Between Hello and Goodbye(73)

“We slept together,” I murmured, my eyes falling shut.

Asher…

“A year ago,” Jack clarified. “Last night…not so much.”

My head shot up. “We didn’t?”

“Nope. You cried on my shoulder for half the night, telling me over and over how you’re in love with some firefighter, and then you passed out.” He smiled dryly. “It was a super fun time for me.”

I pushed myself to sitting, keeping the sheets tight around me. “Wait, wait, hold on. I said I…?”

“Loved him, yes. In love with him. You were quite emphatic on that point.”

“And you and I did not sleep together.”

“We did not.”

“Then why am I in my underwear?”

“I took off your dress to make you more comfortable,” Jack said. “That’s all, I promise.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Where did you sleep?”

“Couched it.”

“Did we do…other things?”

He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Like what?”

“Did we kiss?”

Please say no…

He shook his head. “No kissing. Not for lack of trying. I leaned over to kiss you in the car and that’s when you burst into tears.”

“And that’s when I said…what I said.”

Jack nodded. “You were a little bit of a mess. I didn’t know what else to do so I told my driver to bring us here. I made you tea—”

“You made me tea?”

He smiled. “Seemed like the thing to do. But you mostly just wanted to talk about him.”

“And you and I didn’t do anything at all.”

“Not so much as a suggestive handshake.”

I relaxed and eased a shaky sigh. “You’re a true gentleman, Jack. I’m so sorry I put you in that position.”

“It’s all right.” He cocked his head. “Who’s the firefighter? Boyfriend?”

I nodded. “But we’re on a break.”

“A Ross and Rachel kind of break?”

I laughed. “You make tea for houseguests and reference Friends. Some gal is going to be really lucky to have you, Jack.”

“But it won’t be you.” He smiled ruefully. “Just my luck. It sucked a little that you didn’t remember me when we met again last night, but I figured it was a second chance to make a first impression. Guess not.”

“I’m sorry. But thank you for being so great. Twice.”

“I have to admit, the first time was a lot more exciting,” he said with a grin and got to his feet. He nodded at the plush bench in front of the bed. “Your dress is there. Would you like some water or coffee?” He smirked. “Tea?”

“No, thanks. I’d better get out of here before I make a bigger fool of myself.”

“You weren’t all that big of a fool,” he said at the bedroom door. “You obviously love the guy. I hope it works out for you.”

He went out, closing the door behind him to give me privacy.

I sat and basked in the relief that I wasn’t completely hopeless. But the ache still gripped my heart. My drunken self knew what I wanted better than I did. I was in love with Asher. Even at my most reckless, I couldn’t give myself to anyone else. And now that the feelings I’d been trying to deny were running free, out in the light of day, the canyon-depth of them stole my breath.

“Oh, Asher,” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. “Is it too late?”

I dressed and found Jack in the kitchen making coffee. He held up a mug to me. “You sure you don’t want?”

“I’m good. I should go…” I headed for the door, then stopped and redirected my steps to join him. I pecked him on the cheek. “Thank you, Jack.”

“Hey, if things don’t work out with the firefighter, you know where to find me. Since you’re a frequent houseguest and all.”

I slugged his arm, forcing a small laugh. If things didn’t work out with my firefighter, I was going to be an even bigger mess than I was last night.

I went back to my place, showered, and—still wrapped in a towel—called Silas.

“I’m in trouble,” I said when he answered.

“Which jail is it this time? I’ll arrange bail…”

“Ha ha. I’m serious. I…I miss Asher. A lot. To say the least.”

“Oh, Jesus, is that all? You scared me.” Silas’s laughter died. “Wait. How does that put you in trouble? Faith…what did you do?”

“Nothing, thank God. It’s what I almost did. Asher won’t talk to me, and I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I kind of went out and nearly made the worst mistake of my life.”

“Nearly isn’t the same as actually.”

“Yes, but—”

“Look, you have a very important award ceremony coming up. Let’s just get through that and then…go from there.”

I frowned. “Why do you sound so chipper? I’m having a crisis.”

He laughed, then coughed it down. “Nothing, sorry. Something Max said. What time did I say I’d pick you up on Sunday? Six?”