Page 57 of Romantic

“Then keep it short.”

“Okay . . . so I wasn’t serious at first. I was just entertaining myself while Isabella was away.”

“You know this isn’t helping your case.”

“I’m just trying to be honest. For once.”

“You’re terrible at it.”

“You’re not making this easy.”

“I don’t need to, Jack. You . . . you . . . I gave up that job for you, and then you just disappeared.”

“I know . . . I had just heard from Isabella. She had surprised me by returning early. And while at first you were just a very beautiful distraction, somewhere along the way I fell in love with you. How could I help it? And I knew I couldn’t marry Isabella.”

“That’s a pretty story, Jack, but then why did you ghost me when she showed up?”

“That wasn’t my plan, I promise. I meant to end things with her and go off with you. That’s why I couldn’t leave as soon as you wanted—because I needed to set things right with Isabella. But then Saturday night I saw you and Brandon sneaking off during the campfire . . . and I don’t care what you say—that guy is so into you.”

I can’t help but feel a small thrill at this. “Nothing happened. We were fighting.”

“It didn’t look that way to me. So the next day, instead of breaking up with Isabella, I set sail. It didn’t take me long to realize I had made the biggest mistake of my life.”

I stop my relentless pace to look back at his sad puppy dog face. The delusional prat! He believes his own story.

“Or in other words,” I say. “She dumped you.”

“Yes, but it was mutual.”

“I see. Jack, I’m only going to say this once: Go to hell! And take those flowers with you!”

The gentleman . . . took her up in his arms without farther delay. —Sense and Sensibility

18

Brandon

The plan was to return to Norland Park for Labor Day, but I decide to bump up our trip to this weekend. Edward wants me there to go over some renovation plans, but I would be lying if I said that was the only reason I’m loading up the car with our luggage. The chance to see Annie again—just to see with my own eyes that she’s okay—is a powerful motivator.

Except I’m worried it might be incredibly awkward because we’ll be staying in the same house. They’ve already started work on the larger cottages Pepper and I normally stay in, and the rest of the park is booked, so Elinor and her mother graciously offered to let us stay in Bumble Cottage. In fact, they kind of insisted. And what was I supposed to say? Sorry, Mrs. Greenwood, I’m completely in love with Annie, and I don’t want to intrude on her breakup grief . . .? At least Pepper is beside herself with joy.

“Do you think I can stay in Annie’s room?” she asks on the drive over.

“Um . . . probably not. You’ll get the couch, or you can share with me.”

“Well . . . but we’ll still be there in the morning together. Annie can make me breakfast.”

“Pep, you know that just because Annie is no longer dating Jack doesn’t automatically mean things will work out with me. She’s probably too upset to date right now. Or make you breakfast.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know all that . . . just let me dream.”

“Just as long as you know that it’s way too soon for anything to happen.” I’m probably saying this as much for myself as for Pepper.

“Yes, I got it, Dad. You are going to move at a glacially slow pace. I would expect no less from you.”

“And I would expect nothing but sass from you.”

***