Chapter Twenty
The next morning, Jeremy dragged his sorry, aching ass to the resort for his lake jog with Nico and Scott, who was free to join them. After a helluva day yesterday, and getting stuck pulling a second shift, his intention of meeting up with Elle to finish their talk last night had bitten the dust.
Maybe it was for the better, his mind suggested.
After seeing her in the arms of that rugged dude in front of Jenna’s shop, he wasn’t even sure he was going to call her today.
They looked way too familiar with each other. Had she been hooking up with the guy on Jeremy’s workdays?
His gut tightened at that thought.
The guy wasn’t a local, but then again, neither was Elle.
Although, he’d hoped…
Clenching his jaw, he picked up his pace.
Fresh air and a brisk jog might clear his head.
But three-quarters of the way into his second lap, Jeremy realized it wasn’t working.
His mind was still full of Elle, confused, angry, concerned.
Why wouldn’t she open up and let him in?
His heart ached for her losses, it really did, but he couldn’t understand why she’d never mentioned her brother or her marriage.
Maybe if you’d opened up to her…his conscience piped up.
Jeremy slowed down and eventually stopped when he reached the bench near the dock. He didn’t have another lap in him. His spirit was willing, but his body said, “Hell no.”
It was well after midnight before he’d dropped onto his mattress last night, but sleep hadn’t come for hours. Even when it had, it was fitful.
A tumult of emotions had coursed through him then and continued now.
He fished water from his backpack on the bench, then sucked it down.
A sense of betrayal gnawed at him, leaving him questioning the trust he had placed in her.
Naomi’s betrayal hadn’t even hurt this badly, and she’d written about the calls he was on without his fucking consent… then Dear John’d him on deployment.
If Elle had kept her brother and ex-husband a secret, how many more did she have?
Pain gripped Jeremy’s heart, manifesting as a heavy ache that weighed him down. And just who the hell was that guy outside Jenna’s shop?
He crushed his empty bottle and tossed it in the nearby recycle bin while he watched his buddies round the bend. But he wasn’t really paying attention to them. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he struggled to comprehend how someone he thought cared about him could so easily turn to another man.
“What bee flew up your ass, Mercer?” Nico asked, panting as he came to a stop by the bench, with Scott on his heels.
Jeremy huffed but didn’t answer. The pain was a little too raw to discuss what he’d seen. He remained silent while his buddies secured water from their packs and emptied them in a few large gulps before throwing the bottles in the bin.
“Could it have something to do with the guy Elle was hugging outside your sister’s shop yesterday?” Nico asked.
His body stiffened, and the ache increased.
Scott sent Nico a dirty look. “Ignore him,” his buddy urged. “Did you talk to Elle about it?”
Jeremy shrugged. “Haven’t seen her.”
“Well, I’m sure you know it’s best to collect all the facts before you jump to a conclusion.” Scott’s gaze bored into him.
Of course, he knew that. He’d just kind of forgotten about it where she was concerned.
Damn.
His friend was right. Despite the hurt, a flicker of hope remained, and he longed for a resolution and understanding to the mess.
“There’s another fact-finding mission you may want to consider.” Nico grinned while he cupped Scott’s shoulder. “Your sister marched into the station yesterday to return our boy’s toolbox.”
Jeremy blinked, then shook his head to clear it as he tried to comprehend the new subject.
“Fuck you, Martelli,” Scott grumbled, shaking out of Nico’s hold. “I told you, I left it at my grandmother’s, and Jenna was just returning it.”
Now that piqued Jeremy’s interest.
Scott never left his tools or supplies behind.
Ever. Nor did he grumble. Scott was an even-keel kind of guy.
He wasn’t easily ruffled, which was an important trait as a paramedic and medic in the guard.
His buddy was also saving up to buy a boat to sail down to the Florida Keys and stay there.
But not while his grandmother was still around.
He’d never dessert Loretta. She’d raised him since he was eight and was more like a mother to the guy than a grandmother.
They’d known each other since grade school. All three of them had been thick as thieves ever since. Scott was an excellent paramedic and medic. A helluva friend and an all-around good person.
He was also attracted to Jenna, and it was no secret his sister had carried a torch for the guy for years.
Their dancing around each other was getting old, though.
The fact Jenna had gone to the station house and handed Scott his toolbox in front of Nico, and who knew who else, definitely proved she was done dancing.
A wave of pride and admiration washed through Jeremy. Jenna was finally taking control of her life. First, she’d opened her own business, and now, she was making a stand with Scott.
For the first time in over twenty-four hours, a smile tugged at his lips. “Sounds to me like my sister’s getting tired of waiting for you to make a move and did it first.”
Nico snickered. “Pretty sure Scott did make a move, and that’s what caused him to “forget” his toolbox.”
Scott narrowed his eyes, and anger uncharacteristically flickered in his gaze, but he remained silent.
His lack of denial spoke volumes to Jeremy.
“’Bout time you two kissed,” he said, surprising his buddies.
Scott’s eyes rounded and jaw dropped, while Nico, who was in the middle of downing a second bottle of water, started to choke.
Good for him, Jeremy thought with a grin.
“Wait…” Nico sputtered. “You’re okay with that?”
He shrugged. “You were okay with Lucas dating your sister.”
A few years ago, the overprotective tyrant had shocked everyone when he’d openly condoned a relationship between Lucas, the new guard transfer from Texas, and Evie. It had been a shock, and an astute move, since the couple was now happily married.
Jeremy would love nothing more than for his sister to find that happiness.
“Yeah, true.” Nico nodded. “But since when are you okay with one of your friends crossing the ‘no-dating my sibling’ line?”
Scott nodded, stepping close to feel his forehead. “No fever.”
Jeremy moved away and shook his head. “I’m not delirious. I just want to see my sister happy, and I’d much rather see her date you than some of the yahoos around here who have their eyes on her.”
Scott’s brows crashed together. “Which yahoos?”
Nico laughed and once again, cupped their friend’s shoulder. “Aw, man. Stop fighting it. Just give in. You’re already hooked.”
Jeremy understood that state. Elle had hooked him the very first time she’d stepped into the precinct with her beautiful auburn hair falling past her shoulders in waves, her green eyes full of warmth and intelligence, and her gorgeous curves filling out her sweater and jeans.
The knot in his stomach tightened, and pain in his chest increased.
He’d wasted so much time keeping her at bay, and now, ironically, he was trying to get past her walls.
Did wasting time really matter if she was seeing someone else on the side? his conscience reminded.
“All right, spill it,” Scott muttered, folding his arms across his chest. “What’s going on between you and Elle?”
“Yeah, you don’t really think she’s seeing that guy, do you?” Nico asked, surprising him by not urging him to dump her. “Elle isn’t Naomi.”
Scott nodded. “What’s eating you? Is it Owen?”
Jeremy shook his head.
“Then what?”
After blowing out a breath, he told them about Elle’s brother and marriage and the fact she’d never mentioned either. He hated secrets.
Was that guy yesterday another of Elle’s secrets?
Scott unfolded his arms and set a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s what’s bothering you. It is that guy,” Scott said quietly and astutely. Never could get anything past him. “Talk to her.”
Nico nodded. “Yeah, jumping to conclusions is dangerous. You know that.”
Yes, he did. Jeremy was a cop. He lived by a hard and fast rule of never making a hasty assumption. Always collect the facts.
So why the hell was he doing it with Elle?
He blew out another breath and grabbed his pack. “I’m done jogging.”
“Going to look for Elle?” Scott asked.
Jeremy nodded. He needed to quit being an ass and give her the benefit of the doubt.
Nico pointed up the hill. “Then you don’t have to go too far because she’s right up there.”
He glanced to where his friend motioned and spotted her. She had her back to them, just beyond the trees, and he could tell she was talking to someone, but couldn’t make out who it was.
Probably one of the girls.
That yoga stuff usually took place soon, although, Elle wasn’t dressed in her heart rate inducing yoga outfit. She was in jeans and a T-shirt today.
His heart strummed rapidly in his chest anyway.
“Good luck,” Scott said.
“Yeah.” Nico slapped his back. “We’re going to do another round.”
Jeremy nodded at them before he made his way up the nearest wooded trail to the top of the hill, where he spotted Elle walking away from that damn guy, down another trail.
His first instinct was to keep walking. To head for the parking lot and leave her behind.
Talk to her…Scott’s words resounded in his head.
His buddy was right. Jeremy straightened his shoulders and headed for the trail she’d taken. They needed to talk.
“You’re Jeremy, right?” the rugged dude asked.
A little surprised that the guy knew his name, he nodded. “And you are?”
“Callum Hudson,” he replied, shoving out his hand.
Jeremy automatically shook it, his mind temporarily in shock. “As in Elle’s ex?”
The guy nodded, releasing him. “Yes.”
Too many chaotic thoughts stormed his brain at once, while his heart pinched. “You two getting back together?”