Once the segment should be done, I get back on route and dream about sinking beneath my covers with the drapes drawn.
At the stoplight two blocks from my house, I peek at my phone and see that both Nellie and Mr. Bruce have texted and tried to call. I have Siri send them a group text.
Me:Sorry I had to bail. I’ll explain later. I hope the segment went okay.
I hit send, shut off my phone, and wait for the light to turn green. My mind wanders to the left-over champagne in the fridge, but I’m quick to decide against it; if my childhood taught me anything, it’s that alcohol isnota proper coping mechanism, and this is definitely not a celebration.
I’m so focused on the bed in my room that I almost miss the Jag in my driveway and the man on my porch wearing a bright red scarf.
My insides erupt with a new sort of emotion—hope that bursts through me in a warm, fluid wave. My eyes lock on his across the yard, and another tide rushes in—a steady swell of excitement. Jude actually drove out to my house. He’s here, and heaven help me, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see.
I park the car and gather my things while Jude kicks his shoes on a dusting of snow beside the welcome mat.
I’m on the brink of a breakdown. Devastated over what happened at work, elated to find Jude on my porch, and terrified that he might say something I don’t want to hear. I’m not sure I can take even one more thing.
I hike the straps of my bag onto my shoulder and close the car door. As I walk toward my front porch, I gradually lift my gaze.
Our eyes lock once more, and Jude gives me that look—the half smile that has seduced half of America.
“G’day, Lady G.”
CHAPTER 10
At the doorstep, Jude surprises me by pulling me in for a hug. His arms are strong and comforting, and holy heavens, he smells good.
The last place I hugged Jude was on the other side of this door, just moments before we left for the courtroom. I was stressing out as I slipped into my heels, and Jude took my hand, pulled me in for a hug, and promised me everything was going to be all right no matter what happened.
At the time, I couldn’t have known it was possibly our last embrace. It makes this moment all the more surreal.
“You’re all flustered,” Jude says as he pulls back and searches my face. “I worried when I saw Patty filling in for you.”
He noticed that? Does that mean he watches my show?
He wipes my cheek with his thumb, encouraging me to meet his gaze.
I do, and my heart lets out a pleading, aching thud, begging for us to go back in time—anything to have Jude back in my life.
Suddenly, he lets his hand drop and takes a step back.
I look down at the distance he placed between us and sigh.Right,we’re not together. And it’s possible Jude’s dating Lisa,the charity banquet chick who probably refused to eat half the food there because it wasn’t organic enough.
I try to make peace with it. If Jude and I can mend our past, we’ll have a better future, whether we spend it together or apart.
“Want to come inside?” I ask.
Jude blows a breath into his fist and nods. “Sure.”
He follows me inside, and we take a seat in the living room, him on the loveseat and me on the sofa corner. It feels formal compared to the way I’m used to cuddling up to him, my legs tucked beneath me or draped over his while he rubs my feet.
“She actually said your line at the end,” Jude says.
My brows lift. “What’s that?”
“Patty,” he says. “She ended the way you always do—thanks for tuning in to see how the gingersnaps.”His nostrils flare in disgust.
Dang, I miss that accent.
“You’ll never believe what she did to me,” I say almost numbly. I don’t know why I want to confide in Jude after deciding to keep the tidbit to myself, but I do.
