I pressed on my lips, drawing a deep breath through mynose. Panic started to close in, waiting to pounce on me. Keeping my head on straight was the most important task. I could not become unhinged right now. I had a bigger picture to consider and needed to place my fears aside.
My legs felt like jelly as I came into the living room area. Jack stood by the gas fireplace. It glowed with warmth. The lights were low. Only a lamp, the fire, and a candle on the mantel cast light around the room. It almost looked…romantic?
What the heck?
“Uh, what’s going on here?”
Jack spun around. “Oh, hey, yeah—” He ran his hands over his head before they landed restlessly on his hips.
Was he…nervous?
What is happening right now?
He waved toward the couch. “—sit down.”
“Okay,” I responded slowly, easing myself down onto the cushion.
“Look, Miranda, I’m going to cut right to the chase.” He dropped down onto the chair a few feet away and propped his elbows on his knees. His gaze bore into me. I shifted, unsure I was capable of looking into his face at the moment.
My thrashing heart made it difficult to focus.
“I’ve been thinking about this since last night. Try to hear me out.”
I nodded. So itwasthe marriage thing. Had we had this conversation the day before, I would’ve angrily shut him down. But I didn’t know how I’d respond now. I was heartbroken and desperate all over again.
“I think we should get married.”
“I figured you’d say that.”
“I think it would solve a few issues.”
“While simultaneously causing a few issues.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Jack, we’ve done the marriage thing. Do broken hearts and divorce papers ring a bell?”
He shot me a look. “You said you’d try to hear me out.”
“I didn’t say?—”
“You nodded.”
“Fine.” I waved him on, granting him permission to continue.
“A few things to consider. We both need the money from the sale of the lake house. And you need to get away from your ex. Without a place to live, a job, money, or a car, that’s basically impossible without someone helping you.”
I scoffed. Hated to admit how right he was.
He stood and started pacing in front of the hearth. “Sixty days married, we list the house, it sells, and we’re both millionaires.”
“Foolproof, clearly.”
The sarcasm felt like an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I was never verbally combative with Chris. Not even in a joking way. He would strike me down. His words were the one punch knockout that left me reeling long after a fight had ended.
But Jack took it in stride. “I know you never would have chosen this, but think about it, Miranda. You could go anywhere you wanted. Buy a house and a car and never have a payment again. You’d never have to be saddled with someone out of necessity.” He sat in the chair again, lowering his voice. “I want that for you.”
“Jack! I can’t let youmarryme because you’re worried about my ex!” I shook my head. “That is so something you’d do.”
