Neither one of us spoke to the other as we went through the opening procedures. We finished with plenty of time to spare, and even when the store opened, there would be very few customers so early intheday.
With nothing to do, I took my usual seat in the chair behind the counter and pulled out my book. I was so close to the end, and I knew it would help pass the time. A small smile tugged at my lips as I thought about the last time I sat in this spot reading this book. Rainier with his own copy. I wondered if he'd finishedityet.
“What is that?” Jenny asked, pulling me from myreading.
“Abook.”
“Damn it, Michelle. I don’t have the patience for your sarcastic attitude this morning. Why are you readingthatbook?”
“Rainier suggested Ireadit.”
She let out a few unladylike curses before she grabbed the book out of my hand. “This is my favorite book. It’s the one I always suggest to people. Why would hedothat?”
“I think it was because it’s your favorite that hesuggestedit.”
She slammed the book back down. “Well, that's just great. Thank you for officially ruiningeverything.”
“It’s justabook.”
“You and I both know it’s more than the book. It’s the way you watch him like you own him. You’re popular and beautiful, and Rainier doesn’t know what to do with all theattention."
"I don't think you're giving him enough credit," I said, my voice getting louder as I got up frommyseat.
"I’ve been slowing clawing my way out of the friend zone for years. Years, Michelle. And then you come in and swoop him up in a matter of weeks. Do you evenlikehim?”
I didn’t have an answer. Did I like Rainier? The last few weeks had been a weird swirl of emotions. Sometimes I hated him, the rest of the time he made my heart race. I hadn't thought he was anything special, but now I couldn’t stop thinkingabouthim.
Jenny’s laugh was without humor. “You’re unbelievable. You just don't want to see anyone else happy, so you've taken him awayfromme."
"I don't think you can own a person,Jenny."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it, though I'm sure you'd love to go tell him I said that. Everything is so mixed up, and it all began when you started working here. Why can't you just leave mealone?"
"I hate to break it to you, Jenny, but my life does not revolve around you. I have my own issues I'm dealing with, and I don't need you acting all paranoid. Besides, you've been trying to get Rainier to fall for you for years? Shouldn't that tell you something? He's not into youlikethat."
"I think he might have been if you didn't come along," Jenny said quietly, tears gathering inhereyes.
I let out a deep breath and tried to get my own emotions under control. I knew what it was like to come in second to other people. To not be good enough to be their priority, no matter how much youwantedit.
Seeing that small break in her was enough for me to realize that Jenny wasn't some mean girl competition. She was a girl who was in love with someone that didn't share those same feelings. Or, at least, I hoped hedidn't.
"Jenny," I started slowly. "You don't want to force feelings on someone. You'll never know if they're genuine and you'll always wonder if they'll leave. That won't make you happy. It wouldn't make Rainierhappy."
"Iknow."
"You want someone who likes you for whoyouare."
"I know that," Jenny answered again, this time her reply was harsh. "I just can't imagine ever finding someone as great asheis."
"But you will. And when that happens, you'll wonder what you ever saw in Rainier in the firstplace."
I thought of all the relationships I had forced. The most recent one being Julian. Avery was right when she said the two of us were together because it was what everyone expected from us. I had loved him, but never in the way I should have, especially in those finalweeks.
And when I didn't get what I wanted, I'd gone crazy. I had done the exact thing I hated mymomfor.
Not that I was cozying up to that woman anytime soon. She was still evil, but maybe there was hopeforme?
And more importantly, was I seriously having a heart-to-heart withJenny?
