Broken(42)

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. That must have been tough. I guess that explains his abrupt departure. Call it a hunch, but I doubt that blonde friend of his is getting lucky tonight.”

“She was clinging to him like a vine. I’m sure she’ll have an exhilarating evening.” Cade had every right to find happiness with someone else, but actually seeing him with Misty tore her apart.

“I doubt that. When you were on the dance floor with Stone, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from you, much to the annoyance of his little friend. If you ask me, that man still has it bad for you. And you still have feelings for him.”

Jocelyn laughed nervously. “That’s not true.”

“It’s not true that you don’t still love him.”

“No. I do still love him, but I doubt he loves me anymore.”

“If you think that, then you’re crazy. Jos, why don’t you tell him what happened?”

Jocelyn slammed on the brakes, stopping the car in the middle of the road. Thankfully they were wearing their seatbelts but the suddenness of her action sent them jerking against their restraints.

“What the hell!” Kyla protested.

“I’m sorry, but absolutely in no circumstances will I tell him. I’m not going to condemn him to the rest of his life with someone like me. He deserves a wife who can provide him with things I cannot.”

“He deserves to be told the truth. I doubt he’d appreciate you taking that decision from his hands.”

“No. And this is not up for discussion. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But—”

“I said no!” she screamed.

“Whoa.” Kyla put her hands up. “I’ll drop it then.”

“Thank you.” Jocelyn set the vehicle in motion again. After driving for a few more minutes, she’d cooled down sufficiently. It wasn’t Kyla’s fault she was all screwed up. She was only trying to be a friend. “I’m sorry, Ky. Please forgive me?”

The model nodded readily. “Of course I will. I’m sorry I nagged you about it.”

“You meant well.”

Kyla grinned. “I did, didn’t I? And you, by the way, you owe me a slab of ribs. I didn’t get to eat them.”

“You could have asked for them to go.”

“I suppose but that would have required waiting around longer than I thought you’d be comfortable with. It’s fine. I was starting to get really tired anyway.”

Jocelyn frowned. “Are you okay? Is one of your headaches coming on?”

“No. Just fatigued, but if I don’t get to bed soon, I think I will get one.”

“I feel responsible for this. You’re supposed to be here to rest and you’re spending all your time worrying about me.”

“Don’t blame yourself. I’m fine. It’s nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure. The question of the hour is; will you be all right?”

After a brief pause, Jocelyn finally nodded, feeling nothing could be further from the truth.

Chapter Eight

Later that night Jocelyn tossed and turned, punching her pillow and switching positions. There was no use. She couldn’t sleep. Since she’d been home, it hadn’t been easy to sleep, especially knowing Cade was so near. With a frustrated groan, she slid out of bed and walked to the window. It was the kind with the deep seat she could fit her entire body on. When she was a kid, she used to sit in the window for hours sketching outfits, doing homework or simply daydreaming.