Chapter 15
KAT
“That’s what friends are for.” That’s what he said the other night after dinner.
Clay’s words rattle around in my head like shells rolling in the tide. What did he mean by that? Now’s the time to ask for clarification.
I stare down at my phone, a lump in my throat that is impossible to talk around.
“I can’t believe Liam and the others came back.” Clay chuckles and I snap the phone back to my ear. “I worried there for a bit that Dalton would buy them all houses and they’d move to Nantucket for good.”
“Not enough houses for sale.” I answer automatically. Houses on Nantucket are not just expensive but they almost never go up for sale. What I want to say, the questions I want to ask, dance through my head. “You said the interview went well?”
“Yeah.” He breathes out a short chuckle. “I was nervous at first, but that’s normal for such a high-profile job, you know?”
No. I don’t know. My career is nice and stable. It’s also in semi high demand, but it’s also a bit menial. There are not five different people itching for me to quit so they can have my job. I swallow and pace across my kitchen. The glass door reflects my image back at me, and I turn my head away from the shocked look stamped on my face.
“I really appreciate all your help. Sorry about Tony’s jokes.” He chuckles softly. “At least he didn’t try to make coffee.”
I smile at that but it doesn’t hold. “I think I’ll still get that job Susan offered.”
Silence descends over the phone for so long that I check the screen. Seconds tick past before Clay speaks again. “I really enjoyed our time together.” Something in his voice makes my pulse beat harder, but not in a pleasant way. This is more like the impending doom knell that happens in scary movies when the main characters do something stupid and get themselves killed.
That’s it then. This is Clay’s way of saying goodbye. I recognize the feeling of dread slithering up my spine. I knew it would end sooner or later, but I didn’t expect this.
“Sorry that you had to put up with the charade for so long.” His tone implies I should be grateful that it’s over.
I grind my teeth and fight back the rush of emotion. “It’s fine.” A woman’s catch phrase, and one that many men take at face value when they should be running for their lives.
What kind of fool does it make me that I had started to believe this was real? I stop and settle my arm over my stomach, propping the opposite elbow on my forearm and gripping the phone tight to my ear. I wait for him to say that he wants to make it real, but that is never going to happen.
I recognize the feelings welling up inside me and wince at my own stupidity. I’m no better than those characters who shout “who is it?” when the killer knocks on the door.
I like Clay. More than a little bit. I enjoyed our time together, even when things went completely sideways. I’ve never had this much fun dating someone.
“Thanks for putting up with my fake dating idea. Looks like I have the job in the bag.” His low chuckle twists my gut into knots. “It’s not official, but I feel good about it.”
“I’m glad it worked out.” Anger takes over the melancholy that slipped in. “I have to go.”
“Oh.” Clay pauses. “Sure. Thanks again.”
“Yep.” I force a brightness I don’t feel into my voice.
The call ends without any kind of goodbye or a promise to talk again later, cementing my knowledge that Clay just broke up with me.
It’s ridiculous. The whole thing was fake. I toss my phone onto the table and wrench the ring off my finger. Holding it up to the light, I examine the perfect stone and glossy band. I should be glad to have it off my finger. It’s heavy and obnoxious. And if I’m being honest, I love it. I set the ring on the counter and walk away. I’ll mail it back to Clay. Shoot. I don’t even have his address on the mainland. Oh, but I can send it to Liam. His address is on file in the computer because he booked the trip.
My heart aches for what I’ve lost. Liam, Trina, Rex. They might come back to the resort for another vacation, but it won’t be the same.
What about Clay? He won’t be back. He’s a workaholic who couldn’t even stay away from his job for a week. My very real feelings for him mean nothing when I remember that he lied and manipulated everything to further his career. It’s my fault. I went along with it.
I yank open the nearest cabinet and grab my box of tea, then slam the door closed. The sound echoes through the unit, reminding me once again that I’m alone.
“Not all men are liars.” I march to the sink and add water to the tea pot, then set it on the stove to heat. “But I seem to find all the ones who are.” I deserve better. My chest tightens and I rub the ache pounding in my temples. “It was all fake. You knew that. It’s not all Clay’s fault.”
I want to blame him so that I can rant and rave that it’s not fair. Yes, that kiss on the dock felt real, but it had nothing to do with his job. I let him kiss me, and I kissed him back. That’s on me. A low grumble of thunder sounds in the distance, and I lift my head to stare out the window. “Yeah, you go ahead and rain.” Nothing wrong with a good downpour to cleanse the earth. I could use a little cleansing of my own right now. If only I could purge my feelings for Clay as easily as the clouds release their burden of rain.