Page 52 of Texas Made
It was for the best, she told herself, but she didn’t honestly believe that. In fact, the realization that she might never see Marshall again made her so depressed she could hardly force herself to get up in the mornings.
The following week she sat at her desk in her office, trying to pay attention to the specs on the new line of lipstick that she’d started developing in Whiskey River. Market research showed that the new line had a great shot at really taking off. Initial response to the samples they’d circulated had been fantastic. Too bad she couldn’t drum up more enthusiasm. She wondered if she’d ever feel enthusiastic about anything again.
A knock on her door and Rachel walked in. “Are you busy? I’d like to talk to you.”
Jaclyn put her papers aside thankfully. “Sure. What do you need?”
“I need to know what’s going on with you.”
She frowned. “Nothing. Why are you asking me that?”
“Because ever since you got back from Whiskey River you’ve been miserable. And no offense but you’ve been really difficult to be around.” She sat in one of the chairs in front of Jaclyn’s desk.
“You mean I’ve been a royal bitch.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say that.”
“No, but you thought it.” She waved a hand. “It’s okay. I know I have been.”
“What’s wrong?”
No sense not admitting it. “Marshall and I broke up.”
“What? Are you kidding? Why?” Before Jaclyn could answer her friend rushed on. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. No wonder you’ve been…” she hesitated and finished “…unhappy. What happened?”
“It’s just not working. He can’t come in this weekend and I finally admitted to myself it was always going to be like that. After the thing with Keith I swore I’d never have another long-distance relationship and yet that’s exactly what I did.”
“Keith was an ass,” Rachel said. “A completely selfish ass.”
Jaclyn looked at her. “You never told me you felt that way about him.”
She shrugged. “You seemed to love him so I kept my mouth shut. But I was really glad when you broke up.” She crossed her legs and leaned back in the chair. “Now, Marshall’s another matter. Not to be shallow, except I am, but he’s a real hottie.”
Jaclyn laughed ruefully. “Yes, he is.”
“And he’s a good guy.”
“Yes, he is.”
“You fell in love.”
“Yes, dammit, I did.”
“And so did he.”
“Yes,” she agreed glumly.
“Isn’t there some way you can work it out?”
“I can’t think of one and neither can he. Neither of us is in a position to move. I don’t want a long-distance relationship indefinitely. Honestly, I don’t think Marshall does either.”
“You’d rather be miserable indefinitely?”
“No. I thought it would get easier.”
“Well, it’s only been a couple of weeks. Did you break up or did he? Or was it mutual?”
“I did. He tried to talk me out of it.”
