Page 48 of Four Simple Rules
“It’s okay. He wouldn’t have stopped. But please don’t invade my space like that again. I appreciate you making him stop, but you took a picture of me.” My heart pounds in my throat when I block Jared’s number and forget about his existence. I no longer need him looming in my mind like a dang nightmare. He dumped me. End of freaking story.
“I am sorry, Tulip. I was thinking with my possessive side. Besides, he sent you his dick, and I… Didn’t want him to send you anymore. You don’t deserve that kind of disrespect. I apologize for overstepping and invading your privacy.” His earnestness pierces through me.
I sigh, “It’s okay. I’m not really mad.” Even though I should be, if it were anyone else, I’d be furious. But I get where he was coming from. “I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore. He broke up with me. I don’t understand why he started texting me again.”
“Believe me, Tulip. He realized his mistake in letting you go and wanted another chance. He just went about it in a really fucking weird way. He thought the grass was going to be greener on the single side. Jokes on him,” he snorts, shaking his head. “So, you got fired?” When I nod, he purses his lips. “What about opening your own greenhouse?” Jesse asks, tossing a piece of bacon into his mouth, observing me until I relax in the chair.
I blink several times, coming out of my thoughts. “My own?”
“Yeah. A greenhouse for your flowers and shit,” he says, taking another bite of his eggs.
A soft smile pulls at my lips, watching him devour more of his food, completely naked.
“I’ve never thought about it before.” I shake my head. “There’s no way I could do it on my own. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Jesse snorts. “Tulip, you’re the smartest woman I know. You can do anything you want.”
“I guess,” I say, furrowing my brows.
“No guessing about it. You’re a strong, independent woman. You can do anything you want.”
I rub my chin, mulling over his words. “My supervisor sent a recommendation to Boston.”
Jesse’s chewing slows, and he nods. “That, too. I’m sure that’s a great opportunity.”
“More pay. More benefits. Traveling. The works,” I say, observing him as he digests my words.
“If that’s what you want, Tulip. Go for your dreams. You deserve the world.” His unspoken words are the ones that punch me in the gut. Something in his eyes before they dart away has emotions bubbling in my throat.
“Thanks,” I rasp, taking another bite of my food, but it turns to ash in my mouth. Lead settles in my stomach, weighing me down.
I could go to Boston. If I get the call. Or I could risk my entire career I’ve built and weave a new relationship with Jesse. My mother always said never stop your life for a man when opportunity comes knocking.
But what if I want to?
“You want to do something fun today?” Jesse asks, leaning his head on his hand, watching me wipe my lips off.
“What kind of fun? Shower fun?” I quip.
“Jesus,” he chokes, patting at his chest. “I mean, yeah, that first. But I was thinking we could take a field trip.”
“Where to?”
He grins, jumping up from the table. “It’s a surprise.”
“A surprise?” I ask, raising my brows when he takes our plates from the table and puts them into the sink. Turning on his heels, he leans against the counter. My eyes zone in on his hardness, pointing toward the ceiling.
“A surprise. But first. How about that shower? You look all sweaty from your walk. And I smell like bacon.” He wiggles his brows when I stand and shrug.
“Sure. Let’s take that shower,” I squeal, taking off down the hall while throwing my shirt off.
My fingers dance across the steering wheel. Peeking over, I take in the beautiful girl sitting in the passenger’s seat. Her blonde hair tumbles over her shoulders, freshly styled with thick curls. Those big, beautiful glasses rest on her freckled nose. It’s the first day I’ve glimpsed the old Blake.
The girl I secretly loved all those years ago.
Here she is, in the flesh, about to enter my domain. My heart flutters, butterflies erupting in my stomach. Shit. She and I had another round of mind-blowing sex in the shower before we came here. I couldn’t tell if it was a reunion or Blake’s way of saying she was moving on to something better than this town—like Boston.
No hard feelings.
