Logan had better be at the concert. He had promised Faith he’d show up this time. She was excited for him to be there, and he better not break her heart because Jack alreadyhad. She didn’t deserve another grown man causing her pain on her big day. Especially her father.
“I can’t wait for Daddy to watch me!” Faith squealed with happiness and clapped her hands together. “He’s gonna love me.”
“He already does, sweetheart,” I said.
Christ. I hated being the parent who always had to uplift the other for the sake of my child’s emotional well-being. I had no choice because Logan was such an irresponsible father.
I closed the car door and walked around to the driver’s side, but my gaze caught on Jack’s house. Not a single light was on. He wasn’t home, and my mind wandered to where he could be.
Jack didn’t warrant an ounce of my time, but I couldn’t help it. The wounds he had left were fresh, bleeding, painful, and present. I had no time to lick them and move on because no matter how much he had hurt me, I still loved him. It was impossible to let go of the feelings inside and be done with him. I wished love were that easy, but rejection wasn’t. His denial of affection was nasty, life-changing, and bitter. I needed time to heal, and I wasn’t sure if I ever would.
“Elle! Elle!” a voice called out.
I turned around only to find a neighbor from down the street headed in my direction on the sidewalk with her hands waving up in the air at me. The timing couldn’t be any more difficult because of whoshewas. It was Jack’s sister.
“Oh, hi, Sage.” I smiled but forced the cheerfulness.
Sage was an exceptional individual to have on the street, and I respected her, but she shared qualities with her brother,which only made me miss him more. Her striking brown eyes, for example, and her spitfire attitude. Jack’s behavior appeared grumpy, while she was far more sassy—a stubborn characteristic, which suited her, but only made my heart hurt worse.
“I’m glad I caught you before you took off for Faith’s concert,” Sage said breathlessly when she reached my side.
“How did you know about the play?” I asked with narrowed eyebrows.
“Jack told me,” Sage admitted with a shrug.
Faith rolled down her window and waved. “Hi, Sage.”
“Hey, Faith!” Sage waved back with a big smile. “Good luck today. You’ll be great!”
“Roll up the window, sweetie. The cold air will get in,” I warned.
“Thanks.” Faith smiled shyly as she put the window up, and her face disappeared behind the dark tint.
“So, uh...” Sage crossed her arms over her chest and peered down at the snow. “I know about you and my brother.”
“You do?” I asked, shocked. “Jack told you about us?”
Sage glanced up. “Yeah. My idiot big brother told me.”
“Christ.” I sighed out of frustration. “Unbelievable. What else has my neighbor been up to?”
“Well, he’s been doing some pretty stupid things to keep you away from him.” Sage rolled her eyes. “But that’s beside the point.”
“Why?” I huffed while crossing my arms too. “Jack doesn’t give a fuck. He made that pretty damn clear.”
“No, he cares deeply for you, Elle.” Sage glanced into the back seat and then back at me. “And your daughter too.”
“Yeah, sure.” I made air quotes with my fingers. “He loves me, and I quote, like afamily friend.”
“His love for you is more than that.” Sage stared at me intensely and nodded her head toward Jack’s house. “You should go talk to him.”
My heart skipped a beat, sped up, and then faltered, only to beat loudly in my ears.Did Jack love me too?
No, Sage was getting in my head, and Jack was pretty damn transparent. Nothing would happen between us because I was his best friend’s daughter, and our age gap was too much for him to handle.
The end. Story over. Done.
I shook my head. “Thanks for stopping by, Sage, but we have to get going.”
