Page 59 of Little Gray Dress

“There will never be anyone else, Ems. You should know that by now.”

“And why aren’t you at work now? Aren’t you going to get in trouble for this?”

“Come with me, I want to show you something.” He holds out his hand for mine. “Please?”

I set the flowers on my bed and follow him to his car not realizing he’s taking me somewhere. The route he takes tells me he’s bringing me to the office with him. Considering what I look like right now (red puffy eyes, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, and with the added bonus of a cheesecake stain on my shirt), I hope he’s not bringing me in to see anyone important.

“That.” He points to the sign advertising his agency on the front of his building.

“Morgan, Steller and Cabot?” I say it out loud.

“I made partner, and this was Andy’s surprise to me. I guess they updated the sign while we were out of town yesterday.” I look at him and his smile says everything. He’s elated that his hard work finally paid off.

“I’m sorry, Jack. I acted like a crazy, jealous girlfriend and I didn’t mean to do that. I just…” I bite my lip looking for the right words. “I’ve never loved someone the way I love you, and I was scared I was losing you.” I glance down at my own hands. How did I not notice that sign last night? It would have saved me a bit of heartache.

Jack reaches over and takes my hands in his. “You’ll never lose me. OK?”

I nod at him, tears again filling my eyes. When he kisses me the tears automatically spill out.

“Why are you crying?”

“That was the worst night of my life,” I sob, as he pulls me as close to him as he can in the front seat of his car.

“I know, baby, and I’m sorry. But at least you got a great dinner.”

When he laughs, I can’t help but laugh with him. It’s not every day you get to scoff down two entrées, an entire bottle of wine and half a cake, all by yourself.

Chapter Fifteen

Present Day

Northwest Portland, Oregon/

Northeast Portland, Oregon

The Great Escape

When I wake up the morning after the wedding, something catches my eye near the table by the window.

“JACK!” I squeal when he moves, scaring the crap out of me. “What are you doing in here?” He’s sitting in the corner wearing jeans and a t-shirt, arms crossed, with a somber look on his face.

“I stayed here last night and I needed to talk to you, but once I came in and sat down I couldn’t figure out what to say.”

“So, you just sat there all creepy and watched me sleep?”

“I didn’t mean for it to be creepy,” he says apologetically.

I sit up and pull the blankets up to my neck as if he’s never seen me in my pajamas before. “Why did you stay here last night?”

“Because I live with May – er – Greta, and I didn’t want to go home and deal with her, so Evan let me stay here.”

“OK… Then what is it you need to talk about at,” I glance at my phone on the nightstand, “7am?”

“It’s 7? God, I’m sorry, I haven’t slept all night. I can come back…”

“No.” I flip on the side lamp. When I look back at Jack he looks terrible. His dark hair is unruly, he has a five o’clock shadow, there are bags under his eyes and he looks distraught. “Let’s talk.” We both sit silently staring at each other.

“I’m sorry about Greta,” I say, even though he should know that I’m not really.

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