Page 28 of Comeback
I told her the story—how Jack showed up at work, how I’d been snappy and rude with him, but how he persisted all along. That he wanted to help with Mack, and he even took us out to eat. That we had a good talk at the park afterward.
Nicole guffawed. “The guy is aplayer,Ems. He’ll do and say anything to get his dick wet.Please don’t tell me you’re getting your hopes up.”
“I’m not …” I said, but even I couldn’t deny the note of optimism in my wavering voice.
“Bull. You are.” She pointed at my ring. “Remember what I told you about wearing that thing?”
“Yeah, that it would give me strength to handle life’s most challenging problems,” I said deviously.
She wasn’t amused. “No,that it would attract train wrecks and bad boys. Remember?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said.
Slowly, though, my cousin’s words permeated my defenses and poisoned my hopes. She was right, wasn’t she? Jack evenadmittedthat he sought me out because of the ring—that he hoped I was “happily married,” whatever that meant.
“So which is he? A train wreck or a bad boy?”
I wanted her to be wrong, even if, deep down, I knew she had a point. But I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of being right.
“I don’t know of any bad boys that are heart-meltingly good with kids,” I mused, “so I guess that makes him a train wreck.”
“Don’t be cute. It’s not funny.”
“I can’t talk about this right now, Nicole,” I said. I was over it. “Can you watch her for a minute? I have to say bye to Jack.”
“Yeah, sure,” she grumbled. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I’ll try not to.”
I went outside and joined the men. Jeff was passionately explaining the ins and outs of his landscaping work. Whenever it seemed the conversation had come to an end, Jack interjected some pertinent question about lawns or shrubs or fencing and got Jeff going all over again.
Jack had an ability to get other people to talk abouttheirlives, didn’t he? All the while,hislife remained a total mystery.
I cleared my throat, and Jeff finally took notice of me. “Oh, I guess I should leave you two alone.” He extended his hand, and Jack reached down to shake it. “Well, hey, nice meeting you, Jack.”
“You too,” Jack said.
The patio door smacked shut with athwack,and then we were alone with a chorus of chirping crickets.
“You sure got him talking,” I said.
“Nice guy,” Jack said, smiling at me.
“Yeah. He is.” I folded my arms.
His eyes locked onto mine, and he stepped closer. “I had a great day, Emma.”
“Thanks again for your help,” I said quietly.
“Anytime.” He neared and touched his big hand to my arm. But I recoiled, taking a step back. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his brow heavy.
“Are you a train wreck or a bad boy?” I suddenly blurted out.
He laughed. “What? What’s that mean?”
I sighed. “Nevermind …”
Suddenly, the patio door swung open and Nicole waltzed out with a tray of crystals in hand. “Hey, Jack! I sell crystals and gemstones for a living. Take a look! You can have one.”
