the back of the restaurant. There were 15 people around the huge table, and to my dismay, most of the people were Julie’s friends, not mine.

“Emily,” Julie squealed, as she rushed up to me. She was wearing a beautiful slinky red dress that showed off her body to perfection.

I was enveloped in a scented hug before she turned her attention to Jackson. She clung to his arm.

“Everyone, this is Emily, and this is Jackson.”

Beth walked over and lightly touched my arm.

“Happy Birthday.” She pulled me into a warm hug.

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