Page 42 of About that Fling (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #2)

“Come on, Adam.” She nibbled her lip. “Be serious for one second. We can’t get serious here.”

“I have no idea what you just said.”

One edge of her mouth twitched. “You know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure I do.”

She sighed, her fingers still twined with his. “We can’t get serious in a relationship. Not now, anyway. Not with my job on the line and my best friend’s emotions so wonky right now.”

“I get the job thing, I really do. But why do you think Mia would even care?”

“I just do.” She glanced out the window.

“Have you asked her?”

Jenna shrugged, still looking away. “I’ve broached the subject. Not of me dating you, but of you getting serious with anyone at all.”

“And?”

“Look, the timing is just lousy. Her hormones are all topsy-turvy and her marriage is shaky and I just?—”

“Her marriage is shaky?”

Jenna frowned down at her hands. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

“But you said it,” he said, curling a finger beneath her chin and forcing her to look at him. “Why didn’t you want me to know?”

“Because I didn’t want you to feel glad about it.

” Her eyes flashed with passion, but not the kind he’d seen last night in bed.

This was a different sort of fervor. “I didn’t want to see I told her so in your eyes.

I didn’t want to see even one tiny shred of delight that my best friend is having a hard time.

She’s my best friend , Adam—it’s bad enough I’m betraying her by sleeping with you, but I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone taking pleasure in her struggles. ”

Adam gritted his teeth. “Jenna, I’d never derive happiness from anyone else’s unhappiness. I hope you’d know that about me.”

“This is different. This is the woman who left you flat for someone she thought was better. You can’t honestly tell me you wouldn’t feel at least a tiny twinge of satisfaction if it turned out she didn’t live happily ever after with her new life and marriage.”

“I can,” he said, trying to keep his breathing even. “I can absolutely say that.”

She let out a long, slow breath, then leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips.

“We can talk about this later,” she said. “For now, I need to get home. Thank you for the amazing weekend. I told your sister I’d call her tonight, but if you talk to her first, can you give her my regards?”

“I will.”

“I’m sorry about Nana, Adam. She was an amazing woman.”

“I’m glad you got to meet her. It wasn’t much, but?—”

“It was everything,” she said, squeezing his hand. “You have no idea how much it meant to me.”

Adam nodded, feeling a lump welling up in his throat. “I’m glad. It meant a lot to me, too.”

She gave him a sad little smile, then unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. He watched her swing her legs out of the car, watched as she shut the door and strode away.

He might have actually kept driving if she hadn’t walked around to the driver’s side and opened the door. He looked up at her, confused for a moment, and a little dazzled by the sight of her, silhouetted by golden sunlight streaming in through the side of the parking garage.

“Um, my car?”

“Right,” he said, getting out. “I’ll just grab my bag from the trunk. Thanks again, Jenna.”

She nodded as he popped the trunk and collected his suitcase, taking great pains to close the trunk softly and without force. He walked around to the front of the car where she stood beside the open driver’s side door.

“Drive safely,” he said. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Jenna said, then leaned up to kiss him softly on the lips.

It was probably meant to be just a peck, but she seemed to dissolve against him, her mouth opening to his as he pulled her into his embrace and their bodies melted together.

The smell of car exhaust mingled with the scent of her perfume, and her hair was the silkiest thing his fingers had ever explored.

She drew back with a sigh. “Goodbye, Adam.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

His mouth kept tingling as she drove away, and he watched her taillights blink and fade and trail around the corner of the parking garage. He watched until her car drove out of sight, until the scent of her shampoo faded from his fingers, until he lost the urge to kick himself in the head.

The last one was the toughest. Because what she’d said was true.

As much as he hated it, as much as he wished it weren’t so, a tiny, awful part of him felt smug at the thought of Mia’s marriage in trouble.

He gritted his teeth, hating himself, loving Jenna, and wondering what the hell that left him with.

An hour later, Jenna was saying goodbye to Mia at the door. “You’re sure you don’t want me to come with you to your birthing class?”

“That’s okay.” Mia slung her purse onto her shoulder. “Mark said there’s still a small chance he might make it. Not a big one, but it could happen.”

Her expression was so hopeful it scrunched Jenna’s heart into a tiny, painful knot. “I know he hated having to cancel,” Jenna said. Maybe he can still make dinner?”

“Maybe,” Mia said shrugging. “The reservation’s kinda early, so that doesn’t leave a lot of time.”

“I’m sure he’ll do his best,” Jenna said. “And if he doesn’t make it, I know he’ll wish he was there instead of repairing his ex-wife’s roof.”

Mia winced. “It sounds awful like that. The hole is right over Katie’s bed and it’s been raining like crazy. They can’t get a repairman out there on a holiday weekend, and Mark knows how to fix things.”

“Absolutely,” Jenna said, leaning forward to give Mia a hug. “Call me if you change your mind about the birthing class. I can be there in ten minutes. That’s the benefit of living this close to the hospital.”

“Thanks, sweetie. You’re a great friend.”

Jenna nodded and tried not to cringe. “You, too.”

She closed the door behind her, feeling lousy and wistful and guilty all over again. Part of her wanted to celebrate the fact that Adam had said he loved her. That she’d said it back. She was still glowing from the amazing weekend they’d had together.

But what the hell kind of friend could revel in her own happiness while her closest pal’s marriage teetered on shaky ground?

“Did Mia make it out okay?” Gertie called, padding into the living room.

“She just left. Thanks for giving us a few minutes alone. She’s going through some rough stuff right now, and she needed someone to talk to.”

“I totally understand. She’s been here all weekend keeping an old lady company. We had a nice time together, but I know when a woman needs her best girlfriend.”

Jenna sighed and sank into the overstuffed loveseat by the door. “I feel like an awful friend. And an awful niece, come to think of it.”

Gert sat down beside her, patting her knee. “Why’s that, sweetheart?”

She nibbled her lip. “You know how I told you I was going to Seattle to see some old college roommates?”

“Ah.” Aunt Gert gave her a gentle smile. “I assumed that was just a cover story for a romantic weekend with Adam.”

Jenna blinked. “What? How did you?—”

“For one thing, you don’t have any college roommates in Seattle. For another, I overheard you on the phone with him the night before you left. My hearing’s better than you think it is, sweetheart.”

Jenna buried her face in her hands, thinking of Gramps’s hearing and Beth’s cooking and the whole tangled-up mess of love and lies and loss. “God, I’m so sorry, Gert. I didn’t want you to have to lie to Mia. I thought it would be better if I told you both the same story.”

“It’s fine, dear. I realize you’re feeling very secretive with this relationship. I know I tried to draw you out before by bringing Adam to the house, but now that I see how reluctant you are—” She gave Jenna a squeeze, forcing her to look up. “I guess I’m willing to go along with that.”

“Thank you. For everything, Gertie. Really.”

“It’s no problem, dear.” She searched Jenna’s eyes, her expression becoming a little bit melancholy. “Your mom did such an amazing job of protecting you. Looking out for your best interests. I’ve tried my best to fill her shoes, but it’s hard when we both miss her so much.”

“You’ve been amazing.” Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back hard.

“But you’re right that I miss Mom. Being with Adam’s family all weekend just hammered it home.

His sister’s amazing and his grandfather loved his grandma so much.

” She pulled in a long, ragged breath. “It’s hard not to notice there’s a hole in our family that won’t ever be filled. ”

Kindness filled Aunt Gertie’s eyes. “I think we’re doing okay.”

“We are.” Wrapping her arms around Gert, she gave her a long, hard hug. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.” Patting her back, Gertie pulled back. “Tell me about your weekend. How was it?”

“Incredible.” Jenna sniffed and swiped at her eyes. “Heartbreaking. Earth-shattering.”

“Sounds like a good title for a romance novel.”

She sighed and sank deeper into the loveseat.

“I just had one of the most amazing weekends of my life with a man I know used to be the light of Mia’s life.

Once upon a time, they were crazy in love.

Now I’m finding happiness with that same man, and here’s Mia struggling and trying to hold her new marriage together. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“Life’s not fair, honey. I don’t think Mia would trade places with you. Not even now.”

With another long sigh, she leaned against her aunt’s shoulder, more comforted than she expected by feel of Gert’s arm curving around her shoulders. “I suppose not, but it might hurt Mia to see it anyway. Especially under the circumstances.”

“Maybe. Or maybe she’s stronger than you give her credit for.”

“I guess.” Jenna turned a bit so she was looking at her aunt. “I’m just not ready to tell her yet. I can’t risk hurting her like that. Maybe after the baby comes and Adam’s contract is up with the hospital?—”

“You don’t think that might make it worse in the long run? If Mia finds out you were seeing him in secret?”