Page 27 of Trip

He thumbed away her tears. “Promise to be mine, and I’ll buy you a bigger one that fits. A real one.”

The smack to his chest stung in the cold. “Don’t you dare. I love this. It’s the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.”

“Diamond?” Trip grabbed her pinkie and squinted. “At best, this is diamond dust held together with school glue, so it passes for a diamond chip.”

She snatched her hand back and held the ring to her chest protectively. It did things to Trip’s heart to see her defend it because of what it meant to her.

“I remember a time when you were proud of this ring. You saved up for months. You were sweating when you gave it to me. I also remember appreciating it and rewarded you for it.”

Best blow job of my life.

“So, since you love it so much, can I get a repeat?”

Her laughter fed his soul. It trailed off as a shadow passed her eyes. “You kept this all these years? Why?”

“To be totally honest with you, it was Meri. I came back and searched and couldn’t find it. When I asked her, she said she would keep it safe until I learned to appreciate it. She knew I didn’t have the emotional maturity to value it—you, the way you should’ve been valued.”

When JJ started bawling, he almost wished like hell he’d taken credit for Meri’s forethought, but he wouldn’t start his second chance with a lie. “She is the best person I’ve ever known. I don’t deserve her.”

“Shush. Of course, you do. Meri loves you and so do I.” Her tears fell harder and harder.

Trip led her inside and straight to the bedroom. After removing her boots and vest, he tucked her under the covers. Something he didn’t understand was going on. Something big between her and Meri.

She sobbed and sobbed, and Trip felt helpless. She was hurting in a way he couldn’t understand. Maybe because she’d always been honest to a fault and not telling Meri about Jake was eating away at her. But this seemed worse than guilt for sleeping with her boyfriend.

“I-I… need to…” She could barely speak between sobs. What the hell was happening? Every time she tried, she’d start gagging and retching.

“Babe, you’re killing me right now. I’ll do anything to take your pain away, but you’re making yourself sick. Whatever it is, I got you. When you can talk, we’ll talk. Until then, just know I got you. Always.”

He held her until she cried them both to sleep. Trip woke sometime later when his shoulder was throbbing from JJ sleeping on it. It was worth the pain to comfort her.

Without waking her, he slipped his arm free. After dropping a kiss on her forehead, Trip padded to the living room. He reached for his phone with his bad arm and grunted in pain.

Waiting for Meri to pick up, he noticed it was bright out, so he pulled the phone away to check the time. Sure as shit, it was Christmas Day. He hit the speaker button as his sister answered with a holiday greeting.

“Merry Christmas to you too, sis.”

“Why do you sound like someone kicked your puppy? Did things not work out like I’d hoped?”

“Things worked out. She loved the ring and the boots and everything. I wanted to thank you too, Mer. You’re the best sister.”

“Duh, I’ve been telling you that for years. It just took you this long to realize the truth of it.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Listen, what can you tell me about JJ?”

“What do you mean, you know her? She’s just Jess. Always has been.”

“No, I mean… Hell, Mer, I don’t know what I mean. She’s hurting and I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Oh. I don’t know, baby brother. She’s never been the same since you two broke up, but she’d gotten better over the years. Even seemed quasi-happy for a while. But losing you was hard on her. Whatever happened was, anyway. She never would say, and neither would you. All I know was one day my two best friends hated each other and I still don’t know why.”

Trip was leery to say anything, he didn’t want his sister to think less of JJ but he needed advice. “It was a long time ago and it no longer matters to me, but she cheated, and when I found out, I reacted poorly. Said some ugly things. I was a total asshole about it.”

“I remember the breakup and you losing your shit, but you know she’d never cheat on you, right? It’s like impossible.”

Trip felt the same way, but she didn’t deny what Jake had said. Maybe she let him believe it because he asked her if it was true, instead of automatically calling Jake a liar. She’d been clearly hurt when he begged her to deny it. Whatever was eating at her in the present wasn’t cheating.

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