Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
And I’d met a man who showed me every day what it felt like to actually feel important.
I gave Chad half a second to look a little relieved and a little smug before I took a breath and continued. “But I’m not that guy anymore. Moreover, I have no interest in being that person ever again.”
“Oh, Lane, come on,” he sneered. “You want me to believe you’ve had some kind of Hallmark aha moment where you realized Lick-A-Hedge, Tennessee, is a magical place, and you suddenly have the desire to plant trees and commune with nature in the town gazebo? I know you, Lane.”
I cocked my head and studied Chad. When we’d broken up over a year ago, I’d been genuinely upset. I’d believed all the bullshit he’d spouted at the end about my lack of commitment to our relationship and my emotional unavailability. I’d thought it was my fault.
Now I knew better about that too, and it was a real relief.
“Do you? What do I like on my toast?”
Chad tilted his head at me as if I was a strange creature he couldn’t make out. “On your toast?”
“Yeah. You know me, you said. You just recounted every single degree I’ve earned and every award I’ve won. We were together for months. So what do I like on my toast?”
“Uh, butter?”
I thought back to the little jar of honey that was present every time Jay made me breakfast, though I’d never seen him use it himself. Chad and I had shared many breakfasts in our time together, but he’d never noticed my preferences, let alone gone to any effort on my behalf.
I grinned at him and nodded. “This explains a lot. You think you know me, Chad. But you don’t. You act like you’re interested in me and my future, but you’re not,” I said. “You wanted a partner who looked good on your arm, someone whose resume coordinated with yours. And that’s okay—”
Chad’s chin came up. “Excuse me? I’m a professional. An academic. It’s not wrong for me to care that the man I’m with is as ambitious as I am. And I can recognize a mid-life crisis when I see one. I’m worried about you. I’m trying to be a friend to you here, Lane, despite your failures as a romantic partner—”
I shook my head. “No, you’re not. You are an unfeeling, entitled elitist of the first order. You’re the worst kind of snob. You’re probably offering me this job because it makes you feel less guilty about how shitty you were when we broke up. You can’t imagine that I’m truly happier without you. But you know what? It turns out you were the problem. So… thank you, Chad.” I smiled. “Truly. Our breakup was the best thing you’ve ever done for me. Now, take me back to the clinic.”
It was clear that Chad didn’t know how to take my genuine gratitude, so I stopped talking and made my way to his Lexus.
The drive back to the clinic was silent and awkward. Chad made a small huff of laughter as if trying to provoke me into starting something, but I barely noticed. I truly didn’t care what Chad thought of me or my choices.
Jay, on the other hand…
My stomach roiled. What the hell did Jay think now that he’d met the unfeeling ass I’d spent a chunk of my life with? He must have lost all respect for me over the past hour, and who could blame him? Certainly not me.
I was furious with Chad for being an unfeeling, embarrassing asshole but even more furious at myself for allowing him to ruin my lunch with Jay.
I’d had a plan, damn it.
I’d told Jay casual after our first hookup because once I’d let down my guard and started believing all his acts of kindness were sincere, I’d been scared as fuck of just how much I liked him… and how badly I wanted him.
But from the first night, there’d been nothing truly casual about us.
The more time I spent with Jay, the more I wanted to spend. There hadn’t been many nights I hadn’t wanted to be with him, regardless of whether we hooked up or not.
Jay was just… good. And he was so much more than that. Sexy, funny, clever, energetic, empathetic, generous. Most of all, he was kind. The world needed more people like Jaybird Proud. I needed more of him.
And I’d set out to tell him exactly that by arranging a special meal at the Thicket’s known “couples” restaurant—a lunch, since the Steak n’ Bait’s dinner reservations at this time of year were gobbled up months in advance—and specifically ordering their Tot-ally Tied Together Entwinin’ Platter.
It was the kind of cheesy gesture that Thicketeers let themselves enjoy without shame, and while the old me might have scoffed, the new Lane—the one who freaking loved this town and all its sentimentality—was totally here for it.