Page 75 of Finding Yesterday

She folds her arms and has that look on her face. The lecture one. “What’s going on between you and Jack?”

“Shh, Emma, be quiet.” I close the distance between us. “Jack and I are together, it’s okay. He’s coming back to Blue Vine for good.”

Her eyes bulge. “Are you sure about that? He’s got a whole life in San Francisco.” She blinks before frowning. “Did you sleep with him?”

My jaw falls. “It’s none of your business.”

“That’s a yes.” She puts a hand on her temple. “Claire, he’s your boss.”

“Seriously?” My voice turns to acid. “He’s not after tonight.”

Her eyes stretch even wider. “If he’s coming back to Blue Vine like you just said, then he’ll still be your boss.”

Damn. She’s got me there. “Okay, fair point.” I fold my arms. “But we’ll figure it out. We’re crazy about each other.”

She stands in silence, biting her lip, and I know that means she’s carefully choosing her words. Finally, she says, “I want you to have love, Claire, and I like Jack. But you just broke off your engagement.”

“Jeez, Emma, can’t you just be happy for me for once instead of judging me?”

She groans. “I’mnotjudging you, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. You’re vulnerable right now.”

I’m confident in my words when I say, “Thanks for your concern, but I’ve got it.”

“Okay, fine.” She puts a palm up. “I just want what’s best for you, that’s all. But if you’ve got it all figured out, then great. He seems like a really good guy.”

“Thank you.” I lean against the counter. “Heisa good guy, and we’re happy. Really happy.”

“Then I’m happy.” She brushes a hand over my hair before nodding to the door. “I better get back out there before Dylan eats a whole mud pie by himself.”

The corners of my mouth tick up. “Yes, you should definitely do that.”

After I wash a few dishes, Jack comes through the kitchen and refuses to make eye contact with me. His face is hard, and his eyes are vacant.

I step from one foot to the other, dreading to hear what Jack’s going to say. Something shifted inside of him after seeing that bike, and I don’t like how I feel right now, not one bit. And I really don’t want Jack to make a liar out of me, especially to Emma.

Neither of us speaks, and the silence hangs heavy in the room. My pulse skyrockets.

Jack puts his apron in a cabinet. “I got a call.”

“Okay.” I grab a rag and wipe down the countertop, although it doesn’t need cleaning.

“The lawsuit about the property line of the San Francisco restaurant. It’s getting messier. I put all I had into opening a restaurant in one of the top five most expensive locations in the US.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Jack. Is there anything I can do?”

“No.” His face is hard. “It’s under control, but I’ve got to be there to get it all worked out.”

My stomach plummets to the floor. “So, now you don’t know when you’re going to come back?” I grit my teeth, trying to control my tone.

“I don’t.” He looks at me, his eyes unreadable. “I’m really torn, Claire.”

“That’s understandable.”

Something in his expression falters. “I don’t know if I can come back for good. I have a life and responsibilities in San Francisco. I’d have to leave my parents.”

I nod slowly, making sure my tone is in check. “Yes. But those things weren’t stopping you from wanting to stay last night.”

“Right.” His voice is velvet over steel.

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