Page 104 of Forever Wild
A groan slips past my lips and Bridget laughs again.
“Talk to him,” she insists. “Before I have to come drag you out of your apartment under a ton of roses.”
A smile finally pulls at the corner of my lips. “We’ve talked.”
“He’s talked. You’re holding back and it’s driving him crazy. And I don’t blame you, but if you want it to stop, then talk to him.”
“I don’t know what to say yet.”
He’s making an effort, and I’m…well, I’m not sure. We weren’t a couple before, so if we fall back into how things were, where does that leave us?
“You will,” she says. “Eventually, you will.”
Bridget and I hang up and then I snap a picture of my kitchen counter, currently unusable because of all the flowers, and text it to Jack.
Jack
Too much?
Me
Any more and I’ll have to rent a bigger apartment to store them.
Jack
I could arrange that.
I roll my eyes and an incredulous laugh escapes. I would not put it past him.
I put my phone down and pull out my laptop to work on my design for the lake house. I’ve figured out which rooms I want to focus on, but when I checked prices on rental furniture, I had to rethink my plan. It’s more expensive than I expected. I’ll figure it out, but I feel like I’m behind already.
I rework things until my eyes are blurry and I can’t think anymore. I close my laptop and head into the bedroom. My apartment is nice, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t added the usual homey touches that would make it feel like mine. Maybe that’s why even after a month of being here it still doesn’t feel like a place I could stay. It’s like I’m on a long work trip.
I miss my friends and baby Charlotte. She started walking last week and I cried when Tyler sent me the video. I can’t help but feellike I’m missing out on things that are so much more important than work.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I climb into bed with my phone. I reread Jack’s texts. He texts every day at least once, more if I reply. I still don’t know how to feel about everything. Despite not wanting to be here, I feel like I need to prove to myself that I’m capable of succeeding. And maybe I want to prove it to Tyler, Piper, and everyone else too.
The next day, instead of roses he sends daisies. The card reads, “Hope these look less like a funeral.”
God, what an idiot. I’m grinning though.
The following day I’m expecting the flowers, more daisies, but there’s also a small, wrapped gift too. I take them both inside and set the flowers next to the rest then tear open the present. My fingers shake as I run a finger across the earrings. Diamond hoops. Simple, elegant, expensive.
The man is out of his mind. I take one out and hold it up to my ear. They’re stunning, but there’s no way I can accept these. I left the diamond tennis necklace at his house, along with a few other items by accident. When I went to Wild’s that day, I thought I’d be going back. I’m glad I don’t have the necklace though. It’d be too sad to see it every day and think of that night.
I text to thank him while kindly informing him I can’t accept them, then put the earrings away in a drawer until I see him.
The next day I’m at the lake house when Lisa stops by. She hands me a cup of coffee. “I thought you might need this.”
“Thank you.” We stand in the kitchen together since there isn’t any furniture yet.
“I like the wallpaper.” She motions with her head to the diningroom. I don’t have much in the way of a budget for that room so I thought making the walls a focal point would help.
“Thanks. How’s it going over at your place?”
“I finished the master bedroom today and the en suite bath. I’m waiting for the painters to finish downstairs. Hopefully I can start down there next week.”
She has the same exhausted look as I’m wearing. It’s harder than I thought. The pressure to get it right and what is at stake is a lot.
