Page 86 of Summer Affair
“Yes. He bought a house in Seattle and didn’t tell me anything about it even after I told him we have to take things slow, because of Sammy. But he didn’t listen and now he ruined everything.” She explained about the listing and then took a swig of wine. This time, neither friend said two words about it. “I’m so mad.”
Darcy’s eyes went soft with understanding. “He’s an idiot, Jillian. And the only thing that’s keeping me from egging him in the face is that he’s related to my husband.”
“Relations don’t outrank friendship,” Piper said.
“Andbecause he knows he blew it.” This from Darcy, who would totally egg him if Jillian said the word. Because her friends were that good.
“He does?”
“Oh, I know he does. I bet he knew it the second you showed him that listing.” She took Jillian’s hand. “Would it help if I told you that Clay probably thought his surprise was going to be a good one and that, like an Easton, he’s completely inept when it comes to women?”
Jillian thought about it and shook her head. He’d completely overstepped and, instead of listening to what she was saying, he’d run right over her boundaries—and being pushed aside hurt.
Jillian knew what it felt like to be overlooked and ignored. But that gut-wrenching pain was nothing compared to what it was like to be undervalued. Sometimes that hurt worse than being an afterthought. And Jillian was tired of being hurt.
“Do you think that maybe a little part of you got scared and this was a way to protect your heart?” Darcy asked.
She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “You mean you think I broke my heart to avoid breaking my heart?”
“Love makes people do crazy things,” Piper said. “I once got arrested because I loved a guy so much. Then he turned around and married me.”
“What if I said I think maybe Clay loves you back, but being that he suffers from the Y-chromosome syndrome, it was predetermined that he’d screw this up?”
“That makes it worse.” Jillian took in a shuddery breath. She’d spent the day trying to imagine her life without him and every scenario was devastating. But what if Darcy was right? What if he did love her and just got so caught up in it all he made a bad decision. What if she was about to walk away from her unicorn because she was scared?
“It hurts so bad I can’t even breathe.”
Darcy stood, then reached a hand down to Jillian. “Which is why we’re going to get you cleaned up and start checking boxes off your list.” Then she took Piper’s hand and helped them both to their feet.
“Maybe we can pick two items off the list and then go back to bed.” Piper confiscated the paper. “I vote for karaoke and reenacting the Beatles crosswalk photo.”
“No way. If I’m going to go, I’m going to go big. The last time I altered my list I ended up married”—she counted off each infringement on her fingers—“divorced, in debt, a single mom, and naked in a pool with a guy who broke my heart. So, get ready ladies, tonight I’m getting that tattoo of a fairy princess on my ass.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Resolutions from Jillian’s Journal
I miss you, but I’m tired of waiting.
Not wanting to make things even harder on Jillian, Clay moved out of the house and into a hotel. Maintaining distance was a little tricky since they coached together for an hour that day. But as always, Jillian remained strong for her son, never once letting on that anything had shifted between the two of them.
If he didn’t know any better, Clay would believe their breakup hadn’t affected her at all.
But he knew better. Knew by the stubborn tilt to her chin, the way she engaged with the kids, and the bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes that she was struggling.
And he knew that all of it was his fault. In true Clay fashion, he’d been so focused on his next move he’d missed the big picture—like he was pretty sure he was in love with her.
Since he’d been the one to blow it, he headed across town to his brother’s instead of driving to the cottage, where he’d beg her to take him back, then love on her until they were both too tired to move.
Pulling into Gage’s house, he shut off the engine and rubbed a hand down his face, noting that he hadn’t shaved in days. Hadn’t slept much either. At this rate, he’d show up to practice next week looking like a zombie.
God,next week. Even the thought of leaving for Seattle with how things ended made him sick. He had no idea how he was going to get through today or tomorrow. It felt as if his chest had been ripped right out and in its place was a wrecking ball of regret, which broke something inside of him that he knew would never be the same.
He checked his phone. He had a call from his coach, six texts from six different football parents about tomorrow’s game, and a text from each of his brothers telling him he was an idiot—as if he didn’t know.
Nothing from Jillian.
He was due in Seattle in two days but all he could think about was the haunted look in her eyes, the way she worked so hard to keep it together at practice, putting on a brave face to make sure the kids had an amazing experience.
