Page 55 of The Choices I've Made
He let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry for that, I really am and had I been thinking clearly I would have done it when she was here, but seeing you together today,” he paused for a brief moment. “Well, I’m allowed a little residual jealousy.”
“We’re not together,” I pressed. “Hell, we barely even looked at each other.”
“That’s the fucking point Jake. You had to make a concerted effort to look away, but you couldn’t help it, could you? Neither of you ever could.”
“Are you out of your mind? You’re talking nonsense. What kind of pain meds do they have you on? I’m here for one thing Dean—to get my father’s clinic in order. When that’s done, I’m out of here.”
“She still loves you.”
My breath caught in my throat. “She can barely stand me,” I countered, the cadence in my voice faltering.
“Look Jake,” he said. “I was here when you left and every day after. I know that girl better than most. She hasn’t spent one day since that ferry pulled away from the dock hoping that it wouldn’t someday bring you back. But days turned into years and eventually she tried to move on.
“With you,” I added.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s what happens when two best friends get lonely. We thought we’d be happy. But you can’t force love or passion Jake.”
“So what are you saying? I have your blessing to go after your fiancé?”
“She’s not my fiancé anymore,” he reminded me. “And she was never mine in the first place.”
By around ten that same night, I’d been staring at the yellow walls of my room for nearly three hours thinking over the words that had been spoken between Dean and I. Sleep had somehow eluded me, leaving me edgy and bored. After years of grabbing sleep whenever and wherever I could, it was an odd feeling. But then again, anything having to do with Molly always left me feeling like I’d been flipped over ass-backward.
So, I went in search of something to do.
Hell, I’d even settle for senseless late-night television at this point to get my mind off things. But there was only one TV in the inn—a rule made up long ago by the McIntyres to promote family time and outside activities.
Mrs. McIntyre had always said, “If you’re on vacation, what do you need a television for?”
It had been an annoying rule as a teenager, but I saw the value in it as an adult.
Even if it did mean having to leave my room in the middle of the night. At least I could grab another sandwich from the kitchen.
Heading downstairs, I was surprised to hear the TV already on, especially since I was currently the only guest in the place.
Peeking my head into the living room, I found the culprit.
Molly…and a bottle of whiskey.
“Hey there, Jakey!”
Scratch that.Halfof a bottle of whiskey.
Picking up the bottle, I took a quick sip, feeling the cheap liquor burn all the way down my throat. “Been busy, I see.”
“I got dumped,” she announced, holding up her empty cup for a refill. “By Dean’s mom no less. Bastard didn’t even have the balls to do it himself.”
I obliged her request, going against my initial instinct, which had been to dump it down the drain and carry her sorry ass back to bed.
But this wasn’t my Molly anymore, and I’d already done my fair share of intruding today, first by eavesdropping on her and Dottie and then by calling up Dean. So, I decided to join her.
Why the hell not?
Taking a seat next to her, I took another sip of liquor straight from the bottle as she indulged in the full glass I’d refilled.
“I’m sure he had his reasons,” I said.
She stared at the amber-colored liquid in her glass, swishing it around the ice. “Yep,” she said adamantly. “He said we’re not right for each other. Or at least I think that’s what he said when I called him a bit ago.” I looked over and saw her phone next to her. Apparently I wasn’t the only one making phone calls to the hospital. “Besides, I didn’t want to marry him anyway. What women gets engaged and never plans the actual wedding?”
