Sisters by Choice (Blackberry Island #4)(100)

“Kristine, don’t. It’s not like that. I was mad. I was scared and I thought I wasn’t enough for you.”

She stared at him. “I thought you were at your mom’s. I thought it was like the other times. I didn’t know you left.”

“I didn’t leave. I’m right here.”

“You said—” She couldn’t speak. Her throat was too tight. She was going to be sick. All this time she’d assumed the choice was hers. That she would have to decide between her marriage and the business. But Jaxsen had been making different decisions and she’d never known.

“I didn’t leave,” he repeated. “It wasn’t like that.”

The words were too late, she thought as she continued to cry. She felt too much and didn’t know where to put it.

“I have to go,” she said, wondering where she’d left her purse. She spotted it on the kitchen counter and ran toward it. “I have to go.”

“Kristine, wait.”

She shook her head and bolted past him. When she reached her SUV, she slid onto the seat and gave in to the sobs clawing at her throat. She cried until she was empty and then fought against the bleeding in her heart.

She’d assumed she could handle the end of her marriage. She’d been so cavalier thinking if she had to choose, she would walk away from what she had because she needed to be her own person.

She’d had no idea what she was telling herself was a complete lie. She’d been a fool to assume she would be fine in her new life, that she wasn’t wholly tied to the man she’d been married to for so long. He was her heart—he always had been. Without him, she was just a shell, going through the motions. He’d left her and she hadn’t even known.



Chapter Twenty-Seven


Sophie kissed each of Lily’s kittens before putting them in the carrier. Jessica smiled at her.

“You did a good thing.”

Sophie nodded, trying not to feel sad. “I didn’t think I’d miss them, but I will.” Now there were only Mrs. Bennet’s kittens and in a couple of weeks, they would be gone, as well. Both mama cats were scheduled to be spayed the week after that, then they would come back here and live out their lives with her.

“You could foster next year,” Jessica told her. “If you want to.”

“Let me see how things go. Plus, I’ll have to talk to the ladies and see what they think.”

She showed Jessica out, then retreated to the living room, oddly unsettled by the kitten loss. Mrs. Bennet joined her on the sofa, purring as she rubbed against her.

“Life goes on,” Sophie murmured, scratching her chin, knowing she should get back to work. It was only ten in the morning. She’d come home to collect the kittens and there was no reason to stay. But for once, Sophie wasn’t anxious to bury herself in work.

She felt...restless. Maybe restless with an anxiety chaser, which made no sense. She was fine. Business was good—especially if she didn’t think about how much she’d screwed up the Chicago meeting. Heather had moved in a few days ago. Sophie wasn’t sure she was the type to do well with a roommate, but Heather was easy to be with. She was quiet, tidy and kept to herself. At some point they were going to have to talk about what had happened with Amber, but Sophie was willing to let Heather decide when that would be.

Dugan was a problem. Okay, not a problem, exactly. He confused her, which she didn’t like. Worse, she missed him. Now that they weren’t having sex, she wasn’t sure how to define their relationship or her own feelings. She liked him, but what did liking someone mean these days? Were they dating? Just friends?

Before she could stop herself, she reached for her phone.

Why aren’t you asking me out?
She sent the text, then waited. It only took a few seconds for the three dots to appear on her screen.

I could ask the same thing.
That made her smile.

But you’re the man.
Since when have you been into traditional gender roles?
An interesting question.

Fine. Do you want to go out sometime?
Sure. When and where? Since you did the asking, I’m going to assume you’re paying.
Are we having sex?
Really Sophie? If you want to just get laid, you should at least try to be more subtle. What happened to romance?
She chuckled.

Sorry. I take it back. Would you like to have dinner with me? At my place. I’ll get takeout. Oh, wait. Heather’s staying here. That could be awkward.
My place is fine. I’ll even cook. But you should probably bring me flowers.
You know if I did that, you would be totally weirded out.
Let’s find out. Tonight?
Her phone rang.

“Impatient man,” she murmured before glancing at the screen and seeing Kristine’s name instead of Dugan’s. She pushed the talk button. “Hi. What’s—”

“Sophie? He left me. Jaxsen left me.”

Sophie could barely understand her through the sobs. “What are you talking about? Where are you?”

“At home.”

“Stay put. I’ll be right there.”

When she was in the car and heading down the road, she put in a quick call to Dugan.

“But we were texting,” he said with a chuckle. “I thought we’d start talking dirty next.”

“Something’s going on with Kristine. She said Jaxsen left her, but I can’t believe that. I’ll let you know what happens, but I may not be there tonight.”