Then Jesse discovered he was not as tough as he believed. His superior intellect and knowledge of numbers were nothing against the powerful matters of the heart.
“Miss me? Dan, I’ve never reallybeenthere.”
“But you were... are supposed to be.”
“Don’t start.”
“Okay, okay, but I want you to know I’ve saved a corner office for you. Paul pitched a fit about it, but you and me,we’rethe diamond brothers.”
“Then you should know I finally have real success out here. Don’t save an office for me. Please. Give it to Paul.”
“He has his own corner office. Look, forget all that, just come home. We’d love to see you. Octoberfest. Second weekend in October. Also...” Dan hesitated. “Did Mom tell you about, um, Melanie and me?”
“Melanie Trainer?” Loxley’s best friend.
“We ran into each other at a party. Six months ago. She’s working on the design team at Hartman Electronics. We talked shop and—”
“One thing led to another.”
“Something like that. Jess, I just bought a ring.” Excitement was evident in his brother’s tempered tone.
“Really?” Jess walked to the window and pressed his forehead against the pane. His brother was moving on. Melanie was moving on. If they’d even stalled at all. A twisting ache vibrated through him. “That’s, um, great, Dan. I’m happy for you.”
“I wanted to tell you in person. But it felt right to tell you now... that’s really why I called. Are you okay? I know we’ve not talked about, you know, everything in a while and—”
“Dan, I’m good. It’s been eight years.” Jesse shoved his hand through his hair, eyes closed, and warded off any spiking images. Logically, he understood time healed all wounds, but what could remove the scars? The memories? He chuckled quietly. “You don’t deserve her.”
“There’s my little brother. And you’re right, but I’m not letting her go. Listen, if you don’t come home, Mom will think it’s because of, well, everything, and order me to break it off with Mel.” Dan’s laugh was shallow and hollow.
“Then I’ll try to come home. If not this fall, then after the movie wraps. In the spring. Tell Mom to call me if she has any doubts. I’m fine.”
“Hey, Jess, I miss you, but I’m really proud of you. Getting a movie made of your script, that’s something. But you’ve always been outstanding. Just know I still have the office space for you.”
“After eight years, I don’t think I’m headed back to engineering.”
“Don’t pop my bubble. I’m happy today. Let me have my fantasy. Oh, hey, we should coordinate calendars. I don’t want to plan my wedding the weekend of the movie premier.”
“So you think she’s going to say yes?” Jesse turned from the ocean view, pressing his back against the sun-warmed window.
“Fingers crossed. I’ll let you know in a few days.”
“Send me a pic.”
“What about you? Met anyone?”
“Naw, keeping it simple. Focused on work.”
“Jesse, you can’t—”
“Bro, leave it.”
A few more pleasantries, and the brothers hung up. Jesse returned to the deck, phone in hand, and watched the waves wash over the sun’s golden path, now narrow and thin, fading in the rising light of day.
13
CHLOE
Sunday evening Chloe sat in her living room going over lines with her costar, Chris Painter, who checked his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes, the pages ofBound by Loveopen in his lap.
