Page 47 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

The apartment seemed empty without Emma.

Jay wandered around aimlessly feeling as though part of him was missing.

He’d been alone here so many times, especially when they’d worked separate shifts, but then he’d always known she’d be coming back.

Now he was truly on his own, and it was all his fault.

If only he had nurtured their relationship more, then maybe he wouldn’t have failed so spectacularly.

When he’d gone to bed last night, he’d come into the bedroom to see a beautifully wrapped package lying on the bed.

She’d left him a present for his birthday next week.

The tears he’d been holding back all evening had finally spilled over.

How like her to be so thoughtful, even when she’d known she would be leaving.

Right now he didn’t even want to acknowledge his birthday, knowing he would be spending it without her.

With no work to attend to today he’d gone to see his nan, looking for comfort. He hadn’t found any there, though. Instead she’d admonished him for letting Emma slip though his fingers.

‘She’s such a lovely girl, Jay. And it was obvious that she loved you very much. You might have been foolish to mess this up now, but give her a bit of time and then you must try to win her back.’

‘But what if she won’t change her mind? She seemed pretty definite last night.’

‘Like I said. Give her time.’

‘And if that doesn’t work?’

Betty sighed. ‘Then at least you’ll have tried.’

Of course his nan was right, he thought as he walked into the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee.

The problem was he didn’t have the confidence with women that other men seemed to have, but, if he was going to convince her she wasn’t second best, he was going to have to go out of his comfort zone.

In the meantime, he had to stop moping around.

He needed to concentrate on work right now.

While he was waiting for the kettle to boil, he texted Liz to arrange when they could meet up to plan ahead for her maternity leave.

And then he took his coffee into the living room, to make some notes on what they needed to talk about.

It was then he noticed Emma had left her laptop charger plugged into the wall.

Jay looked at his watch. She should be finishing work soon.

He would drive over and give it to her. He wouldn’t stay or ask to talk, he would just let her have the charger back, thank her for her birthday present and leave.

Give her the space she’d asked for. But hopefully she’d see that he was thinking of her.

Jay parked the van at the back of the hotel where they’d unloaded Emma’s things yesterday. He was just getting out when he saw her come out of the staff entrance and head towards the accommodation block. Her name was on his lips but he stopped short when he saw another person follow behind her.

‘Hey, wait for me.’

Nick. He might have known he’d be around.

Jay clenched his fists as his frustration mounted.

Nick was the kind of man who had the confidence with women that Jay lacked.

He was also the kind that wouldn’t take no for an answer until he got what he wanted.

Jay moved behind the door of the van so that he could see them, but they might not notice him.

He watched as Emma turned towards Nick and waited for him to catch up. He put his arm around her.

‘I’ve been thinking about tonight all day. I’ve got wine chilling in the fridge and you’re going to be blown away with the food!’

They entered the staff accommodation, so Jay didn’t catch Emma’s reply.

But he didn’t need to. It was quite obvious they were together.

All her talk of needing some space to be on her own was a smokescreen.

She just wanted to be with Nick. For a moment he was unable to move.

But he couldn’t stay here. He looked down to his hand, where he still held her laptop charger.

He shut the van door and walked round to the front of the hotel.

He would hand the charger in to Reception and ask that they pass it on to her.

And then he would leave her to the life she had chosen.

He accepted that his behaviour had driven her away.

But he hadn’t thought she would move on from him so quickly.

He didn’t stand a chance of making amends now. And that was what hurt the most.