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Jarret
Two weeks later, Thanksgiving morning, Jarret leaned against the doorframe, admiring Zoe’s slender figure right before she hid it with her coat. “Why didn’t you wear that red dress I like on you?”
“What’s wrong with this dress?” She held her coat open and wiggled her hips. “You don’t like black on me?” She gave him a sophisticated glare that instantly turned him on.
He grabbed her, wanting to pull her into his arms, but she twisted away. “Fine. Let’s go before your parents get here.” Her parents had gone to her grandparents’ earlier in the day and probably wouldn’t return until late, but why take chances.
She slung the skinny strap of her black purse onto her shoulder. “Why don’t you like my parents?”
“You got that wrong, babe. They don’t like me.” He opened the front door and led the way to his shiny red Chrysler. He loved that car. Just seeing it could lift him out of a mood.
She got in and closed the door. “I’ve always had Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house.” She stared at her fingernails. “And I could understand going to your house. That would’ve been nice. Your dining room is gorgeous, the long table, the chandelier. It would be perfect. But the Brandts’? Why is everyone going over there?”
Everyone meant his family, her, and the Summers.
Jarret shrugged and cranked the engine to life. “I don’t know. The Brandts invited Papa. He said yes. Who cares? We won’t stay that long. We’ll go back to my house. No one will be there.” He backed out of the driveway and shifted into drive.
“You always want to be alone.”
“Yeah, well, how much fun do you think we’re gonna have at Peter Brandt’s house? I hate that kid. He’s so rude. Every time I see him, I wanna punch him.”
She sighed, her breath making a cloud in the cold air. “You’re sooo not nice.”
He grinned, satisfied with her reply.
When they reached the Brandts’, he pulled into the two-car driveway and parked beside the Summers’ van.
“I’m glad Caitlyn’s here,” Zoe said.
“You’re pretty close to her, huh?”
She nodded, staring placidly at the front door.
“You don’t tell her everything, do you?” He shoved his keys into his jacket pocket.
“She’s my best friend.”
“So, you don’t have to tell her everything. I don’t even tell Keefe everything.” He still hadn’t decided if he wanted Keefe to know how intimate he and Zoe were.
“What don’t you want me to tell her?” The look in her eyes showed annoyance and amusement.
“Well, you sure the heck didn’t tell her you were pregnant, did you? I mean now that we’re past that . . . There’s no reason for anyone to know. Right?”
She pressed her lips together, turned away, and gave a little headshake. “Jarret, now might not be the best time to tell you, but we’re not really past that.”
“Sure we are. I’m not gonna make that mistake again. Haven’t I been careful?”
She huffed, still not facing him.
“Well, haven’t I?” Realizing his teeth were clenched, he took a deep breath and tried to relax. She was probably just toying with him. She had a way of doing that.
“Jarret.” She faced him, a hard look in her eyes. “I’m still pregnant. I didn’t get the abortion, and I’m not going to.”
Unable to move, he stared at her hard eyes.
I’m still pregnant . . . didn’t get the abortion . . . not going to . . . pregnant . . . pregnant . . . He saw her saying it in his mind, over and over.
Every muscle in his body tensed. It couldn’t be true. His hands curled up into fists. It was true.
He slammed the steering wheel one, two, three times, a harsh curse word ripping out each time. Then he turned and punched the back of his seat. A deep groan came from somewhere inside, then he sat still.
“Are you kidding me? You said— I mean, what were you doing when you stopped seeing me? I thought you— Didn’t you say— Look, we talked about this. There’s no other way. You’re not doing this. You’re not doing this to me.”
He couldn’t make himself look at her. She had betrayed him. “Get out of the car.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I don’t want to be at the Brandts’ if you’re not going to be here. Take me home.”
“You’re not going to wanna be here if I am here.” He looked at her with disgust.
Her eyes held the same look. Then a tear welled up and rolled down her cheek. First one. Then another. They traced a path down her face, taking some of her mascara with them.
He swooned inside. Hating how her sadness weakened him, he turned away. “Just get out, will ya?”
“Are we . . . through?” Her voice wavered.
His chest tightened. Why was she doing this? Didn’t she care what he wanted? Didn’t she love him? Did he love her? He didn’t want her to leave. He didn’t want to see her walking away from him. She filled a void no one else could.
She cracked open her door. “Goodbye, then.”
He didn’t watch her get out. Didn’t watch her close the door. He would’ve slammed it, but she only shut it. He caught a glimpse of her as she walked around his car, then he allowed himself look.
Hands in her coat pockets and head down, she walked in her high-heeled boots through the Brandts’ front lawn, headed for home. She’d have to walk in the street or in grass for over a mile. There weren’t any sidewalks in this part of town.
Jarret jumped out of the car. “Hey!”
She stopped.
“Hey!”
She turned to him.
He nodded for her to come back but she only stared. Maybe he was making a mistake, but he jogged to her.
The nearer he got, the softer her expression became until she was blinking back tears. She threw her arms around his neck.
He pulled her to himself. “Don’t leave me,” he said. “I need you. I-I-I . . .” His mouth had gone dry.
“Zoe, I think I love you.”
~ ~ ~
LOUD TALKING AND LAUGHTER rang out in the Brandts’ house, creating a mood that rubbed Jarret raw. The women hung out in the kitchen, clanking dishes and pans, the men in the dining room, commenting on food and football. Caitlyn sat alone in a booth, her back to the door. Peter, Keefe, and Roland must’ve been upstairs. The little kids shrieked and played in the living room, all except for Toby, who zipped around the place bugging one person after another with repetitive questions.
Watching everything but not wanting to join anyone, Jarret stood in the middle of the living room waiting for Zoe to get out of the bathroom.
The glass door to the backyard and guest rooms slid open and Roland came through. He weaved past the men and sat down opposite Caitlyn.
“I haven’t seen much of you lately,” she said to him. “How have you been?”
“You don’t go outside for lunch anymore,” Roland said.
“It’s cold. Do you still go outside?” She sounded shocked.
Even though Keefe had returned from Italy, Roland still hung out with Jarret and the other smokers on lunch break, not that he smoked. Jarret had even let him sit in his car twice.
Toby waddled to Jarret and stood gawking. “Hello, some-un.”
“Scram,” Jarret said, looking as unfriendly as possible.
“Today is Thanksgiving dinner.” Toby shook his hands in the air while he spoke. “You are eating Thanksgiving dinner?”
“Yee-up, that’s why I’m here.” Jarret tried to walk away but Toby stuck to him.
As he neared the booths in the dining room, he caught Roland saying, “I’m sorry I got mad at you at the Halloween party.”
Jarret laughed to himself. So those two had a falling out, huh? Had they been a couple? Had Keefe come between them? He couldn’t resist saying something. “Hey, Roland,” he said so loudly that Papa, Mr. Brandt, and Mr. Summer turned, too. “You trying to steal Keefe’s girlfriend?”
Roland turned beet red.
“You are eating Thanksgiving dinner with us?” Toby said.
“Uhh-huh.” Jarret turned his back on the kid, glad he didn’t have to put up with him twenty-four hours a day.
Toby jumped in place, so close that his flapping hand hit Jarret’s chin.
Jarret’s temper spiked. “Look here, you little twerp—” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Zoe.
She sauntered down the hall, looking gorgeous in her slim black dress, all traces of tears gone from her flawless face. “Toby, I hear you have an Alice in Wonderland video.” She gave him an exaggerated smile.
Toby went right to her, and she redirected him to the living room.
Jarret just watched. Yeah, he loved that girl. She knew his moods as well as Keefe ever had. She knew what he could bear and what he couldn’t. If only she wouldn’t be so bull-headed about ending her pregnancy. She was scared. That had to be it.
She left Toby in the living room.
“I love you,” he mouthed as she neared. This was a new level for him. He never imagined he would say those words to a girl until he was, well, older.
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her hug sent him to another world, far away from Toby and the Brandts, far from all his problems. He didn’t want to let go.
“I know how hard this is on you,” she whispered in his ear. “I love you, too. I’ll set the appointment next week.”
His breath caught then he exhaled hard on her neck, emotion kindling a flame inside him.