Page 7 of Green Lights and Obsession
It had to be a ghost. A mirage. A dream. It had to be, because the man standing across the room was her chance of happiness all too late.
Jay Gatsby, the one that got away. The one that promised to return but never did. The one that made a permanent mark on her heart and made her feel in more ways than should be humanly possible.
His suit, wet from the rain, clung to his body. As if he stood outside for far too long. If it were possible for him to seem even more of a man than before, he was. Muscles bigger than before. Broad chest and arms that she remembered being wrapped up in, hands in his pockets. Even from across the room, he seemed to tower over her. His chest heaved as those blue eyes pierced her own.
Her heart rate slowed as she watched him take one small step forward. “I certainly am glad to see you again.” She swallowed back the lie. All she could actually think was…What in the actual fuck?
Jay opened his mouth to speak, hesitated for a second, then spoke. “It’s good to see you too.”
It was good to see her? She bet her right tit it was good to see her too. Daisy fought the urge to roll her eyes. For years she imagined what she’d say if she saw him. She wondered how it would feel to see him again. Now she knew.
She was pissed.
Of all the places in the world, how did he end up here? So many questions fluttered across her mind. What was he doing here? Did he even miss her? Why didn’t he come for her like he promised?
His face looked nearly pained. It softened something inside of her. She instantly wanted to comfort him. In another life, she’d be on her knees by his side and doing whatever it took to bring his beautiful smile back to his face. She’d always been a bit of a brat, but she also knew when he was on the edge and not in a playful way. They once knew each other so inexplicably.
Nick entered the room, glanced between the both of them, then raised a brow.
“We’ve met before,” muttered Jay before backing up into the mantle. He shook his head and hit the clock behind him, sending it sliding out from its resting place. He quickly caught it and placed it back on the mantle. “Sorry.”
Was he nervous?
Nick waved the whole thing off.
Daisy chewed on the edge of her lip as she glanced between Nick and Gatsby. “It’s been years since we’ve seen each other.”
“Five years.” Jay cleared his throat then rolled his neck.
“I just realized I forgot something.” Nick interrupted. “I’ll be right back.”
Jay’s eyes grew as he watched Nick leave the room. He quickly followed her cousin out of the living room. Daisy hesitated, then followed them.
“Why am I here?” She crossed her arms.
“I haven’t seen you in a few days, I thought you’d like to get out of the house.” Nick gave her a knowing look.
Her cousin knew the truth, how her marriage was an arrangement she didn’t want. It was something she openly told him the night of the reception. As if he didn’t already know. Nick was family. The family didn’t have many secrets from one another; it was all business.
That didn’t explain Gatsby. Sure, it’d only been five years, but it might as well be a lifetime. It felt too long ago when she was wrapped up in everything Jay Gatsby. She’d been falling in love with the man. Then he made promises and broke them. Simple as that. So, why was he there?
“I live next door. I was just coming to invite Nick to a party tomorrow night.” Jay spoke up.
“Neighbor?”
Nick nodded. “A party?” He looked at Jay.
“Yes, old sport. How about it?” Jay grinned at Nick before turning to face Daisy. “You too, if you’d like.”
“I’m married.” She crossed her arms.
“Bring him too, if you want.”
“My best friend is staying with us for the summer.” She swallowed. Why was she coming up with excuses?
“Bring her too. Or him. Bring whoever you want.” Jay chuckled.
Daisy glanced out the window to see the rain had stopped, and the sun had started to peek through the clouds. A light in the shadows.
