Right Where You Left Me (Bluebonnet Creek #4)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

JESSICA

Bad things come in threes.

At least that’s what Meemaw used to tell me.

To say I was skeptical about it would be an understatement; however, today just might prove me wrong.

Called into work early?

Check.

Broken coffee machine?

Check.

A feeling of apprehension hangs over me, making the hair at my nape prickle as I wait for the other shoe to drop.

Regardless, it’s bound to be a shitty day; I can feel it in my bones.

My phone buzzes just as I park my car in front of the Reading Nook.

“Hello?” I prop my phone against my shoulder as I grab my bag and slide out of the car.

“What the hell, Jessica?” My boyfriend’s angry voice greets me from the other end of the line, stopping me in my tracks.

“Damien, wha—”

“Where the hell are you?” he hisses into my ear, causing my stomach to tighten with unease. “You were supposed to come! But you’re late.”

Pressing my lips together, I glance left and right, spotting a few familiar faces standing in front of the flower shop. They notice me too, waving in greeting, so I plaster a smile on my face and nod in acknowledgment before I quickly cross the street.

“I texted you that I can’t make it bec—”

“I saw that stupid excuse. Do you think I’m that dumb? I know you’re sneaking around behind my back. Who is it with this time?”

Seriously? This again?

“I don’t have time for this,” I mutter quietly as I walk into the café, noticing my friends watching me with worried eyes.

A deep frown is etched between Rebecca Fernandez’s brows, and Rose Hathaway is nibbling at the inside of her cheek as my boyfriend continues his tirade on the other side of the phone, his voice growing progressively louder to the point I know there’s no way they can’t hear him.

“I don’t care. I’m your boyfriend; I should be your top priority.

What’s the point of dating if we never see each other?

Except if you’re fucking somebody else. Are you, Jessy?

Now that you’re working in that hospital, I’m not good enough anymore.

Stupid rancher isn’t worthy of little Miss Richards.

Is that it? I know everyone’s been telling you to break up with me.

Do you think I’m dumb and I don’t know how to read between the lines? ”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to hold back my irritation. “Well, this kind of behavior isn’t helping.”

This is starting to feel like too much. Damien’s jealousy is completely unprovoked on my end, but it’s grown epically over the course of the past few months as I was working overtime to finish all my classes, and now that I’ve started working in the hospital.

There’s no hiding my frustration with the whole thing.

And then there are the fights. Damien doesn’t care where we are or who’s around to witness it. More often than not, they turn nasty quickly.

I’d hoped things would get better with time, that he would understand my job’s demanding and unpredictable, but he never did. It seems like he gets increasingly more possessive and outraged the more time passes. “I need to go. I have to get—”

“To work. I know.” He’s not even trying to hide his bitterness.

“Now that you’re surrounded by cushy doctors, who cares about some good-for-nothing laborer, right?

You sure as fuck don’t. I should have seen this coming.

I’ve always known I’d never be good enough for you.

I’m the problem here, right, Jessy? That’s what everybody thinks.

What you think. Then again, why am I even surprised?

Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes has always been looking down her nose at me, one foot out the door, just waiting for me to give you the reason to leave.

I’m not sure why I’m even trying with you.

God knows your frigid cunt isn’t worth it. ”

Each hurtful word is like a punch to the gut, and I can feel the color drain from my face the longer the tirade goes on.

“Then why are you even with me?” I snap. “Why not just break up already?”

I hold my breath as the silence stretches, the tension between us growing palpable even though he’s not in the room.

Finally, he explodes. “I knew it!”

I press my lips into a tight line, feeling the pressure build between my shoulder blades.

He laughs humorlessly. “I knew it. You were just waiting, weren’t you? Just waiting for me to give you an out so you don’t have to be the bad guy. How long have you wanted to break up with me, Jessy?”

“No, you said that! You’re the one who’s clearly not happy in this relationship, so maybe we should just end it here.”

“You don’t get to end this. You—”

“I didn’t,” I grit out through my teeth. “You did, Damien. And I’m done playing your games and being your punching bag.”

“Jess—”

Whatever he wanted to say is cut off when I hang up the phone. I know I’ll pay for that later. Damien does not like to be interrupted. However, I can’t find it in me to care.

“Did she just…?”

My head snaps up at the sound of Becky’s voice to find two women watching me with wide eyes.

Rose nods. “Yup.”

“It’s about damn time.” Becky winces and shoots me an apologetic look. “Sorry. Are you okay?”

Yes. No. I don’t know.

I can still hear Damien’s angry voice at the back of my mind, his hurtful words echoing on repeat as my heart gallops. My palms are sweaty and my chest feels tight, but at the same time, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“Jessy?” Rose asks gently.

“No, it’s fine. I just…” I shake my head, pushing this to the back of my mind. “I can’t deal with this now.”

Becky nods in understanding. “What can we do?”

“Fuel me up?” I roll my shoulders back and force out a smile. “I was supposed to be off until seven this evening, but they called me in early since there’s some kind of emergency. And, of course, my coffee machine decided to die today.”

I can see Becky isn’t buying my forced cheerfulness. My former boss knows me too well, which is why she isn’t pushing it either. We’ve spent countless hours working together in the Reading Nook, and although she’s four years my senior, I consider her my friend.

“I’ll do you one better. How about I fill up that thermos you have with a backup for later? I’ll even throw in a dessert.”

I shoot her a grateful smile. “You’re a godsend, Becky.”

“I’ve gotcha.” I hand her my thermos, and she turns around to the coffee machine, pressing the start button. “How’s work?”

“Long. Hectic. Fulfilling.”

I always thought I would go into education, like both of my parents.

Not only am I the oldest of four sisters, but I spent my teens babysitting.

I love children, but over time, I realized I love helping others more, which is how I ended up changing my major to nursing instead.

I’ve been working as an ER nurse in our small medical center for the past month now, and while yes, some days are really hard, I love every second of it.

My gaze darts to Rose, and I give her a tentative look. “I heard about your ex. Aiden was called on the scene. He said there wasn’t anything they could do. Is it true that he took Kyle and shot Chase?”

I didn’t really know her ex-husband. I only knew of him. I’ve seen John O’Neil around town—it’s impossible not to with the size of Bluebonnet Creek—but our paths haven’t crossed much since he’s older. Not that I regret the fact, considering the stories surrounding him.

A dark expression crosses her face. “Unfortunately.”

“That’s just so crazy.” I shake my head, still unable to wrap my mind around it. “I’m so sorry, Rose. I guess that was his karma, huh?”

“Rightfully so,” Becky mutters as she puts my coffees on the counter along with one of her tasty chocolate chip cookies. “Will you be coming to book club next week?”

Grabbing my wallet from my purse, I place a twenty-dollar bill on the counter before sliding the dessert and thermos into my bag and grabbing my to-go cup. “Maybe? I need to see which days I’m working. I’m not sure I liked this one. The guy didn’t grovel nearly enough for my liking.”

“I agree.” Becky quirks her brow, giving me a pointed look. “Gotta make them work for it. But some things? They’re unforgivable.”

My throat bobs as I swallow. She heard every single word of that conversation with Damien, and she isn’t even trying to hide it. Although, really, Damien sure as hell didn’t make it hard for her to overhear it.

“No, they’re not.” I let out a sigh. “I’ll see you ladies later.”

“Don’t forget about this weekend!” Rose calls just as my phone buzzes to life again with an incoming call. This time, I check the screen first.

Damien.

“Seriously?”

Gritting my teeth, I press the decline button. I’m not in the mood for another screaming match when I need to get in the car and get to work.

I reach for the door handle as I slip my phone into my bag, ready to get on the road.

The bell chimes before my fingers can even reach the doorknob, and I collide with a hard body.

The force of the impact knocks the air from my lungs.

Hands reach for me, fingers curling around my shoulders and holding me in place, a zap of electricity shoots through me at the touch.

“Shit. I’m so sor—” I look up, my eyes meeting the piercing brown depths I haven’t seen in four years. My knees buckle, fingers tightening around the cup I’m holding, as an icy chill runs down my spine.

“Matthew.”

My heart beats wildly inside my chest as I just stare at him.

It can’t be real.

He can’t be real.

Matthew Williams left Bluebonnet Creek when I was seventeen, and he hasn’t been back since.

Four years.

Thump-thump-thump.

His eyes flare in surprise, the recognition shining in his irises. The blood rushes through my veins, making my ears buzz and dulling all the other noises around us.

Thump-thump-thump.

Four long years.

Thump-thump-thump.

Time seems to slow down and speed up simultaneously. My palms are sweaty. Heart racing. Knees weak.

Thump-thump-thump.

I imagined this moment so many times in the first weeks and months after he left. Thought about what I would say. What I would do. How I would look. But in none of the scenarios was it ever like this.

And then he says one word, his voice a low rasp that makes goosebumps rise on my skin.

One word, and I’m that seventeen-year-old girl all over again.

“Trouble.”