“I’m so sorry…”
Whatever I’d been about to say died when I saw who I was talking to. Because staring back at me was the biggest pair of sparkling green eyes I’d ever seen.
“Derrick.”
Why did it make my chest get all tight when she said my name like that?
“Um.” Her eyes glanced down at the ground, then back up to mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
There was a long stretch of silence. And so much I wanted to say. I wanted to scream that the pathetic excuse for a man who was standing inside, still talking to my parents, was the wrong man for her. I wanted to shout about how I could see it again, that she was a self-fulfilling prophecy, working herself to death for a few moments of ‘one day’. I was also dangerously close to letting myself stare at the shape of her jaw, and admire how the weak outdoor light cast pretty shadows across her face, when Amy spoke, snapping me out of my reverie.
“Hi, I’m Amy.” Amy offered Jessie her hand, but the sticky, coy voice she’d used all evening was gone. Her lawyer voice was back.
I couldn’t tell for sure in the evening light, but Jessie looked as though she’d grown paler. Finally, though, she seemed to recover herself.
“It’s good to meet you, Amy.” Her eyes found mine, and they were accusing. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Good things, I hope.” Amy’s smile was smug.
Instead of responding, though, Jessie just hefted the box on her hip and looked back at me.
“It’s probably good to be home.” She nodded at Jade, and her smile grew slightly genuine. “She’s been talking about you an awful lot.” Then her smile faltered slightly, and she gave me a quick once-over. “I’m…I’m glad you got back safely. I’ve been praying for you.”
“Thanks.” I couldn’t help feeling at least a little satisfied at this. She might be Newman’s girlfriend, but I was in her prayers. I was nearly tempted to go back and tell him just to see the look on his face. “Um…how’s your mom?”
“What happened to your mom?” Amy cooed.
“She’s good. Everything seems to be normal for now.” She paused and looked down at the box she was holding. When she looked up again, all traces of her smile were gone.
“Derrick.” She stepped closer, edging Amy out with her shoulder. “I’ve been thinking,” she said in a low voice, “and I wanted to tell you that—”
The door opened, and my parents spilled out, followed by Newman.
“Jessie,” he motioned behind him with his thumb, “Silvia Wickeroot has been looking everywhere for you.”
She looked back and forth between us several times before sighing. She turned to go, but without thinking, my hand shot out, and I gently grabbed her wrist.
“Just tell me,” I said softly. “Really quick.”
Amy shook her head and tugged on my other arm. “If you need to go, Jessie, don’t let us hold you up.”
“Jess,” Newman said loudly, “you really need to handle this. Wickeroot’s on the warpath.”
“Yeah, um. I’m sorry,” Jessie said quietly, pulling away and heading for Newman, who still stood in the door. “I’ve got to take this.”
My throat thickened. “Of course you do.”
It was a stupid thing to say, and I could see the hurt register in her face as I turned away. But that was the problem, wasn’t it? I seemed to have a GPS for women who were more married to their other priorities than they could ever be to me.
“Derrick—” Amy began, but I shook my head.
“Let’s get Jade in the car.”
She studied me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
As soon as we were in the car, Jade buckled in and waiting for my parents, she turned to me. The sweet innocence was gone, and in its place was the sharp look of a woman on a mission.
