Chapter 23 #2
She turned, and they stared at each other. A heavy silence settled between them, but so much was left unsaid. Everything was falling apart before his eyes, and he needed to find a way to fix it.
He had to find the right words to get through to her. Why couldn’t they communicate like they used to? How had things gotten
so complicated so quickly?
“I wish you both all the happiness in the world.” Her words faltered, and she swiped the back of her hand over her eyes.
He swallowed, and his eyes pricked with threatening tears. “I know you don’t mean that. I can see it in your eyes and hear
it in your voice. I don’t want Claire. I don’t want to date her or marry her. I never proposed to her. I’m telling you the
truth.”
She wiped away a few tears. “It doesn’t make sense that Claire would cook up such an insane scheme. Why would her parents
and your parents believe a lie like that? And who in their right mind would even try that? Why would she make that up? Was
this just another one of the crazy pranks you all played in high school?”
“I don’t know what that was. But I think she did it because she can’t let me go.” He took a shuddering breath. “She’s maniacal
enough to try that. You know she’s pulled some crazy things over the years. Don’t you remember when she told the entire junior
class that her father was running for mayor, and it wasn’t even true?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Claire craves attention. She’s always wanted all eyes in the room to be focused on her. I don’t even think she loved me.
She only loves herself and the life she thinks she should have.”
Silence stretched between them once again. For a moment, he thought he might’ve won her back, but then her brow puckered again.
“But you didn’t deny it last night.” She wiped away more tears. “You didn’t tell them that you wanted to be with me or that Claire was a liar. You went along with it.”
“I was completely blindsided. I was so shocked by her announcement, and then her mom and my mom started to talk all at once,
and I couldn’t get a word in. And I’ll admit it: I worried so much about hurting my mom in that moment. I didn’t know how
to make everyone happy. And goodness knows I didn’t make anyone happy. Least of all you.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled it out of his reach. “I tried to stop you from leaving,
but you ran out the door so fast.”
“Did you really expect me to sit there and listen to Claire discuss your wedding?” She shook her head. “She deliberately invited
me to hurt me. You know that, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I do, and I’m sorry. If I had known what she was going to do, I would’ve stopped it.” He searched her face,
hoping to find the right words to convince her to forgive him. “I’m sorry for everything she did to hurt you, and I’m so sorry
I didn’t make it right in the moment. I’ve been sick over this. You can’t give up on me. On us. We can make this work.”
She swallowed, and her eyes filled with fresh tears. “No, Jake. I don’t think we can.”
Her words crushed him, and he tried to swallow against his dry throat. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not supposed to be your girlfriend or anything else. I’m your buddy, your friend, your best man.” She gave him a sardonic smile, but he could see the pain in her eyes. “And that’s okay. That’s why we never dated.”
“No, you’re wrong. We never dated because I was too stupidly distracted by Claire to notice you had feelings for me. If I
had been more observant, then we could’ve moved to the next level. But I can’t do anything about the past. I’m here now, begging you to forgive me for not acting sooner. Let’s give this another chance. Please.”
She sniffed and his heart twisted.
“I’ve waited most of my life for you to choose me,” she said. “You once asked me why none of my relationships worked out.
The truth is that I measured every man I dated against you, and none of them lived up to the image I’d built of you in my
head. None of them were kind enough, loyal enough, thoughtful enough, funny enough, or handsome enough. I held on to this
childish dream that someday you’d realize I was the woman you needed in your life, and we’d date, and get married, and raise
a family here in Splendid Lake.”
“We can still do that.” His voice sounded raspy. “Just give me a chance. Please.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ve grown up, and I’ve accepted that you’ll never choose me. That’s why you wanted to date in secret.
You were too embarrassed to be seen with me. You liked the idea of dating me. Of kissing me. But it was never real.” She eyed
him with suspicion. “Did you use me to make her jealous?”
“What? No!” Her words were like a knife to his soul. “No, that’s not—”
“Just forget it. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does to me.” He tried to touch her, but she snatched her arm back as if he’d stung her.
“I’m going to finish helping you with the anniversary celebration and then I’m leaving. I’m going to go back to Charlotte
to rebuild my life there. I don’t belong here.”
These were the words he’d dreaded the most. “No. Please don’t leave. You broke my heart when you sold the house and left.
Please don’t leave again.”
“I broke your heart?” She touched her chest. “Do you want to know why I left?”
He nodded.
“I left because you broke my heart.” Her voice was laced with agony. “I realized it was time for me to wake up and face the truth—that you’d never choose me. The idea of staying here and watching you build a life with Claire was too painful. That’s also why I didn’t come
for the holidays last year. Watching you and Claire flirt, hold hands, whisper to each other, and kiss was too much for me.
And that’s why I need to go. You and Claire will be happier without me.”
“Em, you’re not listening to me.” His words were measured. “I’m begging you. Stay here with me. Let’s build a life together—just
you and me.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and he longed to brush them away and then kiss her until she was breathless.
“I don’t belong here,” she whispered.
“Yes, you do. This is your home.” He took a deep breath. “Don’t leave me. Let’s work this out.”
“Jake! Hey, Jake!”
For goodness’ sake, not now!
He turned just as Vince came to the bottom of the scaffolding, and the rest of their seasonal employees were gathered behind
him.
Oh no.
Had everyone heard their conversation?
Great. Just great.
Vince held up his phone. “Smile.”
“What?” Jake asked.
“Smile, Boss. I’m going to take a photo and share it on the orchard’s social media pages.” He waved his phone.
Jake turned to Emily, who watched him with a hesitant expression. “Should we pose together?”
“Um . . . I don’t think so.”
She wiped her eyes, then moved her fingers over her paintbrush. She slipped over to the other side of the mural before she
peered down at Vince, a half smile on her lips.
Vince held up the phone and then dropped it into his pocket. “This is great. It’s just what we need to get people out here.”
Then he rubbed his hands together. “We need to talk through the plan for the events.”
“You’d better go,” Emily said. “The big day is tomorrow, and Vince needs you.”
He hesitated. His relationship with Emily was more important than the orchard or anything else. He wanted to fix this now.
“Go,” she repeated, pointing to Vince.
“I’m going, but I’m not going to give up on this. On us.” He pointed between them. “Will you talk to me later?”
She shrugged, as if a conversation about their future meant nothing to her, but her hands were still trembling.
He climbed down the scaffolding and approached Vince, but his mind and his heart were still focused on saving his relationship.