Page 56 of My Fiancé's Brother
His eyes were shadowed beneath the brim of his baseball cap, hiding his expression.
The words poured out of me in a torrent. “I tried to kill you, but you still helped me pick wedding invitations. You saved me from getting run over. My stupid friends, even the married ones, all hit on you. And then I kissed you. Right before I barfed on you. You cleaned up after my big stupid party, and no one would blame you for wanting to leave. But you should know that you might be the greatest house guest I have ever had and maybe one of the nicest friends too.”
He just crouched there, watching me. No expression.
I hiccuped.
“I’m not leaving because of you. I'm leaving for you.”
“If you want to do something for me, then just stay.”
A long, sad pause hung between us.
“Sorry. I'm so stupid,” I gulped air into my lungs. “Now I'm making it worse. I’m just embarrassing us both.”
He lifted his hat up and put it back on his head. “Emily.”
A soft knock sounded on the door. Jackson and I looked at each other. The rolling door slid open. Irene, Matt’s mom, stood in front of us. She took in my huddled form, and tearful face with Jackson crouched beside me and his duffle bag.
“Oh sorry,” she said, “Is this a bad time?”
Jackson stood up and walked over to her. I wiped my face and watched as she presented a cheek for him to kiss.
I scrambled to my feet, and she gave me a look that was hard to read. “I'm so sorry to drop in on you like this. I heard that Jackson was in town.”
I shook my head. “Of course. I didn’t think. I should have invited you myself.”
She looked down at the bag and then up at Jackson. “So are you coming or going?”
Jackson looked at me. His expression was hard to make out.
I wiped my face. “Why don’t I make some coffee? Did you drive here?”
“No, I took the train and yes, I would love some coffee.”
I started moving to the kitchen. Jackson had set up the new coffee maker, and now it was my turn to stand and stare at it. I had asked for a coffee maker with gadgets.
He appeared behind me. “I can make the coffee.”
I sat down at the island while Irene and I looked at each other. I had hoped that Matt’s mom and I would become close friends, but she wasn’t the warmest woman I had ever met in my life. I vowed to give her another try.
Irene looked at Jackson, “How long are you stateside?”
“Three months.”
“Matt told me that you were here.”
“I should have called.”
Silence hung in the air.
His voice was low, “How’s the house?”
“Oh, things are good. I might need to have the shingles replaced this year. My neighbor gave me the name of two contractors.”
CHAPTER 18
Irene studied me. “How are you?”
