Did I have it in me?
I sighed. Unlikely.
When I was sure he was pulling out of the drive, I scurried up the stairs and crept into the bedroom where Kacey slept to see what Jack put on the dresser. For a woman dead set on resisting advances, I was far too eager. I fumbled around in the dark, and finally found it.
It was a jar of some kind with a sticky note on the top.
I sped into the hall so I could see.
The note had a simple question mark on it. That’s all. Nowords. Just a question mark. I peeled the note off to read the jar.
It was sugar scrub. An audible growl escaped my lips before the tears of frustration pricked my vision.
For real, Jack? Why are you doing this?
He was asking me if I remembered. Yes, I remembered full well. If I thought I couldn’t breathe downstairs standing next to Jack, I was practically turning blue now. The realizationheremembered the sugar scrub and wasthinkingof it stole the air from the room.
I loved sugar scrub. It made my legs so soft. But, our routine was a little…well, Jack was the one who had always applied it. We’d both hop in the shower, and he’d gently massage the sugar into my calves and thighs. By the time he would finish, I would be so turned on. It led to more. Every time without fail.
I placed a hand on the door frame to keep myself upright.
Good grief. What was Jack doing?
He was trying to make me fall in love with him again. If only love was the issue! I’d been gone for Jack since he sat at my table in the twos, sipping tea and watching me screw up every ticket in my section.
Love wasn’t the problem.
How could he still not see?
FORTY-SIX
Miranda
Acouple days later, I went out to do the nightly watering. I tucked Kacey into bed and left a plate of food in the fridge for Jack—he got held up and wouldn’t be home until 8 p.m. or so. I hummed to myself as I turned the spigot handle and tromped through the backyard.
I hit the bottom of the tomato plants with the stream and their aroma released into the air. I could get drunk on that smell. When I finished the watering, I cut off the water and returned to the garden, deciding to pull a few weeds while I was at it. It was easier to weed the garden when the dirt was wet. Plus there was still plenty of light.
I got lost in my thoughts. For some reason they turned to Chris. I wondered where he was. If he was looking for us. If he missed us. Then my brain kept imagining scary scenarios where he kidnapped Kacey and me. I tried to shake them, but the fears persisted.
It was dumb to stress like I was. Chris had probably realized we weren’t coming back and found some other woman to persecute with his impossible standards. Surely, he didn’t care enough to actually hunt us down. That kind of crap happened in movies, not real life.
I thought of Sherri. Our communication had slowly tapered off. I hoped she was doing okay.
“Hey.”
A weed flew into the air as I jumped out of my skin.
“Whoa!”
“Jack! You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. I said your name.”
I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “I must’ve been lost in thought.” A nervous laugh spilled out of me. “My heart is pounding.”
“Some thoughts.”
“You’re telling me.” He was already showered and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. He must’ve gotten home right when I walked outside. I changed the subject, ready to get Chris and Sherri out of my head anyway. “How was your day?”
