Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Arizona
L ily was still in her scrubs and had barely walked in the door of her apartment after her shift at the hospital before she called me. “Okay, spill it, girl,” she demanded as I struggled to hide my grin over FaceTime.
“What? Can’t a friend call to check in on her bestie?” I was still worried about whatever was troubling her since she refused to discuss anything besides work.
“Yes, they absolutely can and should. However, there’s something different about you today; you’re beaming.” I heard the two locks on her door click into position.
“I called to check in on you. How are you doing?” I asked, thankful her mood appeared cheerful and upbeat compared to the last few times we’d spoken.
“Same ole, same ole, now quit deflecting.”
“Don’t think I’m not aware you’re doing the same thing.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line and tilted her head, studying me as if she could see right through the challenge in my tone.
“All right, yesterday was a tough day,” I sighed, letting the weight of the truth settle in.
“Your dad?”
“No, he’s doing really good. I’m still amazed at how fortunate he was, all things considered.”
“Your mom is his guardian angel.” She smiled.
“I don’t doubt that for a second.”
“So, tough work call, then?”
“Yeah, do you remember the farmhouse out on Danbury Lane?”
“Oh, yes, the one Mrs. G had painted bright yellow after her husband died because it was his favorite color?”
“That’s the one. Alex and I did a wellness check on her after Cindy, one of the baristas at Beans and Beyond, mentioned she hadn’t seen her in town for a while. We found her in her rocking chair,”—I swallowed roughly—“we suspect a possible heart attack—or maybe natural causes. She just looked so peaceful.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Ari.”
“Knowing she’s back with Mr. G makes it easier, but that doesn’t make it any less sad. Needless to say, I was upset, and while I normally go to my dad’s place after a tough day, I didn’t want to bother him.”
“You should have called me,” she said with concern.
“I needed to be by myself.”
“Although, something tells me you weren’t alone.”
An easy smile slid across my lips. “No, no, I wasn’t.”
“Let me guess, Jameson?”
“How did you?—”
“I may have been away from Sutton River for a while, but that man’s feelings for you have only strengthened over time. I believe there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to help or support you. When your dad was in the hospital, I witnessed firsthand how torn up he was, desperate to be there for you in any way he could.”
“I was so furious with him.” I recalled when I woke up in a random hotel room away from my dad’s bedside.
“I know, and I have to take responsibility for that.”
“How so?”
“I was the one who asked him to take you somewhere so you could truly rest.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make, Lily.” I shuddered, unable to contain my annoyance.
“No, but as your friend, I made the judgment call with your best interest at heart. Between all the monitors, constant foot traffic in and out checking his vitals, and fluorescent lighting, it’s next to impossible to sleep uninterrupted. You were already dead on your feet, Ari, when you got to my place, let alone the following day. So, when I saw Jameson, I reacted. We exchanged numbers so he could call or text at any hour to check on your dad, and I could reach you if necessary.”
The image of what I remembered to be the remnants left over of a phone number crossed my mind. “He didn’t happen to write your number on his arm, did he?”
“My phone was at the nurses’ desk, and the doctor needed me, so I was the one who wrote it on his arm in a rush.”
I dropped my head into my hands, recalling the roller coaster I’d endured that week. I remembered waking up feeling disoriented and unsure of where I was. I was angry and dismissive of his help once I learned what he had done. Every word Jameson spoke only fueled my anger because he didn’t get to know me; he hadn’t earned that right. When he tried to convince me I wasn’t alone, my heart desperately wanted to believe him, but then I caught sight of the phone number and immediately jumped to conclusions, as was my habit with him.
“How didn’t I see it before, Lils? How?”
“His true feelings for you?”
“Yes. I had held on to this image of him for so long that somewhere along the line, I failed to recognize or see the man he’d become. Then, last night, it happened. I just crumbled when I opened the door and found him standing on my doorstep.” I shook my head at the memory. “I don’t even think he bothered to close the front door behind him, so God knows who else saw us, but from the first glance, he knew; there was no hiding how broken I felt; he just knew. He then wrapped his arms around me and held me quietly while I cried.”
“Ari.” I could see her getting emotional as she tucked her lips between her teeth.
“Once I settled down, we sat together on the couch. At first, our conversation was light and effortless, something I wasn’t accustomed to since my defenses were typically high around him. But the more we talked,the more at ease I became,whichallowedus to confront some hard truths andmisunderstandings about our past. I felt a shift in both my head and heart. I don’t know how else to explain it. I thought my mom’s passing had taught me to embrace life fully, when in reality, it made me guarded. I became fearful of losing anyone else I cared about, which led me to keep everyone at arm’s length to protect myself.”
“And then I didn’t help matters by disappearing after graduation.”
“I’m just grateful you’re back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know you are. I promise it’s water under the bridge.”
She made a heart shape with her fingers, and I reciprocated.
“Now, I’m guessing the fire in the greenhouse and almost losing your dad reopened that old wound, right?”
“Exactly. My dad and I had a heartfelt talk once he returned home, and as difficult as it was to admit, I’ve closed myself off to finding lasting love.”
“That’s huge, Ari. I’m so proud of you.”
“Perhaps my life’s lesson will inspire you too?” I lifted my brows in encouragement.
“The difference between us is that you were unaware of the deeper reason—me, I’ve purposely chosen to be on my own.”
“Lil—”
“I won’t involve anyone else in my drama.”
“As your best friend, I wish you could tell me what’s going on. I want to help and see you happy.”
“Who says I’m not?”
“Gosh, we are a pair, aren’t we.” I laughed.
“A pair of something, all right. Cheers to that.”
“Cheers.”
We clinked our wine glasses against our phone screens.
“So, how do you feel now toward Jameson? Still closed off?”
I shook my head no in response.
“When I asked Jameson why he came to my home to check on me, he said he was worried I might be overwhelmed with emotions after the day I had and didn’t want me to be alone.”
“Please, for the love of God, tell me you’re going to give the man a chance?”
“We kissed, and let’s just say there was no mistletoe involved.” I hadn’t told her about my heated exchange with him in the back office at McQuade’s, as I was embarrassed by my actions that night.
“Stop it!” she screamed wide-eyed in disbelief, causing me to nearly drop my wine glass. “I need more details. How was it? Did he stay over?”
There was no denying the blush that crept across my cheeks from the mere memory of his mouth on mine. I had often imagined what his kiss would feel like; the real thing had exceeded all my expectations. From our hot, heavy, and desperate kiss at McQuade’s to the quick kiss under the mistletoe to the soft, sweet, and sensual kiss on my couch last night, Jameson had my head spinning in the best way.
“It was amazing. It was as if every experience in life had unfolded just as it should, leading us to last night. And no, he didn’t stay over.” He was a perfect gentleman.
After my hour-long call with Lily, I spent the remainder of my night sitting in front of my computer, editing the photos to send to Tara for the First Responders’ calendar. By the time I crawled into my bed after midnight, the memory of Jameson’s kiss was at the forefront of my thoughts, along with Lakelyn’s quoted words of wisdom. “They say love often finds you when you least expect it.”
Maybe, just maybe, it was my time.