Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
Since she’d left Jack’s house, Kayla vacillated between hating him and missing him so badly it hurt.
A dull, heavy ache resided in her chest, and it wouldn’t go away no matter what she did.
Josie had become her constant companion, until, at one point, Kayla called Ryan and demanded he take Josie out, so she could have a few moments of peace.
That night, Kayla felt lonelier than ever before.
She’d almost called Jack, but talked herself out of it.
What good will it do? He made his decision.
When Josie came home, she took one look at Kayla’s bloodshot eyes and said, “That’s it! We’re going out on Friday night, and you’re going to have a fun time.”
It seemed impossible. “No thanks,” Kayla replied.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. If Jack was stupid enough to let you go, then you need to move on.”
“It’s only been a few days,” Kayla argued.
“A few days of wallowing is enough. It’s almost Christmas. If it weren’t for Jack’s stupidity, you’d be happy right now.”
Usually, Kayla loved the holidays. “I’ll go out with you on one condition.”
“What is it?” Josie asked.
“Don’t try to force me on some stranger.”
“I would never do that,” Josie insisted.
Kayla raised her eyebrows. “What about that time you went up to some guy and told him I thought he was hot? He wouldn’t leave me alone the rest of the night.”
Josie laughed. “Well, he was hot.”
“He was also drunk and kept blowing his bad breath in my face.”
“So that one didn’t work out, but you never know when you might meet the one.”
“I’m not interested in meeting anyone right now,” Kayla said firmly. Besides, she’d believed Jack was the one, and look how that had turned out.
“Just come out with us, and try to have some fun,” Josie pleaded with her.
“What does Ryan think about this?”
“He vowed to stay neutral.”
Kayla narrowed her eyes at Josie. “How is that even possible?”
“Ryan agreed that Jack was a jerk for kicking you out, but they’re still friends.”
It was nice to have so many people on her side, but it didn’t ease the ache in her chest. “I still miss him.”
Josie sighed. “I know.”
“Has Ryan seen Jack?”
“No, but they’ve talked on the phone.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He feels bad for what he did, and his parents are still mad at him.”
She shouldn’t feel sorry for Jack, but she did. “I hope they’ll forgive him.” Kayla’s parents weren’t too happy with Jack, either. She’d told them she’d moved back in with Josie and explained what had transpired with Jack’s parents.
“I hate to say it, but I’m not surprised,” Sue said. “He never should have lied like that.”
“I’m partially to blame too,” Kayla reminded her.
“People do silly things when they’re in love,” Sue said.
“Kayla?” Josie interrupted her musing.
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Do you want to watch a movie or something?”
“Okay.” Kayla agreed to have a distraction. However, when Josie put on Titanic, she heard the name Jack repeatedly. Halfway through the film, Kayla couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m going to bed.”
Josie furrowed her eyebrows. “Bad movie choice, huh?”
“It’s not that. I’m just tired.” Soon, she was in bed, which wasn’t as comfortable as Jack’s, and hugged her Squishmallow to her chest. She was so exhausted from all the emotional turmoil, she fell into a deep sleep.
On Friday, Josie insisted Kayla wear her new red dress to the bar.
“Why does it matter what I wear?” Kayla asked.
“Getting dressed up will make you feel better. Trust me.”
Kayla took Josie’s advice. She even spent extra time on her hair and makeup. On the outside, she liked the results, but on the inside, she was still a wreck. I’ll just go for a little while, and get an Uber home, she decided as she put on her gold hoop earrings.
Soon, Ryan arrived and escorted the women outside to his truck.
Kayla hated being a third wheel, but Josie had insisted she wasn’t one.
On the way to the bar, Josie and Ryan fell into conversation while Kayla gazed out the window.
It had been almost one week since she’d seen Jack, but it felt much longer.
I wonder what he’s doing tonight. Does he know the three of us are going out?
Maybe he’s going out too. Kayla stiffened.
When they were just friends, she’d teased him about his revolving door of women, but now she hated the idea of him being with someone else.
Ryan drove past Yard House, the bar they were supposed to be going to.
“You missed the turn,” Kayla said.
“I need to make a quick stop before we go there,” Ryan replied nonchalantly.
“Where at?” Josie asked.
“You’ll see,” he said.
Kayla didn’t question it until he turned into the entrance of Somerset Mall.
“Last minute Christmas gift?” Josie asked.
“Something like that,” he said.
Ryan was acting strangely, but maybe he had planned a surprise for Josie. Why would he drag me along too? Kayla wondered.
Ryan parked the truck and glanced at Kayla. “It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Should I wait here?” Kayla asked.
“No. Come inside with us.”
As the three of them strode up to the mall entrance, Josie eyed Ryan curiously. “What’s going on?”
“You’ll see in just a minute,” Ryan replied.
Kayla felt uneasy as she followed them inside. Christmas music played overhead as shoppers bustled in and out of the stores, loaded down with packages.
Ryan was like a man on a mission. He led them down the hall toward Nordstrom and Tiffany’s. As they approached the famous jewelry store, Ryan came to an abrupt stop. Suddenly, Jack strode out of the store and into their path.
Kayla’s eyes widened, and Josie beamed.
Ryan reached out and shook Jack’s hand. “Good luck.” He grabbed Josie’s elbow and led her away.
Staring at Jack, Kayla felt dizzy, and he must have sensed it. “Let’s sit down,” he suggested.
Between Tiffany’s and Nordstrom was a small seating area with a decorated Christmas tree in the center of it.
An older woman sat there surrounded by shopping bags, but it was otherwise empty.
Jack led Kayla to the couch opposite the woman and they sat down.
For a moment, they gazed at each other without speaking.
Then, Kayla noticed he was dressed up too, wearing a charcoal gray suit and red tie. “What is going on, Jack?”
“I missed you so much,” he said in a rush.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You had Ryan bring me here to tell me that?”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come otherwise.”
“So, you and Ryan cooked this whole thing up?” She felt shaky, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
“I had to talk to you,” Jack said.
Kayla glanced at the woman seated across from them, who was pretending not to listen. “But why here?”
“You were right when you told Ryan I was a jerk. Asking you to leave was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Besides pretending to be in love with me?”
“I wasn’t pretending.”
“Why should I believe you, especially when you kicked me out of the house?”
The woman across from them coughed loudly.
Jack glanced at the stranger and lowered his voice. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“So that’s it. That’s your big apology?”
“Wait. There’s more.” Jack eyed her intently and swallowed hard. Then he swiftly moved off the couch and went down on one knee.
Kayla’s eyes widened to mammoth proportions as their witness leaned forward in her seat. “Oh my God, Jack. What are you doing?”
“I’m so sorry for hurting you, Kayla. I love you so much, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to you … If you’ll let me.” Jack reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a robin’s egg blue box with a white bow atop it.
Kayla and the woman both gasped.
Jack held up the box and slowly opened the lid. “Kayla Green, will you marry me?”
Kayla gaped at the perfect round diamond glistening on a white gold band. Then she raised her gaze to Jack’s face and saw his hopeful expression. The ache in her chest eased, but her heart still pounded rapidly.
Jack eyed her with concern. “Kayla?”
Behind him, the woman had leaned so far forward it looked like she might fall out of her seat.
“Do you promise never to kick me out of the house again?” Kayla finally said.
“I promise.”
“You can’t just walk away when things get tough. That’s not the way love works.”
She wasn’t making this easy for him, but he deserved it. Gazing directly into her eyes, he said, “I learned my lesson. I promise.”
Kayla let out a big breath and smiled fully for the first time in several days. “Yes, Jack. I’ll marry you.”
Suddenly, Jack lifted her off the couch and into his arms. He swung her around before setting her on her feet. Kayla clamped onto his forearms to steady herself. Then he leaned in and kissed her.
At that moment, she didn’t care that they were in a public place and had an audience.
All that mattered was that she was in Jack’s arms again, and it wasn’t just for show.
Jack reluctantly broke the kiss, and the woman started clapping.
Then she stood and gathered her bags. “Congratulations,” she said, smiling sweetly at them.
“Thank you,” Kayla and Jack said in unison.
After the woman wandered off, Jack said, “How do you like the ring?”
“I love it!”
“Try it on just to make sure.” Jack removed the sparkler from the box and slipped it onto her left ring finger.
“It fits perfectly. How’d you know my ring size?”
“I asked your mom,” he said casually.
Kayla gaped at him. “My mom knows about this?”
Jack held up his hand. “Now don’t get mad.”
“I’m not mad, but how … when …?”
He chuckled. “Yesterday, I went to your parents’ house to apologize. We had a nice long talk, and then I told them I was going to propose to you.”
Kayla chuckled. “I can only imagine how that went over.”
“Surprisingly well, after they made me promise to never break your heart again.”
Kayla smiled. “Sounds like them.” Then she sobered. “What about your parents? Do they know yet?”
Jack nodded. “I went to see them next. After another long talk, and a lot of groveling, they forgave me. When I told them I was proposing to you, it was like the icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, my mom knows a baker who makes wedding cakes.”
Kayla laughed. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
Jack lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the back of it right above her ring. “Believe it. I’m never letting you go again.”
His eyes shone with emotion, and it took her breath away. “I love you, and I can’t wait for us to be married,” she said softly.
“Thank God. Otherwise, what happens next would be incredibly awkward.”
“What happens next?” she asked.
“Come with me and you’ll see.”
“Another surprise?”
“Mmm-hmm. You’ll like it. I promise.”
They strode out of the mall holding hands. A few minutes later, Jack pulled into the parking lot of Yard House, and it all made sense.
“We’re meeting Josie and Ryan here to celebrate,” she deduced.
“Yes,” Jack confirmed.
Inside the restaurant, Jack gave his name to the hostess.
“Your party is waiting. Right this way,” she said.
They followed the hostess through the restaurant to a table in the back, but it wasn’t only Josie and Ryan waiting there. Kayla’s and Jack’s parents stood, and everybody surrounded them. They were enthusiastically hugged, kissed, and congratulated on their engagement.
“Let me see the ring,” Sue demanded. Kayla held out her hand, and her mom peered at the ring with awe. Then Sue patted Jack on the arm. “You did good!”
Jack beamed at her.
Eileen gazed at Kayla with tears in her eyes. “Welcome to the family.”
Kayla’s throat caught as she gave Eileen a tight hug.
“If he gives you any more trouble, you come see me,” John said gruffly.
Kayla chuckled. “I will.”
“Me too,” said Tim. Then he patted Jack on the back with a little more force than necessary.
“It’s about damn time,” Ryan said. “After all the hell you put me through, I better be your best man.”
Jack grinned. “Who else would I choose?”
Josie hugged Kayla tightly. “I told you everything would work out.”
“Did you know about this too?” Kayla asked her.
“No. I was just as surprised as you were. I’m so happy for you.”
“Happy enough to be my maid of honor?”
“I’d love to!” Josie said.
After everyone was seated and had ordered drinks and appetizers, Kayla glanced around the table.
The only ones missing from the celebration were her brother and sister-in-law, but she would see them soon for Christmas.
Kayla couldn’t wait to introduce them to Jack, knowing he’d charm them like he had everyone else.
While Sue and Eileen discussed wedding ideas, Jack reached for Kayla’s left hand underneath the table and gave it a squeeze. Then he twisted the ring as if to make sure it was still firmly in place. She squeezed back, assuring him that this was real, and she wasn’t going anywhere.
When the server delivered their drinks and appetizers, and everyone was distracted, Jack leaned in and whispered, “I can’t wait to be alone with you so I can show you how much I love you.”
“We haven’t even eaten dinner yet!” she scolded him.
“I don’t dare get in the way of your food,” he teased.
“Are you going to harass me about this when we’re married?”
“Without a doubt.”
Kayla smiled so big her cheeks hurt. Love. Laughter. Family. Friends. Her heart was full.