Chapter 16
Well,the dime hadn’t worked. In fact, things had blown up. Maybe Jo was right, and he’d angered something that called that well home.
Maybe blown up was a strong word, but their relationship wasn’t as comfortable as it had been before their talk. She was forcing herself to smile, and he was right there with her. He’d catch her frowning, her shoulders hunched forward, and her eyebrows scrunched together like the world was sitting on her shoulders.
Anytime he asked if she was okay, she’d shake the funk off and tell him she was fine. He’d eventually given up. Perhaps if he gave her space, she’d figure it out and come talk to him.
Jack fished in his shirt pocket and pulled out the shiny new penny he’d received in change at the grocery store and looked from it to the well, trying to decide if he needed to apologize for throwing the wrong tender in two weeks ago before making another wish.
“Don’t waste your money.”
The voice was vaguely familiar. Jack turned and worked to keep a snarl from showing on his face. “Hey, Craig.”
The guy had exchanged the expensive suit and overpriced loafers for a T-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. Jack suspected it was to appear as though he was trying to blend in. While Craig was from Wishing Well, it was clear the small town was no longer in him.
“Hey,” he came to a stop a couple of feet from Jack. “I wanted to apologize for the other day. I was a jerk.”
It didn’t feel sincere, but Jack didn’t really know the guy either. Plus, his dad always taught him that when someone apologized, he should accept it. Sincere or not, it wasn’t for him to decide. “Accepted.”
“Thanks.”
Jack had expected him to mosey on, but he continued to stand there awkwardly, like he had more to say— which he did. “Seriously, I wouldn’t waste my money.”
Small talk? Whatever. “It worked for my brother.”
Craig shoved his left hand into his left pocket. “That’s one out of… how many?”
With a shrug, he replied, “It’s a penny. Not like that’ll break the bank.”
The guy strolled over to the well and looked over the edge of it. “I remember when I was a kid, people would talk about this well. All the stories of wishes it’d granted and how people had found their one true love because of it. Such bunk.”
Jack’s eyebrows rose. “A little cynical, aren’t you?”
Craig looked at him. “I’m still single.”
By his own actions, but Jack wouldn’t divulge that Jo told him about the circumstances of their breakup. “Maybe it’s a maturity thing. We need to be ready for a relationship before the wish is granted.”
“A reasonable argument. I maintain it’s a waste of money, though.” He chuckled. “It’ll be a good draw for the town when it gets out that Serenity found love and had her wedding here. Well, I should say: Jo’s article about the wedding. Single women will flock here, and socialites will trip over themselves to have their destination wedding in Wishing Well.”
“It’ll be good for the town, for sure.”
“Too bad they’ll have nowhere to stay. At least not in town. It’s an hour to the nearest hotel, and I wouldn’t put my worst enemy in one of those rooms.”
He had a point. He was totally up to something, too. Maybe Jack needed to figure out his angle. “Yeah, that’s true.”
Craig faced Jack. “Man to man, in all honesty, do you think Jo and her grandmother should be sinking their money into that house.”
And there it was. Jack knew Craig would throw out a line trying to fish for information.
The problem was that Jack felt the same way. Jo had pledged her savings, and Charlie was already paying him as much as she could. Craig was right. The house was a huge undertaking and even if Jack got it remodeled, there was the matter of who would maintain it.
Just the other day, he’d gone in for a permit, and he’d overhead the secretaries talking about the house and council members raising concerns about the safety of it. There was a chance the city might try to push Charlie out.
He’d wanted to go straight to Jo and tell her, but he didn’t know how. He knew what she’d say, and he wasn’t sure throwing money at it was the answer.
“I know they don’t want to sell, and I’m just the contractor. I can tell you it was well built, and it’s in better shape now than it was.”
Craig seemed to digest the information. He stepped forward, thrusting out a business card. “I just want a meeting with Charlie. I just want her to hear what my client is offering. If she doesn’t like the offer, she can send me packing. I promise there will be no pressure.”
Jack hesitated and then took the card. “What makes you think I’ll talk to her about it?”
“I’ve asked around about you. You’re still every bit the town hero. You know as well as I do, that something has to change. Jo’s article will put this town on the map. That property has a ton of potential, and the city isn’t stupid. There is a lot of money to be made. At least my way, Charlie and Jo are set for life.”
What counterargument could Jack offer? Nothing. He couldn’t even throw out an offer that would even come close to competing with a major land developer wealthy enough to hire attorneys like Craig. Plus, as much as he hated it, if they sold the property to someone like that, it’d be a huge windfall. Charlie could find a smaller place, travel, and never have to worry about funds again. Jo could maybe quit her magazine job and focus on her photography.
Jack tucked the card in his jeans pocket. “No promises.”
“Understood.” Craig gave a mock salute and took a few steps. He paused and turned slightly. “I saw the way you were looking at Jo, and there’s been talk… Jo is sweet. Don’t be stupid like I was. If there’s a chance, take it. She’s worth it.”
With that, he carried on down the path, leaving Jack with a torrent of thoughts.
First, their conversation. If Jack kept it to himself, he’d feel like it was a betrayal. If he told Charlie and Jo, he worried they’d think he was going behind their back.
Things were already strained with Jo. Did he want to risk making it worse? Especially when he had feelings for her. It didn’t matter that she was leaving. His heart was already invested.
But moving.
What if he gave up everything, moved to New York, and it didn’t work out? She’d have her life, but where would his be? They’d only known each other for two weeks. That wasn’t enough time to gauge if a relationship would work out.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and slowly organized his chaotic thoughts. He needed to tell them about Craig. If they were mad, then so be it. His conscience would be clear.
He turned to the well, looked around, and then leaned in. “I wish… I wish for love for me and Jo. If that means we’re together, great. If that means we find someone else, that’s okay, too. I want to be happy, and I want her to be happy.” The wish complete, he dropped the penny in the well and strode in the direction of his pickup.
Jack knocked on Charlie and Jo’s front door, paused, and knocked again.
The door swished open, and for a beat, he was speechless as his gaze drifted from the top of Jo’s head to her cute little bare feet. Ponytail, hippos in tutus T-shirt that matched her pajama pants, and smelling like vanilla, she was the girl of his dreams.
“Hey,” she said, catching her bottom lip in her teeth. The sweet little smile playing on her lips made his heart take off like a thoroughbred at the races.
Then it hit him. He hadn’t even checked the time. All he knew was that it was dark, and the sun had set maybe an hour ago. If he had to guess, it was maybe eight or nine? “I… just realized that I might be waking you up.”
“Eh, you’re good. We’re night owls.” She tilted her head. “Is everything okay?”
He pulled Craig’s business card from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “I was walking in the park, and we ran into each other. Thought you’d want to know what he had to say.”
Her eyebrows knitted together as her gaze moved from the card and met Jack’s. He almost thought she was going to tell him no before she waved him in.
As he moved past her, she asked, “What did he say?”
“Much the same as he did that day he stopped by the house, only maybe not as cocky. He wants me to convince Charlie to hear the offer.”
“And your answer?”
“I didn’t have one.”
Charlie stopped three steps from the bottom landing and smiled. “Hey, Jack.”
“Craig wants him to talk you into hearing the offer.” Jo left Jack where he was and walked over to her grandma.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that was signaling a united front. Crossing her arms over her chest, she said, “Jack didn’t know how to respond.”
Her grandma slightly narrowed her eyes. “I see.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, Jack replied, “I didn’t have a response because I’m just the contractor. I don’t even know why he was talking to me. I don’t have a say in any of this.”
Jo dropped her arms to her side. “Good answer.”
Jack chewed the inside of his cheek. He was about to take a risk that could alienate Jo and Charlie and cause him to lose the job. “I think maybe you should hear him out.”
The mixture of shock, hurt, and anger made him wish he could hit the rewind button. Then she added a tiny pout. “You can leave.”
Charlie put a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, wait.”
“I’m not saying take the offer. I’m just saying that it wouldn’t hurt to let Craig say what he wants to say. You’re not accepting the offer; you”re just hearing the guy out. Maybe he’d leave you alone once he said his peace.”
“We’re not inter?—”
“Jo, Jack isn’t wrong.”
Jo twisted to look at her. “He’s dead wrong. There is no point in listening to Craig when we already know the answer.”
Jack lowered his gaze to the floor and slipped his hands into his back pockets. “I think I should?—”
“Stay, Jack,” Charlie said.
He flicked his gaze up, held Charlie’s for a moment, and nodded before lowering his head again. There was no way he could say no to her. He liked her too much. She was good to him. “Okay.”
A heavy harrumph from Jo. “We’re not selling. I told you I?—”
“This is my house, and I want to hear what Craig has to say.” Charlie’s tone was kind but firm.
“But Grandma…” Her voice was just loud enough for Jack to hear.
“It’s settled.”
Silence carried to the point Jack felt antsy.
“Okay,” Jo finally replied.
The steps creaked, and footsteps grew closer until Jo came into view. She palmed his chest. “I’m sorry. I bit your head off, and I shouldn’t have.”
Lifting his head, he smiled. “I’m sorry, too.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. You were simply relaying a message. I was taking my frustration out on you, which wasn’t fair.” She chewed her lip. “I also want to say I’m sorry for being so moody this past week.”
“You know you can talk to me,” he said softly.
A small nod. “I know, and thank you. I’m… I…”
Jack wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. When you get ready and have the words, I’ll be here.”
Jo buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath, melting against his body. Her arms constricted around him a little tighter before loosening a fraction.
He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, but he was positive he could do it forever. Just hold her. No words. Nothing. Just her. Him. Wrapped up together, wading through the world. A partner. Someone wanting his strength the same way he needed hers.
He shuffled a hair, and she leaned back. “Your hip?”
“Uh…”
“I’ve noticed sometimes that when it’s bothering you ,you’ll shift your weight a little. It’s slight, and sometimes, I don’t even think you realize it. Probably a product of just learning to cope with it.”
He softly laughed. “Been watching me pretty hard, huh?”
She popped him in the chest. “Don’t flirt with me.” Her lips quirked up. “We’re having movie night in my room. Would you be interested in a little Terminator and some Milk Dud popcorn?”
His eyebrows rose. “No way.”
“What?” Her cute little head tipped to the side.
“The only movie that tops Terminator in my book is Jurassic Park. I’d say it’s dead even, and I don’t eat popcorn unless it has Milk Duds in it. I just can’t wrap my brain around eating it any other way.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t have to work that hard. You’re already invited.”
“Honest. My mom taught me the popcorn thing, and I’ve loved Terminator since I was a kid.”
“Oh. Craig hated anything in his popcorn, and only watched foreign films that had subtitles. That’s when he wasn’t working. Not that I think anything is wrong with those sorts of movies. They’re perfectly fine. I’ve got nothing against them really, I don’t, but some of them can be so pretentious and…” She stopped short and rolled her lips in. “I was rambling.”
Adorably so. He held back a laugh. “Maybe a little.”
She threw her arms around him again. “I’ve missed you, Jack. Thanks for coming over.”
He returned the gesture, setting his cheek on the top of her head. “I’ve missed you too, Jo.” He’d missed holding her and how she felt in his arms. The smell of her shampoo. The softness of her skin. The little wrinkle in her nose. The way her eyes sparkled.
He wasn’t sure when it’d happened, but her essence had invaded his, and it was mixed to the point that it didn’t feel right when she wasn’t around. It had happened so fast, too.
Leaning back, her eyes searched his. “Can we be friends? Like real friends?”
Oh, he wanted and needed so much more, but he also knew that pushing too hard would make her retreat. The last few days without her smile were some of the dreariest in recent memory. “Yeah, we can be friends.” The words lifted him up and crushed him against the floor at the same time.
She lifted on her toes, touched her lips to his cheek, and hugged him around the neck. “Thank you.”
Yeah, he wanted more, but he’d settle for this. It was better than living without her.