Page 102 of Sergeant O'
Lainey’s gaze flicked to me, then back to Brian. She didn’t say anything, but the small crease between her brows said enough.
I nodded, though it didn’t sit right. The idea of pretending we were nothing left a hollow ache I couldn’t quite swallow.
Still, I heard my voice saying, “That was the plan all along: leave it at the Cape. We don’t need to complicate things.”
****
Brian
Dinner was quiet; fortunately, Conor’s silly faces and antics made it feel less awkward.
Jade’s wineglass sat half-full, and she pushed her chair away from the table. “I should go,” she said, her voice steady but distant.
Lainey reached out before Jade could stand. “Stay for dessert. I made that peach cobbler you love.”
Jade smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks, but I’m wiped. I just need a shower and some quiet.”
Lainey hesitated, then squeezed her hand. “Text me when you get home, okay?”
“I will.”
I hesitated. “I’ll text you later?”
She gently shook her head. “Let’s just stick with our original agreement.” I felt my face fall, so she added, “Besides, I wouldn’t put it past anyone to hack our phones.”
I wanted to protest. The idea of not communicating with her at all felt wrong.
“Hopefully, I’ll see you at the hospital, then.”
She gave a faint smile. “Hopefully,” then headed toward the door.
I got up and hobbled after her to the entryway, stopping short when she reached for the doorknob. “Don’t forget to text Lainey when you get home,” I said.
“I won’t.”
The porch light spilled in around her, catching the strands of her hair that had come loose from her clip. I wanted to reach for her, just once more, but I shoved my hands into my pockets instead.
When the door closed behind her, I stood there longer than I should’ve, listening for the sound of her car starting before I finally turned back toward the kitchen.
Adam was wiping down the table while Lainey stacked plates. Neither of them said anything, and I was grateful for that.
I sank into a chair and stared at the spot where she’d been sitting.
This was all my fault. I shouldn’t have pulled that stunt at the bank. If I’d just smiled politely at Rachel, Jade wouldn’t have been pulled into this shit.
I knew staying away from her now was the right move.
So why did it feel like I’d just made things worse?
Chapter Fifty
Jade
By the time I walked in the door of my house, I felt wrung out. The only good thing about dinner tonight had been seeing my nephew. And watching Adam dote on my sister; I’d loved that.
But things with Brian… that had been awful. We’d spent the last week laughing and talking like we’d been friends forever, and touching and kissing like, well, lovers. And last night, he’dwalkedacross town to be with me.
Tonight however, he was distant and awkward. We’d gone from this morning deciding to keep things between us on the down low, to him saying we needed to cool it and date other people.
