After I finished my salad, I stood and walked out. Stella sent me a text after fifteen minutes, thinking I just went to get fresh air, but I left. I’m not a kid and I won’t listen to it.

“Would it matter? I guess. It would be hard for Stella and my brothers to have to pick a side. It would make it financially difficult, but if we were more than whatever this is then, no, it wouldn’t matter. I’d find a way.”

Jess tucks her hair behind her ear. “This is insane, you know that? We’re adults, and I am not a bad person. I don’t get it. I don’t understand why your parents hate me so much. I was poor, oh well.”

There’s a reason, and it’s one that I will never tell her. Jessica’s mother and mine were once friends, there’s a reason they’re not anymore. My father tried to start something with her mom, but she turned him down. However, my mother doesn’t believe her and, to this day, thinks that she left with him.

“It doesn’t matter. It wouldn’t matter to me. I guess that’s what I’m saying.”

“Do you want . . . more?” Her voice is small, the vulnerability breaking me.

“What do you think?”

Her hand lifts, touching my cheek. “I think we are fools who are pretending we’re not already more.”

I wrap my fingers around her small wrist, bringing her palm to my lips. “I won’t beg you to stay. It has to be your choice. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Tears fill her eyes. “I knew that all it would take would be one look in your blue-green eyes and I’d be done for. I knew that I would fall right back in love with you. It’s why I stayed away.”

“And now?”

Her head shakes gently. “Now I’m afraid there’s no hope.”

“There’s always hope, Jess.”

She leans down, her hands on my chest. “Not at keeping my heart from being yours.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

I nod and bring her lips to mine. “Good because I have no intention of letting you leave without a fight.”

Chapter 23

Jessica

I open the door to see the most handsome man standing there. “Well, aren’t you spiffy,” I say.

Grayson pulls flowers from behind his back and extends them to me. “Spiffy?”

I shrug. “I have a brain injury, blame that. Or that you’re so hot I couldn’t think straight.”

He laughs and then gives me a soft kiss. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

I’m wearing a pair of jeggings with a halter tunic. It’s comfortable but still cute since I have no idea what we’re doing.

“You ready?” he asks.

When I get to the car, Melia waves frantically. “Hi, Miss Jessica.”

“Hello, Melia,” I say with a bit of confusion.