11. Harlow
CHAPTER 11
HARLOW
“Damn, you look gorgeous,” Zach says, as he comes up next to me at the bar.
The bartender just pushed my Jack and Coke across the bar to me. I take it, lift my glass for a sip, then turn and look at my ex.
“Thanks.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Zach says.
“Uh oh.”
“I’m not surprised about you and Jefferson.”
I sigh. It seems that Jefferson and I are the only ones who are surprised. That’s annoying.
Even Jefferson’s very practical father isn’t surprised. In fact, Mason Riley thinks we should just date for real. Even if it’s only for a week.
Good lord, if someone told me I’m in some kind of alternate reality right now, I’d believe them.
“Okay,” I tell Zach. I am not really sure why he thinks I need to know this.
“I mean, you’ve known him forever. He’s a good guy. Successful, for Sapphire Falls,” Zach goes on.
Oh, got it. I see exactly where Zach is going with this.
I turn to face him fully. “Please, tell me everything you think about everything.”
“Don’t be like that,” he says. “I just want to lay this out for you. Because no one else will.”
I take another sip of my drink. “Lay out what?”
“You have choices, Harlow. I know it probably doesn’t feel that way. People in this town see the world a little differently. You’ve grown up here. You’re still here. So it makes sense that you would gravitate toward the guy who is also still here. I mean it really does make sense, on paper, to everyone here, that you would end up together.”
I sip again then swallow. Then I set my glass on the bar. “So what you’re saying is that Jefferson and I are together because we ran out of options. It was just a process of elimination, right? Everyone else left. You left. So what else would I possibly do?”
Zach just studies me for a moment. He nods. “I wouldn’t have put it exactly like that. But yes. Jefferson is definitely your best option. Here.”
“Here. In my hometown. The place I love. The town that’s full of people that I love. The place where I do a job that I love.”
“You can have more.”
I take a deep breath.
This should be funny. Or at least seem ironic. A few hours ago I would have thought Zach and Jefferson have this in common. I would have believed that they both look down on Sapphire Falls, and feel the people who stay here are unimaginative, lazy, or stuck in a rut.
But… Jefferson and I talked.
Okay, we fought. Argued. Whatever.
But I’ve been replaying our conversation ever since I stormed out of his house and…I believe him. I believe that he loves Sapphire Falls. That he chose to come back and make his life here. He could have gone anywhere. He’s charming and intelligent and talented. He was also a star in Minnesota. So it was a step “down” for Nebraska fans. That doesn’t mean other people see it that way. At all. He could have gone anywhere to coach and teach.
He chose to come home.
That means something.
And I’m not an idiot—or that much of a bitch—to not admit that.
“I have what I want right here, Zach,” I say, feeling not only irritated with my ex-boyfriend, but a strange camaraderie with Jefferson now that I’ve realized, or admitted, that he’s here because he wants to be. Like me.
I could have left. I’ve never truly considered it, of course, but in my rational brain I know I could have. I could have gotten a job somewhere else. I just don’t want to.
“Harlow, I am through my residency. I have a fantastic position with the practice locked in,” Zach says.
“So you’re going to whisk me away from all of this? Give me a new lease on life? Show me everything I’ve been missing?”
“I’m giving us a second chance. We’ve both grown up. We’re different. I want to try again.”
I look at the guy that I was such a fool for at one time in my life. I feel nothing for him. Except a true desire to make sure he knows that. “If you’re such a big deal, so successful, so good looking and amazing, how come you're back here, digging through your past? Why not find some hot new girl, who will appreciate the city life?”
“I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”
“It’s because I’m the one that got away. It’s because I’m the one who broke up with you . Am I the only one?” I study him. “Oh my God, is that it? Am I the only girl who’s ever broken up with you?”
He doesn’t confirm or deny. “I just miss you.”
“Well, let me tell you something,” I say. “Jefferson Riley has something that you never had and I very much doubt you’ve developed in the past ten years. Integrity.
“He is generous, kind, self-sacrificing, funny, And, so much hotter than you. The orgasms are…” I take a deep breath and make myself concentrate on what I’m saying instead of thinking about Jefferson and orgasms. “I can’t even describe them. So… I absolutely am not settling. I’m lucky he was still available.”
I am really trying hard not to pay attention to the way my stomach is flipping as I say these words. I’m just trying to piss Zach off. That’s all. I’m trying to take him down a peg.
But…dammit, they’re all true.
I don’t know about the orgasms but there’s no way Jefferson isn’t good at that too. There’s no way the guy is good at literally everything else he does and he’s not good in bed.
Having his hand on the back of my neck, having his finger dragging over my upper back, having him just say the word ‘kissing’ made my body temperature rise.
There is no way Jefferson Riley couldn’t make me very hot and bothered if he tried.
And while Jefferson Riley is also a know-it-all, cocky, and frustrating as hell, I can criticize him, and talk about what a pain in the ass he is. Zach Nelson can not .
I don’t know the women that Jefferson has dated very well. He’s only had a couple of girlfriends from Sapphire Falls, and they are both enough older than me that I’ve never heard them spill anything about him, good or bad.
But while Jefferson is a lot of things, a lying, cheating scumbag is not one of them.
And as I think about it, it is kind of amazing that he’s still single. And it’s maybe even more amazing that he’s willing to pretend to date me. Because I am a pain in his ass too.
“How’s everything going over here?”
I am a little appalled by the relief that sweeps through me at the sound of Jefferson’s voice and the feel of his big body behind me. He moves in close and rather than flinching away as I did at the house, now I’m tempted to lean into him.
Not because I’m afraid of Zach. I’m not intimidated by my ex.
It’s more that I just feel comforted by Jefferson. And all of these realizations that I’ve finally let really sink in.
Jefferson is a good guy and would make a great boyfriend.
There, I said it.
And thought it.
Gave it actual conscious thought and let myself acknowledge it without any qualifiers.
It’s not that any of this is a huge shocking revelation. If anyone had criticized Jefferson to me in the past, there’s a chance I would have defended him the way I just did. The thing is…no one would’ve criticized Jefferson. Everyone truly likes the guy. He’s fucking likable. He is a good person.
“Actually, Zach and I were just realizing that we have nothing to talk about,” I say, meeting Zach’s gaze.
I feel Jefferson’s hand on my hip, and I reach for it, linking our fingers and pulling his hand around and over my stomach. He moves closer, spreading his fingers so that even more of his hand is covering me. It is a very possessive gesture and I fucking like it. Probably because it makes Zach’s eyes narrow. That has to be why.
“Well, you’ve been gone a little bit, and I was missing you,” Jefferson tells me as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
That’s sweet. I know, in truth, he was watching and came over because Zach was talking to me. He’s here to help.
See? Good guy.
“Here, you said you were hungry,” Jefferson says. “I brought you some appetizers, so you weren’t drinking on an empty stomach. Don’t want you getting sick.”
That’s nice too. I am actually very hungry.
He brings a small plate up in front of me and my gaze drops to…Brussels sprouts. I carefully school my features.
Jefferson knows me really well. And he loves to give me a hard time.
He knows I fucking hate Brussels sprouts.
Asshole.
I dig my nails into the back of his hand as Zach’s eyes drop to the plate then come back to mine.
“Harlow doesn’t like Brussels sprouts,” Zach tells Jefferson with a bit of smugness.
“She didn’t used to,” Jefferson agrees. “But she’s changed since you knew her. In lots of ways.” He withdraws his hand—the one I’m not sorry to see tiny nail imprints on—and moves slightly to the side so he can look at me. “Isn’t that right, Lily?”
I get it. I wore the blue dress to drive him a little crazy, so he’s going to make me eat Brussels sprouts in front of my ex. We might not be outwardly fighting right now, but there’s still a battle of the wills going on.
I pluck one off the plate. “That’s right.”
“Lily?” Zach asks.
Jefferson watches me wet my lips in preparation for biting into the disgusting green orb in my fingers.
The corner of his mouth curls and it does look affectionate, but I know it’s because he can’t wait to see me eat this damn thing and pretend to like it.
I am so getting him back for this.
I don’t give a fuck how much bacon and cheese and balsamic glaze someone put on these little fuckers, they are still disgusting.
“Oh, that’s my little nickname for her. She didn’t really like lilies, but I gave them to her on our first date.”
“I know she doesn’t like lilies,” Zach says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
I push the Brussels sprout past my lips, bite into it—oh my god, that’s horrible—and hide my grimace with a forced smile up at Jefferson. He lifts a hand and swipes his thumb over my bottom lip. Apparently, there was a smudge of balsamic glaze there. He lifts it to his mouth and sucks it clean.
And for just a second, I forget the bitter green blob in my mouth.
Damn, why was that hot?
“She still doesn’t really like them,” Jefferson says to Zach, still looking at me. “But it’s kind of our little joke. I gave them to her on our first date, not knowing she didn’t like them. She smiled, thanked me as if she was delighted, then brought the bouquet with us and handed flowers out to people as we went along all night. Now I bring her a lily for each date. She always gets rid of it as soon as she can. I started calling her Lily.” He shrugs. “It’s just our thing now.”
I’m blinking at him, the Brussels sprout nearly forgotten.
Wow. That’s a good story. Adorable even.
I almost wish it was true.
“I see,” Zach says.
Now he looks really frustrated.
And that is probably worth having a Brussels sprout in my mouth.
But we need to wrap this up. Because now I’ve remembered it’s there and I’m starting to feel a little like gagging.
I look at Jefferson, willing him to read my mind.
He leans in, kisses my cheek, then says, “We should get back to the table.”
Thank God.
Zach says, “Sure. See you around.”
“Maybe,” Jefferson sighs.
“I’ll wave from my front porch,” Zach tells him.
Jefferson stops mid-turn.
I almost groan. I need to get back to the table where I can spit this thing out.
“What front porch?” Jefferson asks.
“I’m staying in Mrs. Dixon’s house for the week,” Zach says.
Jefferson frowns. “Since when?”
“About three hours ago. I was renting the Kastenbaum house, kind of an Airbnb thing, but the AC went out. Fortunately for me, the Dixons are out of town visiting their daughter and grandbaby in their RV. Of course, someone knew that instantly, and was able to get a hold of them. They said they were happy to let me stay in their place.”
I want to growl. The Dixons live across the street and down one house from Jefferson. That means Phoebe’s suggestion about me staying with Jefferson is an even bigger deal. Zach will be driving right by Jefferson’s place all the time, and he’ll see if my car is in the driveway or not. Hell, he’ll be able to look out his living room or kitchen window and keep track of us coming and going. He’ll know exactly when I’m there, when I’m not, and how often Jefferson and I leave or return together.
Well, fuck.
What’s Ray doing? He’s the heating and air-conditioning guy in town. Can’t he go over and fix the AC at the Kastenbaums?
“Okay then. Let me know if you need a cup of sugar or anything,” Jefferson says.
“Yeah. Ditto,” Zach says. His eyes land on me. “I guess I’ll be seeing you too. “
I nod. “Yep.” I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m holding a piece of food in my cheek.
Jefferson turns and guides me back to the table, his hand on my lower back, in clear view of Zach, who I am sure is watching us walk away.
As soon as we get to the table, I step in front of Jefferson, quickly reach for his napkin and spit the Brussels sprout out.
Jefferson chuckles.
“I will be getting you back for that,” I tell him.
“Can’t wait, Lily,” he says, pulling my chair out for me.
Then he looks at the end of the table with the parents. “And what’s going on at the Dixons? They weren’t gone as of yesterday.”
“They just decided to go visit their daughter this afternoon,” Adrianne says. “Isn’t that such great timing?” Then she looks at Phoebe and they both start laughing.
Joe just smiles. Mason shakes his head.
Great. The parents ‘broke’ the Kastenbaums’ AC and then made the Dixons leave town?
Well, if I wanted help pulling a fake dating scheme off, I’ve got it. Maybe more help than I want, in fact.