Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(75)

Eddie Carberry, wearing one of her infamous brightly colored tracksuits, walked up to her. “So I heard about those chiweenies,” the old lady said. “I might come by and take a look at them. I could use a little companionship and a small dog would be better for me. I could take him or her to work.” She smiled slyly. “I already have a cat named Marilyn. After Marilyn Monroe. I could name my dog JFK.”

Odd, but okay, Larissa thought. Whatever it took to find the chiweenies homes. “That would be great,” she said. “Let me know when you want to come see them.”

“I will.” Eddie cackled. “Unless you’re feeding them to that owl of yours.”

Larissa took a step back. “I’d never do that. The owl is gone. Released back in the wild.”

“Good to know. I wonder what you’ll rescue next.” Eddie patted her arm. “I’ll call about the chiweenies.”

Larissa nodded. As the older woman moved away, she told herself she should be happy about finding another dog a home. Only she couldn’t seem to find the joy. While Eddie had been kidding, her comment had still hurt a little.

Larissa knew that she might take the rescue thing a little far, but she’d never considered herself a joke. Was that how the rest of the world saw her? And did the opinions of other people really matter?

Or maybe the real question was deeper and more significant. Maybe it went to what her friends had been talking about lately. That much like Jack used distance to keep from truly getting involved, she used her causes to hold the world at bay. Was that what was keeping her from her heart’s desire? And if so, how on earth was she going to figure out how to change?

A problem for another time, she told herself, as she returned to Jack’s side. He was talking to Dellina’s sister Fayrene. She held out some kind of tickets.

“It’s an auction,” Fayrene was saying. “To raise money for the high-school track team.”

“You run track in the spring,” Jack said, eyeing the tickets mistrustfully.

“They’re getting an early start. It’s an evening event with a buffet and it’s not until March.”

Jack sighed heavily. “Sure. I’ll take two.”

Fayrene raised her eyebrows.

“Six,” he amended.

Larissa leaned against him. “You’re such a softy. Besides, the event might be fun. We can dress up.”

Jack shot her a confused glanced. “Why would we—” He paused. “Sure. Dressy would be great.”

She kept smiling and nodded, even grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing server. But on the inside, she felt cold and alone.

Jack’s reaction couldn’t have been more clear. While she was blithely planning their future together, he was assuming she was going to do as she’d promised. Get over him. That by March they would no longer be together. Because while Jack meant the world to her, to him, she was just a friend he was helping out.

He didn’t love her. For him, nothing had changed. And it was never going to.

* * *

SAM AND DELLINA’S party stretched on for hours. Everyone was having a good time and no one seemed to want to be the first one to leave. Jack circulated through the main level of the bar. About an hour earlier, Larissa had dragged him upstairs to try the buffet. Now he watched her talk with Bailey and Dellina, along with several other women from town.

For a while he’d thought something was wrong. She’d gotten quiet. But she seemed fine now.

Conversation and laughter surrounded him. Everyone was having a good time and all he could think about was getting home. He wanted the quiet. He wanted to be alone with Larissa. Everything else was just noise.

“Hey.”

He turned and saw Taryn walking toward him. She wobbled a little as she approached. Which could have been her ridiculous shoes, but he doubted it. He raised an eyebrow.

“Feeling our champagne, are we?” he asked.

She smiled. “Maybe. Why not? Sam finally found someone normal. Who would have thought that could happen? I’m thrilled for him.” She leaned against him. “You know it’s this damn town, right? It’s sucking us all in against our will. I blame you.”

He put his arm around her. “I’m sure you do. However, I’ll remind you there was a legal vote.”

She dismissed that with a flick of her wrist. “It was three against one. And none of you cared that I didn’t want to move here.”

“If we hadn’t moved here, you wouldn’t have met Angel.”

“An interesting point. I do love that man. But you’re trying to distract me. We’re here because of you. You’re the one who suggested moving to Sam and Kenny.” She looked at him. “I think you knew you needed Fool’s Gold.”

As always Taryn found the exact core of truth. Not that he would admit it to her. “Why would I need a place like this?”

“Because it allows you to belong, at least in theory.” She sighed. “I love you, Jack, but you have got to stop protecting yourself. You obviously want to be a part of something bigger, something real, but you’re fighting it at the same time. I just don’t want you to die alone.”

“Sam says I can live over his garage.”

“So he told me. It’s cute now, but will be less of a good story when you’re sixty.” She sipped her champagne. “I’m marrying Angel.”