Before You (Before You #1)(44)

“He already left. There was some pre-party in LA he didn’t want to miss.”

“Why was he in town?”

Bre cleared her throat. “He delivered a plane ticket with a note from Cam. Cam wants me to fly to LA for a long weekend.”

“That’s great. You’re so lucky. I would love to get away from the snow for a few days.” Sara gestured toward Bre’s desk. “Plane tickets and flowers… it sounds so romantic.”

“I know, right?” Bre said absently, still shuffling papers on her desk.

“If you think so, why are you still upset with him?”

“I’m not, but visiting Cam in LA isn’t the same as when he comes here. Our time together there always seems so rushed and chaotic. I thought if he came here, the two of us would have quality time together.”

“I know, but he’s trying to be thoughtful. That’s a step in the right direction. You’re going to LA, right?”

Unsure how to answer that question, Bre stalled for time by noting the shipping address in her customer log for the last painting she sold. She couldn’t refuse to go to LA after the fight she had with Cam yesterday, but she didn’t know if she could face him or Jax so soon after last night. The thought of seeing either of them made her feel uncomfortable, and the thought of being around them both at the same time was positively mortifying.

“Hello, Bre. Did you hear me?” Sara questioned.

“Cam and I broke up last night,” Bre whispered, avoiding Sara’s eyes.

“What? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Sara said, reaching out to squeeze Bre’s hand.

“I’m not ready to talk about it, so don’t tell anyone. I need time to let it sink in.”

“I would never tell anyone. It’s your business.” Sara sighed. “What are you going to do about the ticket to LA?”

“I know I should go to figure out where the relationship stands. We broke up, but Cam doesn’t believe it’s over. Going to visit would give us both some closure.”

“Or you could work things out.”

“Maybe,” Bre said skeptically. “I was so mad at Cam last night, and I said and did some really mean things.”

“You shouldn’t have been nice. If Jax could stop in town for a night, Cam certainly could have done so, too. Besides, I don’t get why he’s always sending Jax in his place. Jax is just as busy as Cam, and you would think he would want to be the one to surprise you rather than having Jax do it. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t know why Jax always agrees to do it.”

“Cam works a lot and manages the business side of the band. Jax doesn’t need to work and we’re friends.” Bre shrugged, hoping Sara would stop questioning her about Jax.

“Seems as though there’s more to it than that.”

“I can’t think about it right now,” Bre said curtly. “I have to finish this sale.”

Sara hesitated, a suspicious look on her face. “Maybe Jax has a thing for you.”

“What?” Bre replied, horrified by the direction of the conversation. “Jax and I are friends. That’s it. Why would he be interested in me when he has hundreds of girls waiting in line for a chance with him?”

“Because you’re smart, successful, funny, and beautiful. Why wouldn’t he be interested in you? After all, the simplest explanation is always the best explanation.”

“Mmm… maybe he couldn’t possibly be interested because I’m dating his best friend. Did you think about that?”

“You aren’t anymore. Besides, there are no rules in love and war,” Sara said with a carefree flip of her hair.

“Sara, don’t be ridiculous. Jax is the classic alpha male. He doesn’t do love. He charms, seduces, and discards women without blinking an eye and even a giant flashing neon sign warning women wouldn’t keep them away. Women gather around him like moths to flames,” Bre replied, rolling her eyes. Instead of sounding indifferent, her voice came out sounding jealous and uncertain. Feeling color starting to flood her cheeks, she stood up and walked out of her office without turning to look at Sara. She couldn’t help wondering how many lies she would have to tell about Jax before this whole thing became a distant memory.

“Bre,” Ellen called as she walked out of her office. “Todd and I are going to leave.”

Bre hugged Ellen. “Thanks for coming. I know art isn’t your thing, but I appreciate your support.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it. Everything was wonderful. We’re so proud of you. You may not be our daughter by blood, but we’ve always considered you the daughter of our heart.”

Bre swallowed hard. She prayed Todd and Ellen wouldn’t turn their back on her if they knew she and Cam were no longer together or if they found out about her and Jax. They were the parents she’d never had. She didn’t want to lose them. “Thanks. Your family means the world to me.”

When the gallery was finally returned to its pre-event state, it was past midnight. Bre had sent Michael and Sara home an hour ago in a thinly veiled attempt to dodge their questions about Cam and the plane ticket that Jax delivered on his behalf. Grabbing her purse and the flowers from her desk, she took one last look around the gallery that had become such an important part of her life and then she left.