Page 56 of One More Kiss

Megan

Meg had just putaway the steaks when the sound of Jack’s motorcycle drifted through the trees.

There was no hiding now. Forced proximity would have her reliving every painful minute of their history.

She stared at the steaks in the fridge, at all the food. So many of Jack’s favorites. She hadn’t even realized when she shopped that she’d done that. Ribeyes, burgers, asparagus, seafood salad, watermelon, extra sharp cheddar cheese, Guinness, god, if she didn’t know better, she’d say she was trying to get back into his heart right through his stomach.

Only she’d been the one to end it. Not that there was much left to let go of, but the actual words, they’d come from her.

The screen door slammed open and Tucker ran to her. Dusty paws landed on her stomach as he jumped and pranced.

“We made it,” Jack said, the smile on his face failing to reach his eyes.

“Did everything go okay?” She hugged Tucker and caught the lingering scent of vanilla.

“Yeah, just stopped for ice cream.”

“He shouldn’t be eating that.”

“So you’ve said.”

“It’d be nice if you’d listen for once.”

“We have to say goodbye in a few days. Until then, he gets whatever he wants, Meg,” he said in that final tone of his that grated on her nerves every time.

“But his stomach—”

He sliced an angry hand through the air. “It’s fine. He’s fine. And happy. Don’t ruin it.”

Her cheeks burned with anger and a hint of embarrassment for the way he admonished her. “That’s great. Make me the bad guy again.”

“Jesus, Meg. Lighten up. This has nothing to do with—”

“Grrrrrrrrrr… WHOOF!” Tucker growled and snapped between them.

“You’re upsetting him,” she said knowing damn well she sounded unreasonable, but unable to stop herself.

“Christ, I can’t do this,” he said shoving his fingers through threw his hair.

“What?”

“This,” he said waving a hand between them. “One more round of us snapping at each other.”

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “So go.”

“Aren’t you tired of this? God, I know I am. This isn’t about the ice cream. You know it isn’t. This is about us.”

“There is no us,” she said.

“No, there’s not. And who’s fault is that because I sure as hell didn’t want this?”

She had to steel herself against the look of anguish that had crept over his face. Her instinct had always been to make him feel better. And constantly caring for him left no time for her own feelings. Her own hurt. “You didn’t really want to be with me either.”

“Are you kidding me?” he said his eyes flying wide open. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be with you.”

They were words. She had to remember that. He’s saying all the right things the way he always did. No real feeling, but on autopilot while she grew more and more anguished always trying to keep herself from flying apart into a million broken pieces. “You were never home. I needed you and left me all alone.”

“The bills needed to be paid, Meg. What would you have me do? We had the house? The lake house. Two car payments. A mountain of debt from...”

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