Page 29 of The Lake House (Southern Charm #2)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The next day, Julie called the hospital and was instructed to bring Rita in.
So, she drove Rita to the hospital fully intending to keep out of the way so that she wouldn’t have to see James.
He’d told her he was taking the job in Boston, and she’d been dodging his phone calls and not replying to his texts since.
His last text sounded a little sad, but she wasn’t ready to speak with him yet.
Are you busy? I haven’t heard from you in a few days.
That was it, two days ago. Nothing since.
She was being childish. She recognised that.
But his words had hurt her deeply, and she didn’t know how to address him yet.
She needed time to think it through. What should she say?
How should she react? Clearly, he had a very different idea about their ongoing relationship than she did.
It seemed he thought of her as some kind of friend that he took on platonic dates while she’d been humming “ Here Comes the Bride ” in her head with a goofy grin plastered across her face on the daily.
She was wrong. She’d let her feelings get away from her, something she didn’t generally do.
Usually she was reserved, careful with her heart.
But she’d trusted him, and he’d hurt her.
She hadn’t said anything to Rita about it yet.
Her aunt had enough going on in her life—she didn’t need to worry about Julie any more than she already did.
One thing that all of this had done, though, was give her back her resolve.
She would return to college in the new year to complete her qualifications.
She’d needed a break, and she’d had one.
An entire semester off should be enough.
After the holidays, she’d be ready to return.
She already felt more motivated after her vacation in Australia—meeting her family had helped heal some of the wounds.
At the hospital, she got Rita situated in the oncology department and then went on the search for a cup of hot chocolate or something else she could drink.
She was parched and looking for an excuse to get away from the place where she was most likely to run into James.
As luck would have it, he found her at the vending machine anyway.
“Julie,” he said as he jogged towards her along the wide hallway.
She squeezed her eyes shut and inhaled a quick breath. His voice made her heart race and her stomach drop. Then she spun to face him with a vacant smile.
“James. There you are. I wondered if you were nearby. I had to bring Rita in for a checkup.”
“I’m headed over there now to see her. Running a bit late. Can I talk to you for a minute? It’ll be quick, since I’m…”
“Running late. I heard,” she said. “Sure, we can talk. What’s up?” She attempted a casual, light tone. The last thing she wanted was for him to know that he’d hurt her.
Her heart was in her throat. His blue eyes sparkled as though he was happy to see her. Why did things have to be so difficult?
He leaned one hand against the vending machine. He was so close to her, she could smell his aftershave. It made her giddy,.
“I’ve been trying to call you.”
“I’m sorry. It’s been crazy lately.”
“That’s what I figured. And my texts…”
“I’m terrible at texting. Sorry again.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Really? You weren’t so bad at it a few weeks ago.”
She sighed. “James…”
“What? We can be straight with one another, surely. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Her throat tightened. She didn’t want to cry. It would be humiliating, and he’d think she was crazy. But how could that make things worse? He was leaving. She might never see him again. And he hadn’t even given her a second thought.
“I guess I’m confused. I thought we were…”
“What?”
“More than friends. I thought we were getting to know one another again, and maybe you had feelings for me in the same way that I have for you. But obviously I was wrong about that, so I’m just taking some time to process it. I’m sorry I haven’t texted you back.”
His eyes narrowed. “Now I’m confused.”
“You’re leaving,” she said. “You’re taking a job in Boston and leaving.
I might never see you again. And you didn’t consider me in that decision.
I thought we were on a trajectory… but I was wrong.
I was so wrong. I don’t know why I thought that—you haven’t even tried to kiss me.
That should’ve been the only thing I needed…
” She was cut off by the look on James’ face.
His jaw clenched, and he stepped closer to her. “You weren’t wrong…”
She backed away from him, chin jutting out. “Leave me alone, James. You really hurt me.”
She spun away, already striding for the oncology department without her hot chocolate.
He hurried after her, grabbed her by the arm, and pushed her into a small room, shutting the door behind them. It was dark in the room. There were bunk beds against one wall and a small desk at one end. A night-light glowed near the floor.
She backed up against the end of the bed—there was nowhere else to go.
He crowded against her. She wished she could see his eyes, but it was too dark.
She felt his presence, the tension between then sparking with electricity.
Her heart thundered against her rib cage, and her breathing was rapid and shallow.
She longed for him, her body aching for his touch.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he whispered.
Then he pressed his lips urgently to hers, stealing her breath away.
She was taken by surprise, but within a moment she responded, kissing him back.
His arms encircled her firmly, and she found herself being pushed first against the bed, then the wall, as his kisses became more urgent.
He pressed both hands to the wall on either side of her, then slowed his pace.
“I can’t stand it when you treat me that way. You were cold out there. Like ice,” he whispered against her lips.
She tried to catch her breath. What could she say? He’d finally kissed her, something she’d been dreaming of and hoping for, but he was leaving. Now it would only hurt more.
“What are you thinking?”
“That you’re leading me on. You’re moving to Boston. And I’m staying here—I have to. Keep away from me, James. I’ve had my heart torn into pieces already this year. I don’t need you to make it worse.”
She ducked out from beneath his arms, opened the door, and with one last glance back at his stricken face, she strode away.