Page 48 of The Comeback Road
“So, Jess,” Luke said when everyone started to slow down. “Aren’t you Jace’s ex-wife? What brings you here?”
The air grew thick with discomfort, and Jess’ face paled. I could see the hurt behind her eyes, and she started to fidget with her napkin before she answered. “I, uh…I came with Remi. She invited me,” Jess replied, her voice as steady as it could be despite the situation.
“I mean here, in Rockland. Seems like a desperate attempt to get someone back who hasn’t taken his eyes off Lexie the entire night.”
“Luke!” Lexie yelled, shocked, a warning tone to it. My jaw tightened.I really don’t like this dude.
“I’m sorry,” Jess stammered out, but there was a resolution to it as well. “I’ve never, uh…Well, I’ve never really felt like I have a home. I bounced around from foster house to foster house. I had a longer placement once. Around three months. They were kind, always had food in the house, and never locked me out. Until I turned eighteen in the middle of my senior year, and they met me on the porch with my duffle bag when I came home. I guess…Rocklands has always felt like home more than anywhere else I’ve ever been, so…I decided to stay.”
I could see Lexie’s expression change, empathy washing over her features. She reached out to Jess, her voice gentle, barely above a whisper, and I could only make out her words becauseI was so tuned into her. “I get that. I’ve felt misplaced, too. Like home was far away. A destination, not a place.”
The table fell eerily silent as her words washed over the group, and for a moment, it felt like we were all connecting in the silence of our shared experiences of longing and loss.
Raya broke the silence when she squealed, “WHO’S THAT?” Mac and Cheese had just entered the kitchen, his ears flapping.
“That’s Mac,” Dexter said. “I thought I put him in his kennel. Must have forgotten to lock it.”
“I love him.” Raya hopped down for a face full of puppy kisses.
“I forgot you’ve never met Mac before, Raya. Just Peaches, Sweet Potato, and Pie.”
“Wait—” Jess started to ask.
“Do not get us started!” Magnolia yelled out in a defeated cry, and laughter broke out around the table once again.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Lexie
I could tell that my offer to clean up dinner didn’t go unnoticed by Magnolia; I hadn’t really offered to do much of anything in a while. I knew she didn’t want to leave me alone, much like Jace, but for the first time in a long time, I felt good. Steady, like the walls weren’t caving in anymore. Or maybe they were, but being around the people I adored kept them from totally collapsing.
“Mind if I help?” Jess’ voice rang out from beside me, and without looking, I handed her a towel. “I didn’t know this was your place…or that you’d be here. Or Jace, for that matter. Remi’s nice, but keeps to herself. She only offered for me to tag along when she heard I’d be alone. I didn’t ask questions…Just…glad I didn’t have to spend another Christmas alone.”
I looked over at Jess. Her eyes were downcast as if she was ashamed that she didn’t have anyone, and I realized that Jess wasn’t the enemy. She was just someone trying to find where she belonged, and if you had asked me six months earlier—hell, six hours ago—I would have told you I didn’t know where I belonged either.
“Maybe you belong here,” I offered, a little unsteady. My hands kept moving as I continued to wash the dishes, and I heard her snort from beside me.
“I owe you an apology. I didn’t…I, uh…I didn’t know he was involved. If it makes you feel any better, I knew the second I saw him stalk over to you and that guy that I never stood a chance, even if he hadn’t realized it yet. Not that it makes it okay, you know?” Her hands trembled, and I could tell she was nervous. “He looks at you like you hold the answer to life’s questions. No wonder he panicked.” She laughed.
“But he chose you,” I murmured.
“Nah, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. He might havethoughtabout choosing me, and opened up his big mouth because he felt guilty for his hesitation, but…I think we both know it’s always been you.”
“I don’t know that,” I whispered, my voice cracking at the end. I couldn’t help the way my heart gave out with a jolt.
“I’ve seen you guys together, what, twice now? When you move, he moves. When you smile, he smiles. He’s constantly watching you, gravitating toward you, like magnets…It’s…well, it’s incredible. It’s love.” I turned to look at her, jaw agape.What?
“What?”
“Ah, you haven’t realized it yet. That’s okay, you will.” She winked at me, handed me the towel, and made her way toward the living room with everyone else.
I stood at the sink, my hands submerged in soapy water, unable to shake the feeling that took root in my stomach and seemed to grow, starting to spread toward. The clinking of glasses and the sound of cheerful chatter filtered in through the archway, but my mind was spinning, and I felt a little stuck in my whirlwind of emotions. I hadn’t allowed myself to feel much of anything lately, and it was overwhelming.
Through the kitchen window, I could see the snow falling, continuing to blanket the world in white powder, muffling the sounds of the night.
In that quiet moment, the sounds of laughter and warmth started to spread. I felt a weird shift of anticipation and fear, and the walls around me started to shift once more. But instead of closing, this time, it seemed like they were opening up.
Jace’s laughter drifted through the doorway, and I felt an unbridled want to go to him, to sink into it, to bathe in the sound that pumped life back into me. I recalled Jess’ words about how he looked at me, and I couldn’t help but realize the truth in them.
