Page 38 of Mistletoe Hearts
"His name is Jensen. You've always known his name. You just keep pretending you don't because you never liked him."
"You think I don't know when you're faking something, sweetheart?"
I grinned. "Oh, Iknowyou don't know when I'm faking something."
His face flamed, and I could see the muscle in his jaw tick. "I know you're not with him. It's written all over you, the discomfort when he touched you. And you're a crappy liar. I could tell. I think it's not too late for you and me. I mean I just have one caveat. You can't be friends with him anymore. But I'm willing to give it a go again."
I had two options. Close my hand into a fist and slug him, breaking that perfect nose, or laugh. I opted for laughing. The kind of laugh that made my sides hurt. Besides, my gallery opening was too close for me to go to jail. "I see you're still full of yourself."
"Maybe. But at least I see things clearly. Sweetheart, if you had a problem with me cheating on you, you should have tried harder to keep me happy in bed. When I saw you with Jensen, it made me crazy. You know that guy. He can't keep it in his pants to save his life. There are always women in and out of his bed. And if he hasn't seen by now that you've been in love with him for years, he's never going to see it, and he's never going to step up and actually do anything about it. You are really better off with me."
I ground my teeth and lifted my chin, despite the pain slicing through me. I braced myself and tried to stand erect. I knew Jensen well. He wouldn't cheat on me. Not like Brian had done. But he would want to be with someone else eventually. He wasn't the kind of guy who stuck around. This whole thing was my fault. I'd offered to be his stand-in girlfriend when I was already in love with him.
"Brian, I hope you buy every single piece in here because I would love nothing more than to take your client’s money. But if you ever talk to me again like you did today, next time instead of laughing, I'll be tempted to break your pretty nose." I turned and stalked back to the office, refusing to lose it while he could still see me.
When I was behind the closed door, I let myself sag against the wall. He was right. Jensenwouldget bored. He didn't really do the love thing. What would happen when he got to that stage? What would happen if he hurt me so irrevocably I couldn't even be friends with him anymore?
Going back to Catalina would be a mistake. It was about time that this charade was over. I was done hurting myself.
* * *
Jensen
Where the hell was she?I speed dialed Alex again. She hadn't come back last night. The storm had been raging all night, so it made sense that she hadn't come back, but not calling wasn't like her at all. I managed to get through to Cassie and leave a voice mail, but every time I tried Alex, I got the message that her voice mail was full. "You know, pacing around and looking out the window isn't going to make her come back," Grandma Lucy said.
"I can't help it. She's nevernotshown up or checked in. That's not her. She always turns up when I need her."
My grandmother harumphed "That sounds like love to me."
"Of course it is. We're best friends." And then I realized my slip. "I mean she's always been my best friend. And now she's more, and I'm freaked out.”
My grandmother gave me a level glance. "You have the look of a man in love, sweetie. Which is amazing. I know you've been bouncing around lost for a bit."
I glared at the sheets of rain. "I have no way to get to her. They said there's a tornado warning for Los Angeles. Atornado, Grandma."
Grandma Lucy laid a hand on my arm. "Jensen, I know you love her, but she'll be okay. She'll come back. There’s no reason to jump to conclusions. You said you got a message to her assistant, so she'll call you when she can. Remember the newscast said that service is intermittent. So don't worry. Just keep a tight lid on all of your emotions."
Myemotions. Yeah, right. I wasn't in control of anything right now. Alex was gone. Maybe she freaked out because I was getting too close. Was that it? There were too many emotions for her? The last several days I’d tried to show her how much I cared about her and how I would take care of her. Maybe it was too much for her. Maybe she was trying to cut her losses.
But Alex would never walk away without saying goodbye. Our friendship was too important. Wasn't it? “Grandma, I don't know. I just need to get to her.”
"Honey, when it’s safe, I'll get you on a boat myself. I was gonna suggest that we all go see her gallery opening. After meeting her and spending time with her, I think she's lovely and I want to help her career."
I couldn't help but smile. "You'll love her work. I'm so lucky to know her.”
My grandmother smiled. "Said the man in love."
Chapter19
ALEX
I walked slowlyfrom piece to piece, determined to remain calm. I could do this. It was fine. I was strapped into a mermaid gown that I couldn’t breathe in and shoes so beautiful I was afraid to walk. I looked every part the sophisticate. And I wasn’t worried about tonight at all.
Liar.
For two days I’d wanted to call Jensen. But I’d needed the time to get my emotions under control. When the need to call him had finally overwhelmed me, I hadn’t been able to get through to the house in Catalina. I’d called the hotel's landline and left no less than five messages. It was okay. This wasmygallery opening, and I could do this without my support system.
Who the hell was I kidding? I couldn't do this. I missed him. Right about now, I could use a bit of family. He was my family but also so much more than that. I loved him. And it was breaking my heart that I was going to have to do this, the most important step in my career, without him.
