“Fine. You want the truth? Ant, this situation is messy.”
“This is information I already know. Not what I want to hear—”
“What the hell do you want to hear, Antonio?”
Antonio cupped some of the water from the shower and rubbed it down his face. “Take the messy shit out. The firm. PJ. The past. Don’t you think this thing between us deserves a real shot?”
Jackie looked up at him through the steam. “Ant, a weekend hookup doesn’t constitute a relationship.”
“Oh, so that’s what you think this is?”
“And what do you think this is? Kismet? Soulmates?”
“Is that so unbelievable? I just don’t think we’re in each other’s orbit again for no reason. This is more than coincidence—”
Jackie interrupted Antonio, shaking her head. “You sound like my best friend, Bronwyn. She’d eat this up.”
“Well, she’s a wise woman.” His soapy hands grabbed hers. “Jackie, c’mon now. What are you so afraid of?”
The familiar current of electricity pulsed between them. Her skin felt like it was on fire. Jackie snatched her hands away from his. “I’m not afraid, Ant. It’s just—” She paused, trying to find the right words. “I’m not a relationship kind of person.”
Antonio squinted as he rinsed. “Is this about Katrice?”
“Not totally.” Jackie shook her head. “But Katrice put me in a bad position. I cannot afford to be under any more scrutiny in this industry. Another high-profile relationship could tank me. I am a woman, Antonio. My career will not recover from one more scandal. AMW-Elite doesn’t have that kind of faith in me.”
Antonio wrung out a washcloth, hung it up, and turned to her. “Jackie, you and I both know you would be just fine without the company. Your clients trust you. They’d follow you to the ends of the earth. So, what is it that’s holding you back? For real?”
Jackie bit her bottom lip. Everything she wanted to say was on the tip of her tongue.
People fall out of love. It never lasts. Look at my parents. One hiccup and my mother was out. Love is a lie. Transactional and inconvenient. This connection between us is too intense to be real. I can’t handle how this feels. True love doesn’t exist for me. It never has.
Did she believe any of that? Ever since Katrice, Jackie had believed love wasn’t in the cards for her. Was it still the truth? It had to be, right?
The shower water was starting to get colder. She shivered. Antonio moved closer. “Jacqueline? Baby, say something.”
Jackie opened her mouth. She stopped. She tried to form the words she was thinking, to say them aloud, but once again, she was mute. No sound came out.Oh fuck…not again. She coughed. Still, nothing. She clutched her throat and pointed to it.
“Jackie,” Antonio sighed, rolling his eyes. “Quit playing.”
But Jackie wasn’t playing. Her voice was gone,again. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.Unbelievable! He’s going to think I’m a liar… But I’m not lying about this! Or any of it!
Jackie stared at him, blinking away the water on her lashes.
“My cards are all out there in front of you. I’ve shared my mistakes. My feelings. You can’t do the same?” Antonio pushed past Jackie, shutting off the shower. “So much for that trust you keep talking about. It’s real fucking convenient when shit is getting real, when I’m asking you for you to be honest with me, all of a sudden you can’t talk. What do I gotta do? Keep blowing your back out to get some honesty?”
Jackie reached for Antonio, but he snatched his arm out of her grasp and opened the shower door. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.
“Plane leaves in four hours,” he said over his shoulder. “I won’t wait for you, Miles.” He walked back into the bedroom, slamming the suite door shut.
I won’t wait for you.
Jackie stood for a moment in the shower, ruminating on Antonio’s words.That wasn’t about the plane, was it?
She didn’t have to wait for an answer—not from the universe, and not from Antonio. The tiny crack she felt in her heart was the answer.
