The Relationship Mechanic (Peach Blossom #2)

Twenty-Three

“I told you it was a bad idea.”

Jessica sighed but didn’t stop folding the shirt in her hand. She had been expecting Grace to come flying through the door as soon as she heard the familiar sound of those tires pull into the driveway. The knowledge that she recognized the sound of tires brought her thoughts back to Vini and the look on her face when Jessica had walked out the door. It had taken everything in her to get in the car and drive away when all she wanted to do was take Vini in her arms and tell her it was going to be okay.

“It wouldn’t have been a bad idea if not for people flying off the handle for no reason,” she shot back before placing the folded shirt in her suitcase.

“It wasn’t for no reason. Ava is very protective of Vini. She has been since they lost their mom. It’s the same as you being protective of Jason. Can you imagine how you’d be if you had to practically raise him or vice versa?” Grace put a hand on Jessica’s shoulder, but she shrugged it off. “Seriously, you can’t be mad at Ava wanting the best for her baby sister.”

“And that’s clearly not me.” Jessica clenched her jaw before turning and giving Grace a withering look. “Are you saying I’m not good enough for Vini? She wants the best, and sorry, I just don’t make the cut?”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Then, how about using your own instead of vomiting out whatever bullshit Ms. Perfect says? Or have you forgotten how to have an original thought of your own?”

“Now you’re just being an asshole.”

Jessica barked out a humorless laugh. “Yes, I’m an asshole. All of this is my fault and no one else’s. I’m the bad person who fucks everyone over.” She was on a roll now, and even though the words were designed to hurt her just as much as Grace, Jessica couldn’t find it in her to stop. “Never mind the fact that Vini and I are grown-ass women who just happened to like one another.”

“You do this all the time, Jess,” Grace spat out. “Just because you’re adults doesn’t mean you should just go for it without thinking about the possible consequences. And I shouldn’t have just gone along with it either.”

“For fuck’s sake, it wasn’t any of your business,” Jessica said. She turned and grabbed another shirt, flicking it out sharply.

“Well, now it is,” Grace replied. “Sometimes when you do things, it affects other people, Jessica. It can hurt other people if it goes wrong. But I guess that doesn’t matter to you as long as you get what you want. Right?”

Jessica whirled around. “If I had gotten what I wanted, Vini and I would have had a wonderful final week together, and then—”

“And then what?” Grace interrupted, voice raised. “And then you fuck off to Italy and leave us to pick up the pieces of Vini you left behind?”

Jessica frowned. “I wouldn’t have hurt her. I like Vini.”

“Well, clearly not enough to stick around,” Grace said gesturing at the suitcase lying open on Jessica’s bed. “Vini likes you enough to go to bat for you with her family, but when you’re gone, then what does she have? You’ll be gone, and she’ll be here, alone. Think about that.”

Grace sighed heavily, and Jessica realized how tired she looked. When Grace’s gaze caught hers, instead of saying anything else, she shook her head and turned away. Jessica didn’t know what to say, so she stayed quiet as Grace left the room. She turned back to her suitcase and looked down. It was halfway packed and suddenly she had the urge to dump it all out and pretend like it never existed.

She had to talk to Vini.

The thought took hold once she had it, and she threw down the shirt before walking away from the case. She was down the stairs and out the door before she even really thought about it. She didn’t know exactly what she was going to say, but she knew she needed to say something. Vini deserved more than being left to pick up the pieces of them being found in such an unexpected way. Jessica shouldn’t have left her to deal with that alone in the first place.

When she pulled up to the Williamses’ house, she saw Vini’s truck was there. There were a couple other cars in the driveway, and she paused for a moment before getting out. She knew there was a chance Ava would be here since it was her house too, but Jessica was ready to deal with that. Maybe she had gone about all this the wrong way to begin with. If she had tried to get to know Ava, would things have turned out differently? Now she would never know, but she could do her best to fix what had gone wrong.

Jessica thought about what she was going to say as she walked up the drive and onto the porch. The house was quiet from out here which was a good sign. Unless they had knocked one another out with their words. She could only imagine an argument between all the sisters, especially when it really got heated. As much as she wanted to turn around and not have to deal with that, she held firm, raising her hand and knocking on the door. When no one answered, she tried knocking again, harder this time. This time, someone called out, and Jessica took a step back as the door opened.

“I wondered if you would show up.”

Jessica cleared her throat before speaking. “Hey, Dani. Is Vini here?”

“That depends,” she replied, looking Jessica up and down. “Did you come to apologize?”

“To who?”

“To Vini, for leaving her to duke it out with our annoyingly overprotective middle sister.”

“Yes,” Jessica confirmed, nodding vigorously. She could fully admit that she should have been united with Vini in telling both Ava and Grace that what was going on between her and Vini was nobody’s business but theirs. Dipping out to leave Vini holding down the fort hadn’t been the best move. There was a moment that she wondered if the door would be slammed in her face, and she held her breath as if waiting for her penance. When Dani smiled, she relaxed minutely.

“Then, yes, she’s here.” Dani took a step back inviting Jessica in. “Just so you know, Ava is out, so you can speak without worrying if your ankles are going to get bitten. Vini, you have company.”

“Thank you, Dani.”

Dani shrugged. “I want Vini happy, and if you’re the one she chooses, then I’m on your side.”

Jessica nodded at Dani, equal parts grateful and still confused about her. Her attention was taken when footsteps came from the stairs, and by the time Vini was in front of her, Jessica almost knew what to say. She vaguely heard Dani walk away, but everything in her was focused on Vini and the sadness clear on her face. Jessica had done that, or at least some of it, and she felt guilty.

“I am so sorry.” Her words were out before she consciously thought to say them, but they were true. She hadn’t handled any of the situation well, and she had a lot to make up for. She would apologize as much as she needed to in order to make things right. “I shouldn’t have just left like that. It wasn’t fair to you.”

“It’s okay.”

Jessica shook her head and gave Vini a sad smile. “No, it’s not. Both of us were in this relationship, and it should have been both of us taking the blame. Instead, I left you there to be yelled at for something that wasn’t your fault, and I’m sorry.”

Vini nodded though her expression didn’t change. Jessica tried to search in her mind for something else to say to salvage things. They had been so good together, and just because there was an expiration date didn’t mean things had to end less than amicably.

“Thank you for saying that,” Vini said, sounding achingly sincere. “I appreciate it, I really do, but I think we should end things here.”

Jessica blinked slowly. “You...what?” She frowned when Vini’s gaze looked away. “Is this because of Ava?”

Vini looked back at her and shook her head. “No. This is because of me.”

“But...” Jessica started, not sure what words would bring things back to how they had been. Things had been going so well between them. How did they end up going so wrong? “I thought we were having fun together.”

“We were,” Vini agreed. She took a few steps closer before stopping and crossing her arms. “Being with you was fun.”

“Then, why—”

“Because I want more.”

More. That word terrified Jessica almost as much as another four-letter word. Every time someone said they wanted more, she ended up with less. It was the reason why she kept things from getting too deep. Usually, it wasn’t a problem. Others knew not to expect love and rainbows and enjoyed their time. Occasionally, when someone would express this same desire, Jessica could easily shut it down and move on. Now, though, was different. The fear was greater, as was her desire to run the other way.

Before she could speak, Vini kept talking. “And I know you won’t give me that.”

“Vini...” Jessica couldn’t counter that. Vini wasn’t wrong about any of this. “You’re right. I can’t give you what you’re asking. I can’t give you more than I have.”

Vini looked up at her then, and her dark brown eyes were so enigmatic that there was no chance of Jessica turning away. “I didn’t say you can’t. I said you won’t.”

Jessica didn’t understand the difference and said as much. Can’t. Won’t. They were different sides of the same coin, and it was clear that Jessica’s biggest fear had come true. She couldn’t give Vini what she was looking for.

“I’m sorry, Vini.” She couldn’t help repeating herself, not that it would do any good. She could see the determination in Vini’s face, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her again. “I didn’t mean for any of this to end this way.”

“Me neither,” Vini replied. She put her hands on her hips and looked down. Jessica willed her to look up again, but when Vini didn’t, she knew the conversation was over.

Jessica took a step back, everything in her screaming to stop and try again, but she couldn’t. She liked Vini and respected her too damn much to hurt her again. What Vini wanted was important, and if Jessica couldn’t give it to her, she knew she needed to step away and let her be with someone who could. The idea of Vini falling into someone else’s arms made her stomach roll, but she fought it down in favor of getting out as soon as possible.

“Bye, Vini.” Pain lanced through Jessica as soon as the words left her mouth, but she swallowed it back in favor of leaving with the last bit of grace she had.

She wouldn’t remember the walk back to her car or the slow drive back to Grace’s house or ignoring Grace and Ava who were seated on the couch talking softly. Jessica walked in a daze, not stopping until she was back in the guest room, door shut behind her. She looked around, not sure how she had gotten there. Jessica walked to her bed, pushed the suitcase over to make space and lay down. She stayed there even as the room grew darker and her stomach growled with hunger until sleep pulled her under.