Page 33 of Coming Clean

I could see his legal brain spinning, reviewing what he knew about contract law and job offers. “No, they didn’t change their mind. I’ve tried to pick up the phone and call to accept the job at least ten times since the other night. I’m physically incapable of doing it.”

“What does that say?” David gave me a pointed look that made me want to chuck an apple at him.

“That I’m an idiot?” Wow, could I sound any more bitter?

“No dear, it says you don’t actually want the job.” I hated his patronizing tone.

“I wish I could just run away and not have to think about all this anymore.”

“Really?”

I shrugged. “I got an offer on the house.”

“What?”

“It just came in this morning.”

His expression changed from self-satisfied to concerned. “Don’t make a hasty decision.”

“If I had the money for the house along with what I’ve already inherited, I could just travel for a while. Fuck off and do whatever I wanted.”

“And then what? You’ve never been reckless.”

Why was he being so damn difficult? “Taking time off to travel isn’t reckless. Adventurous, yes, but you’re always saying I should be more adventurous.”

David sighed. “Do I really have to be the sensible one here?”

“Apparently, you do,” I said. “I think you had to take on that role the last time I broke up with someone.”

“You and Connor didn’t break up. You just stopped talking to him.”

He hadn’t seen the look in Connor’s eyes when I’d confronted him that night. “It’s not like he’s called me.”

“It’s only been two weeks.”

“Yeah, but I went over there. I tried to talk and?—”

David snorted. “Talk? I don’t think that’s what you did. And he was angry. Now he probably assumes he blew it. He’s not going to call you.”

I realized I’d forgotten to put lemon juice on the apple I’d chopped, and it had turned brown. Fucking perfect. “Am I supposed to just give in?”

“Do you really want to walk away? You love Connor, I know you do.”

“I…” I couldn’t deny it, but I wasn’t going to set myself up to be rejected again either. “Fine, I love him, but that won’t make things work between us.”

“Don’t accept the offer on the house without talking to him.”

I picked up another apple and started peeling it—anything to distract myself from the judgment in David’s eyes. “If he wanted?—”

“You’re scared. I get that, but—and believe me this isn’t easy for me to say—Connor might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

His words startled me so much I nearly cut myself. “Really?”

“Yes. You’re happy when you’re with him. Even I see that.”

I set the knife down so David could pull me into a hug. I relaxed against him, enjoying a few seconds of comfort. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises. I think getting away on my own is what I really need.”

“Jeremy, the last thing you need is to be alone.”

“I like being alone.”

David shook his head. “You like being with Connor more.”

Connor

I used my forearm to wipe sweat off my forehead.

I’d taken on as many extra cleaning projects as I could handle.

When that didn’t keep me busy enough to stop sitting around pining for Jeremy, I asked my landlord if I could repaint my apartment.

I’d been working on the living room all morning and I was hot and tired and coated in paint, but I wasn’t going to stop until I was done.

Maybe I’d finally be so tired I could fall asleep—or at least sit still.

A few seconds after I finished painting the last wall, someone knocked on my door.

I’d already told Sabrina I wasn’t doing anything but painting today.

She better not have come to pester me into going out somewhere.

I still hadn’t called Mario. He’d called a few days ago, but I let it go to voicemail.

Yes, I’d resorted to ignoring my friend rather than being honest with him.

I hadn’t called Jeremy either. That was yet another thing I was too much of a coward to do.

I sighed as I set my paint roller down and wiped my hands. I checked the peephole to see who was at the door. David. I certainly hadn’t expected that. I’d have thought he’d be thrilled that Jeremy and I had called it quits.

“What’s up?” I asked when I opened the door.

David gave me a once-over.

“If you’re offended by how dirty I am, then leave.”

“What? No.” He looked genuinely puzzled. “I’m here because Jeremy had an offer on the house.”

“Good for him.” Now he was all set to leave. I’d probably never see him again.

“Are you saying you’re fine with that?” he asked.

Hell no. “He has a sought-after job offer. He found a buyer for his house. Shouldn’t I be happy for him?”

David gave me a look of disgust. “He’s not taking the job. He thinks he should sell the house so he can go travel, which is code for run away in case you don’t know.”

“And I’m supposed to do something about that?” I asked. Any influence I’d had over Jeremy ended the night of the awards banquet when I’d behaved like a rutting animal.

“Can I come in?” David asked, ignoring my question.

I did not want to prolong this encounter. “I’m painting.”

“I can see that.”

“That means I’m busy.”

He glared at me. “Can you honestly tell me you’re over Jeremy? Because I’ll leave if you can. Otherwise, I’m coming in. I’ll help you paint if that’s what it takes to make you listen.”

He was wearing expensive-looking linen shorts and a button-down. Definitely not painting clothes. I wanted David to leave, but there was no way in hell I could convince him I didn’t care for Jeremy. “Fine. Come in. I just finished the first coat anyway.”

David stepped in, and I felt self-conscious about the mess even though I had no reason to. “We’ll need to go into the kitchen if you want to sit down.”

“Sit or stand, it doesn’t really matter. I just need you to listen to me since Jeremy won’t.”

I had an annoying thought. “Did Sabrina send you?”

“No, but she knows I’m here, and she wished me luck.”

I snorted. “I’m sure she did.”

“He loves you.”

I stumbled, apparently tripping over thin air. “What?”

“Jeremy loves you, but he’s too damn scared to tell you.”

I shook my head. I was not going to get my hopes up. “What gives you that impression? He hasn’t even spoken to me in two weeks.”

David scowled. “Maybe that’s because you made it clear you don’t want to talk anymore and because you sent Sabrina and Irene to clean his house.”

I had walked away, leaving Jeremy half-naked and vulnerable. David probably knew all the sordid details. “I’m sorry for that.”

“You should be, but I’m not guessing about this. Jeremy told me he loves you.”

“He did?” I had told Sabrina, so it made sense that Jeremy would tell David, but I hadn’t really thought….

“Yes, but he’d kill me for telling you.”

Just like I’d kill Sabrina for talking to Jeremy. Had she? Had she told David? “Just how much have you been talking to Sabrina?”

“Enough.” David smirked.

“I thought so.” She better not call me later. She would not like the things I had to say to her.

“You’ll thank her—and me—if we stop you from making a huge mistake.”

I shook my head. “I can’t stop Jeremy from leaving.”

“You’re wrong about that.”

Even if I could plead with him and convince him to stay, it would be wrong. “I shouldn’t expect him to stay for me if that’s not what he really wants.”

David shook his head. “What you shouldn’t do is let him go without telling him how you feel.”

“Did you give him the same speech?”

“A similar one.”

I ran a hand over my hair. “No matter how much you and Sabrina want us to get back together, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

“He’d stay if he thought there was a chance with you.”

“Don’t try to use guilt on me. Trust me, Sabrina failed, and you will too.”

David stood. “If he doesn’t hear from you, he’ll probably accept the offer on the house tomorrow morning. If I were you, I’d spend the rest of the day considering what I really wanted.”

He left without another word. I stood there for several minutes, considering, agonizing, longing. I poured myself a glass of water and drained it. By the time I set the glass in the sink, I knew exactly what I had to do.