Leaning forward, I ran my hands over my head, wishing they’d just leave it be. “It wasn’t bad.”
“What are you leaving out?” Isaac asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Nothing,” I said, exasperation rising inside me. “Jess was a little drunk. I just thought it would be for the best if I left. That’s it.”
They were both quiet for a while, watching me, studying, scrutinizing. Isaac was the first to break, sitting up and laughing as he shook his head at me. “You made a move and she cut you down.”
Swinging my gaze out the window, I couldn’t help but wish the answer had been that easy. Isaac laughed louder, but it was Adam’s gaze I felt burning into my skull. I heard him hum a little as Isaac’s chuckling died down. “She made a move and you cut her down,” he said flatly.
Isaac went silent as I gazed back at Adam. Adam shook his head, disappointment lingering in his eyes. “You’re a fucking idiot.”
Pushing to my feet, I strode to the other side of the workshop, unable to avoid Isaac’s choking sound of disbelief from reaching me. “What the hell?” he said. “Are you serious, man? Why the hell would you cut her down? You’ve been drooling over her for the last three years.”
I spun and threw a hand in the air. “Oh, come on. You would’ve done the same thing,” I said, mostly speaking to Adam, because I wasn’t so sure Isaac would’ve been so admirable. “She was drunk. She’s just ended a relationship after being drugged. It wasn’t the right time, and as much as the both of you want to give me hell for it, you know it was the right thing to do.”
Isaac pressed his lips together while Adam sighed. “I get it, man,” he said quietly. “And you’re right, but Isaac’s also right. You’ve been watching her for almost three years. You’re right not to take advantage of where she’s at, but you’re an idiot for cutting and running.”
Okay, that was it. I’d had enough. Grabbing my towel, I wiped it over my face before flinging it over my shoulder. “You know what? Screw you both. Yeah, I like her, but that’s the exact reason why I can’t start anything with her. She deserves the best of everything, and that’s more than I can offer right now. It would be unfair and selfish of me to even think about it. So just back the fuck off.”
Without waiting for their replies, I threw the door open and stormed outside. I was done with this shit. It was time to move the fuck on.
Chapter 19
Jess
“To new beginnings!”
Holding up my glass, I clinked it against the others, trying not to spill my damned drink as everyone around me crowded closer.
As we all took a sip, I smiled over at Amber, watching the excitement and nerves flicker in her features. She had done it. All the blood, sweat, and tears, and her dream was now a reality. All around us, books lined shelves and cushions were scattered corners, and in two days’ time, it would be open for business. Of course, until next summer, it was only going to have part-time opening hours. But after that, this was her life. A dream fully born and breathing.
I was so happy for her. And proud. So many people had mistaken Amber for a preppy little princess from a rich family, who got whatever she wanted. That was a large part of her decision to embrace the rockabilly look. But the truth was, she’d worked hard for this. She did it completely on her own without any assistance from anyone—financial or any other kind.
Emmy looked around from beside me. Tonight was the first time she’d been here. “This place is amazing. I can’t believe she did all this on her own.”
I smiled, glancing over at Amber again. “She’s amazing. She eventually wants to extend it into the space next door and add a coffee shop.”
Emmy’s eyes widened, the idea obviously exciting her. “Oh my God, that’s an awesome idea. I love it.”
I’d seen all Amber’s designs for the idea. They really were amazing. She could’ve done it now if she wanted to. All three of her millionaire brothers were more than willing to throw the money her way, but, of course, Amber wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted to do it on her own. She wanted to make her own millions and be able to brag about not needing a handout when she got there.
“It’s so good that everyone could make it tonight,” Emmy said, looking around the crowded room.
I wanted to follow her gaze and appreciate the people who were here to support one of my closest friends, but I knew Eli was one of them, and he was the last person I could handle seeing right now. It had been a week since my nightmare encounter with him on New Year’s Eve, but the sting of rejection was still burning deep inside me. It was the kind of humiliation that felt as though it would never go away. It was permanently tattooed in my mind.
“I think it’s really cool Noah’s family are all so supportive of everyone,” Emmy continued, oblivious to my stressed-out inner turmoil. “They’re like the nice in-laws everyone hopes for—not that I don’t have nice in-laws,” she said, laughing at her own boo-boo as Mia slipped in beside us.
Mia rolled her eyes playfully. “Talking about us behind our backs again, Emmy? Why am I not surprised?”
“Well, you know,” Emmy said with a shrug, “you guys are pretty hard to put up with sometimes.”
Giving her a light shove, Mia tried not to laugh as she scoffed, but failed when she almost choked on her drink. “You fit in with our family so well it’s scary. I’m honestly surprised Aiden was charming enough to catch you—especially back then. It wasn’t like he was a barrel of laughs or anything when you first met.”
Even though she was joking, most of what she was saying was true. Aiden had been going through a very tough time when he’d first met Emmy. But I had a feeling that was a part of the reason they were drawn to each other. They’d both been battling demons they couldn’t fight on their own. Together, they helped each other overcome them, and now they were one of the happiest couples I knew.
“Speaking of hunky pieces of man meat,” I said, watching both Aiden and Jace motioning for their girls to join them from the other side of the room.