Page 120 of Tempted Hearts
Juliette was a woman who had her shit together. She knew what she wanted. She’d done enough work on herself to know things many people take years to learn.
I put my phone away, grabbed the burger, and took a bite. Until I knew what the hell I was doing with my life, I wouldn’t pull her back into it.
46
JULES
So much for a walk.
Five minutes after Delaney had texted and asked if I wanted to take a walk through the state park, it had started to rain.
I texted her back, and we canceled for today. I hadn’t planned on going to the gym, but now that our walk was canceled, guilt settled in. Reluctantly, I laced up my sneakers and pulled the keys off the key ring next to the door. Opening it, I jumped back a step.
Cole had just been opening my screen door.
I couldn’t breathe properly. So instead, I just stood there and stared.
He was dressed casually for him, jeans and a collared golf shirt.
“What are you doing here?”
If my tone was harsh, that was only because I’d been determined to protect my peace.
“Can we talk?”
No, we can’t. I’m trying really hard to move on from you, and this isn’t helping.
“Okay.” I stepped aside to let him in.
I was such a dummy.
“You’re wet,” I said as we made our way to the kitchen. “Ever heard of an umbrella?”
“To walk from the car to your porch?”
“For me, yes. I hate getting wet.”
He sat on one of the island stools, raising his brows.
I grabbed two waters from the refrigerator and put them in front of us. “Go ahead, say it.”
“In my experience, that’s not true.”
I smiled, despite myself.
“You know me well, which is surprising, given how short of a time we’ve been together.”
I was all about being cordial, but I couldn’t fully hold back. “Is that what we were? Together?”
He got more serious. And the glasses were back.
“I don’t know. Being completely honest, I don’t know what we were. I don’t know what we could be. I only know that I can’t stop thinking about you.”
I opened my water bottle and sat down across from him, taking a sip to ground myself.
“Same here. Which is why you coming to my house is problematic. I can handle a bit of uncertainty, but hot and cold? It’s too much for me, given how much I like you.”
“I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can be a good boyfriend or a good fiancé or a good husband. I honestly don’t. I can only try.”
