Page 46 of Romantic

“Tomorrow?” Jack looks uncomfortable. “Sorry, no, that’s impossible. Maybe we could go a few days earlier. But not tomorrow.”

“Yes, please,” I say a little desperately, still watching Brandon and Pepper walk home and wishing for all the world that I was going with them. How can I be longing for someone who doesn’t want me? I twist my moonstone ring and smile into the handsome face of my boyfriend.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he says. “For now, let’s get you out of the rain.”

***

The next afternoon I start packing. Jack is doing everything he can to move up our departure date. He warned me that he might be busy for the next few days getting things sorted out. I don’t mind, just as long as we leave soon.

I take all my clothes out of my closet and put them on my bed in a messy pile. I have no idea what to take on a sailing trip, but it feels good to be doing something.

Elinor peeks into my room.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m packing.”

“I thought you were leaving in a couple of weeks.”

“We might leave sooner.”

“Um . . . as your boss, you should give me two weeks’ notice.”

“What about as my sister?”

“As a sister, I need even more notice. Why the rush?” Elinor asks.

“Don’t you see? If I’m going to leave, I might as well leave right away.”

“No, I don’t see that,” she says, eyebrow raised.

“Brandon will certainly be glad to see me gone,” I say, sitting down on the floor. “He told me to stay away from him and Pepper.”

Elinor sits down next to me. “Are you sure?” she asks.

“Well maybe that’s not what he said, but that’s what he meant. And how am I supposed to not be friends with them?”

“I heard about Pepper’s outburst in the lobby,” says Elinor. “She’s very attached to you.”

“And I’m attached to her. I don’t see why Brandon won’t let us be friends.”

“Because it hurts too much. You have to know that he’s in love with you.”

“Don’t say that! It’s not true . . . he hates me.” Elinor gives me a look. “Okay, maybe he doesn’t hate me. But he disapproves of me, which feels worse.”

“Are you sure you don’t have some feelings for him?”

“It doesn’t matter if I do. Brandon has zero interest in me. I pretty much told him yesterday that I loved him, and he just said something inane about that not being a good idea.”

“Really? I could have sworn that he was devoted to you.”

“Well, he’s not. You should have seen his face. I think he despises me.” I shed a few more tears, then blow my nose. “Do you know who is devoted to me? Jack. Jack loves me. He tells me he loves me every day. He bought me a car. He wants to introduce me to his family. The man is objectively the best-looking man on the planet. Of course I love him. I’ll get over Brandon. Once I’m away, it will all be clear.”

“Is that fair to Jack? Should you be going away with him when you’re in love with someone else?”

“Mom said something to me the other day that has stuck with me. She said falling in love isn’t just about being swept up in a moment, it’s about finding someone who shares your values and committing to that person. Jack . . . well, we have a lot in common, and he’s committed to me. Brandon . . . well, he’s not.”

“I don’t know . . . the guy bought Norland Park for you.”