Cuff Me(82)

“I don’t even know. It’s like one second I asked him to take me out to dinner. Just once. And the next we were, like, breaking up.”

Elena’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What day was this. Exactly.”

Jill thought back. “Um… Friday?”

Elena closed her eyes. “Oh no.”

Jill stilled. “Oh no what?”

Elena bit her lip. “When you went over there, was there anything… different?”

“Different?” Jill thought back. “No, it seemed exactly the same. That was sort of the problem.”

“So you didn’t look around?”

“I guess not.” Jill said, totally confused.

Her friend blew out a breath. “Okay, I’m going to show you something, but promise not to freak out, okay?”

“Okay…”

Elena pulled out her phone and scrolled through her photos before holding out the iPhone to Jill. “This is what he sent me on Friday.”

Jill glanced down. “Um, a couple of utilitarian candles and some ugly flowers?”

“Look closer.”

She did. It took her a half second to recognize it. “That’s Vin’s table.”

Elena nodded slowly.

Jill’s heart seemed to stop. “No. He did this? He got… flowers?”

“He sent me this, wanting to know if it worked without a tablecloth.”

Her heart started beating again, but this time it squeezed. Hard. “Oh my God.”

“He was trying to do, like, a thing,” Elena said miserably. “He had steaks and…”

“Oh my God,” Jill repeated. “Crap. And then I come in there, all, I want to go out…”

She tossed the phone back at Elena before throwing her hands over her face, her eyes watering. “I want to die.”

“You didn’t know,” Elena said smoothly, rubbing her back.

Jill dropped her hands. “But I should have. I’m a cop. I should have looked around, I should have…”

I should have read him.

“Oh my God. This is the worst. What do I do? Apologize? Grovel?”

“What do you want to do?” her friend asked carefully.

She met her friend’s eyes steadily. “I want him back. But… we had this fight, and I couldn’t even get him to admit… anything.”

“He cares about you. You know that. Everyone knows that.”

“I know.” Jill stared at her wineglass. “And for the longest time, that’s been enough. But I want big love, Elena. I want the fairy tale. There’s a reason I said yes, and it wasn’t the right reason, but it’s still there. I want the big wedding. I want the giddy anticipation of Valentine’s Day. I want date nights, and a big, messy family—”

Jill blew out a long breath.

“And you know, even as much as I want that—I’d give it up… all of it… if he loved me, you know? It would be enough to be loved by him.”

“And you don’t think he does?”

Jill grabbed a handful of chips and crunched irritably. “I flat-out asked if he thought he might, some day. He looked ready to puke and didn’t say a word.”

“Oh, Vin,” Elena said quietly.

“The worst part is, I miss him. It’s been only a few days, but I miss everything about him. About us.”

“We need more wine,” Elena muttered. “And a plan.”

Elena came to sit beside her and grabbed her hands. “Jill, Vin may not know how to tell you with words, but take it from someone who grew up with the big oaf… this is Vincent in love.”

Jill drew in a sharp breath, and Elena squeezed her hand harder. “He may not even know it yet. He has no idea what he’s doing. I’m guessing he’s terrified. But he’s trying, Jill. His ugly flowers… that was him trying. That was him loving you.”

Jill squeezed her eyes shut.

“Oh God,” she said quietly. Her chest felt tight. Swallowing was suddenly difficult. “He must have felt so… rejected.”

Elena’s face was sympathetic. “If it’s any consolation, I’m sure he didn’t handle it well. And I’m not trying to tell you how to feel, or what to do. I’m just asking—well, okay, begging actually—give him a chance, Jilly. You matter to him. And I know it’s hard, because you and Vin have been soul mates for like half a decade, but don’t forget that this element of your relationship is new.”

Jill groaned and dipped her forehead toward her knees. “Oh jeez. I basically asked him to propose after two weeks of dating.”

Elena laughed and patted her head. “Well, yours is an unconventional love story, sweetie.”

Jill sat back up. “So what do I do?”

Elena stood and took both of their wineglasses to the kitchen. “Call him. Tell him to come over. And then be naked. But for the love of God, wait until I leave.”

Jill stood, dodging the newspaper articles scattered around her floor as she went to join Elena in the kitchen. “You’re not staying?”

“Got things to do, places to be, love. And none of them involve being around while my best friend and brother hook up.”

Jill walked Elena to the door.