Page 69 of On the Slopes of Tahoe
“Theywhat?” I shout, and Breck shushes me on reflex. “Shit, sorry,” I whisper, glancing up toward where I hope Willow is still sleeping.
“Yeah. Your dad called me yesterday.”
“My dad?” Interesting. I’d expect something like this from Mom.
“He thought I might be the only person who could get through to you.” He offers an apologetic shrug. “Everything else he said was unimportant, and I had some choice words for him in return. I don’t imagine he, or your mom, will call me again. They know now that I’m not their ally in this fight.”
I kind of do want to know what he had to say, but it won’t do me any good to hear those words, so I shrug it off. “I’m sorry, Jamie.”
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong. I should’ve said something to your parents a long time ago. I only held my tongue because I didn’t want to create extra drama for you. Now though… It felt good to finally give him a piece of my mind.”
I chuckle, then let out a long-suffering groan. I’m going to have to address the issue at some point, but I want to bask in my freedom from their control, their judgment, for a while longer.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you both.” My gaze trails away from my best friend and lands on Breck. He winks, and the soft, ever-burning flame in my chest grows a little brighter. Jamie’s watching us closely, so I break the connection and look at my hands.
“I’m going to turn in. Gotta be up early with Willow tomorrow. I swear her teachers need a raise.” Breck yawns and pushes away from the table. Before he leaves, he leans in and whispers in my ear, hands braced on my shoulders. “You’re going to be great. I’m excited to see you fly.”
The touch of his fingertips sears my skin, and I duck my chin to hide my flushed cheeks. “Thank you.”
His footsteps fade away up the stairs and I lift my head to look at Jamie. His right eyebrow is arched and a smirk plays on his lips.
“So, I take it that’s still happening?” He jerks his chin toward where Breck just disappeared.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play coy. I know you hooked up on New Year’s, and I can only assume it continued.” He gives me a look likedon’t even try to deny it.
“We only made out on New Year’s,” I say defensively.
“Semantics. You’ve more than made out since then.”
“That’s none of your business.”
He laughs. “Oh please. You knowallmy business. You know I won’t judge. I just want to make sure you’re being careful.”
I flush. “Oh, for god’s sake!”
His laugh grows more boisterous. “That’s not what I meant.” The words are barely there between his laughs. “I mean, yes, that’s important too. But I was talking about you being careful with your heart.”
Said organ feels like it’s in my throat. I can’t speak.
“I don’t want you to get hurt. So long as you’re on the same page about what it means when he leaves…” He trails off with a slight lift of his shoulders. “Because he will go home. He’s not like Wes, he can’t stay. He has Willow to think about, and their whole life is in Sydney.”
The apologetic note in his voice only makes this harder—he’s more on the money than I care to admit.
“We already stopped… whatever it was. It’s too complicated now that we’re living together. Thank you for worrying about me, but I’m fine. I’ll miss them when they leave, of course, but I’m not harboring any ideas that they’ll stay. That was never an expectation.”
“Sometimes our expectations grow without our permission.”
“It was just something fun, something for us, and now it’s over.” I’m not sure who I’m saying all this for… him or me.
“And you’re really okay with that?”
“Yes,” I say but don’t meet his eyes.
“Okay. Just be careful. I like Breck. I’d hate to have to kick his ass for hurting you.” Jamie chuckles, then he gentles his voice. “I don’t want to be picking up the pieces of you after he leaves.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
