17. Lacey

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

lacey

I knock loudly on Jalynn's front door and walk inside. We're all supposed to be going to the summer festival in town together. That is, all of us but Caleb now. Jacob and Ashley plan to meet us at the festival.

I open the door and step inside. George is sitting on the couch watching TV while he undoubtedly waits for Jalynn to finish getting ready. Jalynn pops her head out from the hallway, putting her earrings in.

"You ready?" she asks, earning a nod from me. "Let's go, then."

Jalynn motions for George to get up. He turns off the TV, and we all head out the door.

Every summer the town holds a community dance in the large courtyard downtown. It's one of the most attended events of the year. The town hires a live band and sets up tables with refreshments from the local bakery.

We find a place to park a couple of blocks away and walk over to the courtyard. I don't mind the walk. It's a cool evening with millions of stars twinkling overhead. The town is filled with music and laughter. I follow behind Jalynn and George, taking in the joyful sounds coming from the square.

Jacob and Ashley beat us to the festival. Ashley glares at me as we approach, clearly still holding a grudge from the other night at the rodeo. Oh well. Jacob pats George on the back, then gives me and Jalynn each a side hug. My breath catches at his touch.

Did he feel the jolt of electricity, too? We were interrupted the other night before he had a chance to answer me. It was probably just as well. If he answered and agreed he felt it, too, what difference would it have made? He's still with Ashley, and despite what a struggle it is for me to be civil with her at times, I don't want to be the wedge that drives them apart. They need to figure out their relationship without any extra complications.

"It didn't take you long to chase poor Caleb off, did it?" Ashley asks me in place of a hello.

"I'm flattered that you care enough about me to keep up with my latest comings and goings, Ashley. Truly, I'm touched." I rest my hand over my heart for emphasis. "How are you doing?"

Ashley flounders over a response.

"Lace, I need to go to the bathroom. You want to come with me?" Jalynn asks. Once we make it out of earshot, she says, "I told you she was a piece of work."

"I don't like her," I reply.

"I do believe the feeling is mutual." Jalynn laughs. "I've got some tea to spill, though. Care to hear it?"

"About who?" I perk up.

We aren't ones to gossip. We just like to keep up to date on current events.

"Ashley, of course. I bumped into Jacob's sister earlier today, and she's always said Ashley is a gold digger and was with Jacob for his money. You see, his grandfather helped him pay for vet school, so he didn't have to take out any student debt, and then he handed his already successful veterinary business over to Jacob when he was ready to retire. Well, evidently this man she cheated on him with, who happens to be another vet, is known for boasting about having old money, too, and a lot of it."

"I guess that makes sense," I say, pulling open the bathroom door.

"That's just the background. This is where it gets good." Jalynn pauses briefly for effect, then continues. "The guy evidently isn't a very good vet and has been supporting his business with his family's money. But then he had a falling out with his family, and they cut him off. The guy is filing for bankruptcy. That's what Ashley is doing back here. She thought the grass was greener on the other side, and now that it's not, she's back trying to make up with Jacob."

"Does Jacob know all of this?" I ask incredulously.

"Mia told him, but she says he won't listen. He says it's just gossip, and if it were true, he'd have heard it through the grapevine of vets. Who knows. But Mia is convinced."

"I'm speechless. Honestly, I can't even," I say, pausing the touch-up on my lipstick to stare back at Jalynn in the mirror.

We finish in the bathroom and head back out into the crowd. On the way back from the bathroom, we bump into Caleb. He looks good. Not quite his same glowing self but still cheerful. When he spots us, he comes over to say hello instead of running the other way, which I take as a good sign. I really didn't want to hurt him. Giving me one of his typical bear hugs, he asks me to dance, and I happily agree. He takes my hand and leads me out to the dance floor.

The song changes just as we start dancing. The new song is slow, and Caleb pulls me close. I'm grateful he's taking the breakup so well. Maybe we'll be able to continue being friends. I hope so. I rest my head on his chest and let him lead me around the dance floor.

"Are you sure we made the right decision by breaking up?" Caleb asks quietly above me. I look up into his soft eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I hate it, but it's what needed to happen. It's not right for us to use each other."

A strange feeling sweeps over me, and as I start to return my head to Caleb's chest, my gaze lands on Jacob, standing off to the side of the dance floor. His eyes glide around the dance floor with us, following each step we take. Next to him, a sour Ashley stands, swirling her drink in her hand and unsuccessfully trying to win Jacob's attention. Her gaze drifts onto the dance floor, and she undoubtedly realizes why she can't get a response from her boyfriend. His focus is fixed on me.

"You're right. Even if we can't have the ones we want," Caleb says, following my line of sight.

My cheeks flush at being found out by him, and I drop my eyes to the ground. Caleb spins me around and pulls me close again. Unable to stop myself, I search the perimeter for Jacob once more, only to find him walking through the dancers with a stern expression on his face, his eyes locked back on mine. Do I let him cut in if he tries? As bad as I want an excuse to be pressed close to him, I don't think I can. It wouldn't be right. Still, my heart flutters in my chest as he takes each step closer, and tingles run down my spine in anticipation of his touch.

He's almost to us, close enough to reach for me, but a couple slides between us, making him drop his hand back to his side. As they make their way past us, George appears out of nowhere, drapes an arm around Jacob's shoulders, and leads him off the dance floor while starting a conversation too low for me to hear.

I lean back into Caleb and focus on moving my feet, hoping it will help me clear my head of all thoughts of the man I can't dance with tonight. Caleb pulls me close, aware of what just transpired but gracious enough not to comment.

I walk into the floral shop the next day to find Maddie humming and straightening the shelves below the front counter. I'm ready to start a new week and get back to work. The weekend went pretty well, considering, but it's time to put it all behind me.

"Good morning, dear," Maddie says.

"Good morning," I say. "We have someone picking up an arrangement early?" I ask, eying the beautiful arrangement sitting at the register. Maddie looks up at the arrangement and back at me.

"Nope. That one is for you."

I blush, confused, and grab the card off the arrangement. Sure enough, my name is written in Maddie's flowy handwriting across the front of the envelope. I look back at Maddie.

"Sweet boyfriend you've got there," Maddie says.

"I don't have a boyfriend," I say, opening the card to read the message. It's from Caleb. "We're just friends."

"Good friend, then." Maddie says, staying busy with her task. "That arrangement wasn't cheap. But truthfully, I was hoping you weren't too smitten with him just yet. I've been hoping you would hit it off with my son. I think you two would make a great couple."

"I'm not sure I'm ready to get seriously involved with anyone," I say quietly. "I'll move this out of the way and get to work."

Maddie gives me a nod and continues working on the shelves.

Already off balance from the weekend's events, I try not to think about the flowers or Caleb all morning. Thinking about it only layers on my anxiety extra thick. I broke things off with him. Why would he send me flowers? Maybe he wasn't taking it as well as I thought.

My lunch break comes too quickly. I take the leftovers I brought for lunch out on the back patio to eat, but I'm still too unsettled to get any food down. My phone buzzes on the table next to me. I try to ignore it at first, but I give in and look. It's a text from Caleb.

Caleb: Hey beautiful, call me.

What is going on? I put the phone back down and lay my palms flat on the cool iron table, focusing on box breathing, hoping to shove down the anxiety overtaking my body. I haven't had a panic attack since I made it to Montana, but I feel myself spiraling toward one now. I slide my phone back into my pocket and head inside to work. I need to keep myself busy.

After work, I head to Jalynn's. I grab the flower arrangement strapped in next to me and carry it with me to the door. Jalynn opens the door, and I shove it more abruptly than I intended into her arms.

"We had an extra, so I brought it for you. Thought you could use some flowers to liven the place up."

I slide by her and step into the house.

"Lacey, these are beautiful," Jalynn gushes and carries them inside. She places them on her kitchen island.

"Hey, Lace," George says, walking through the kitchen. "Jay, I need you to come show me where you want this picture hung."

"Okay, I'm coming," Jalynn says, following close behind him.

It's not until I walk into the kitchen that I notice I'm not alone. Jacob stands by the island. He's wearing a smirk on his face and eating grapes from a bowl on the counter. I glare back at him.

"What?" I ask.

"I think you forgot your card," Jacob says, pulling the card out of the arrangement. I snatch it from him, a blush spreading across my cheeks.

"Thanks." I tuck the note in my back pocket.

I watch Jacob's expression soften as he studies me, and I squirm under his unyielding gaze. He holds the bowl of grapes out to me, offering me some. I shake my head.

"Don't like flowers?" he asks, nodding toward the arrangement on the counter.

"Don't like strings," I reply with a shrug. I'm still embarrassed that I got caught, but Jacob nods as though he understands. "Please don't say anything to Jalynn or George."

"Why would I?" he asks and pops another grape in his mouth.

"I don't know. I just don't want them getting any ideas about anything."

"Your secret is safe with me." He tosses another grape into his mouth.

"What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Dinner invitation. And I was helping George with baby furniture," Jacob says, still studying me. Silence falls over the room.

"Aren't you two just a talkative bunch?" Jalynn comments, coming back into the room and breaking our bout of silence.

"Did Caleb get a hold of you today?" she asks me. "He texted George a while ago asking if you were okay."

"I'll call him later," I say.

"Caleb is a cool guy, but he's kind of a chump," Jacob interjects and tosses a grape up into his mouth. Jalynn and I both shoot surprised looks at him. "What?" Jacob says.

"Why don't you tell us how you really feel?" Jalynn asks him.

Jacob shifts nervously on his feet.

"I don't know. I mean, he's fine. He's a good guy. And I know we all hang out, but I just have a hard time imagining Lacey and Caleb together as a couple. Not that I was imagining them together . I mean..."

"Uh-huh," Jalynn says.

"I best be getting back to work," Jacob says after clearing his throat, and he hightails it out of the room.

Once Jacob's out of sight, Jalynn and I burst into fits of giggles like little schoolgirls. The laughter finally releases the tension that has been building up inside me all day. I keep Jalynn company while she finishes fixing dinner. With the table set and dinner served, we call the boys to come eat.

After dinner, I make sure the mess is cleaned up for Jalynn, and I say goodbye to everyone. I head out to my truck, breathing in the crisp night air. The harsh anxiety from today has dissipated but has been replaced by the butterflies that fill me every time Jacob is near. Once I'm in my truck, I put the key into the ignition and turn it. The radio and lights flip on, but the truck doesn't fire up. I try to start the truck again with the same result.

I let out a frustrated groan and hit the steering wheel with the heels of my hands. This time, I hold my breath and twist the key, trying to start the truck one more time. Nothing. I collapse over the steering wheel, arms wrapped over the top and my forehead down on my forearms. Why? Why is this happening now? I just want to go home.

My cell phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and Caleb's name flashes up on the screen. My thumb hesitates over the screen, but the red button wins in the end. I don't have time to make nice with him right now, and frankly, I'm not ready to face the drama I'm afraid might come with talking to him. Once I'm home, I'll send him a text to gauge his mood.

A tapping on my window scares the shit out of me, causing me to jump in my seat and squeal. By the light of the porch, I see Jacob on the other side of the glass. I reach for the knob and roll the window down.

"Car troubles?" Jacob asks.

"Yeah, it won't start," I say, feeling defeated.

"Try it again." I twist the key in the ignition. "It sounds like your starter is bad. How about I give you a ride home." He says it more as a statement than a question.

"How will I get to work in the morning?"

"I have to go down that way in the morning, anyway. I can give you a lift."

"Are you sure?" I ask. "I feel like it's too much to ask. I really don't want to put you out."

"Seriously, not a problem. Like I said, I'm headed that way in the morning, anyway."

Jacob opens my door for me and rolls the window up while I grab my stuff. I follow him over to his pickup where he opens the door for me to get in. At least I can get in his truck without assistance. When Jacob climbs in on the driver's side, I tell him where to go. He looks at me, confused, but he follows my instructions.

"Right here," I say, pointing out the driveway that has freshly laid gravel. Jacob slows down but hesitates to turn.

"You said here?" he asks.

"Yeah, that's what I said."

Jacob pulls into my driveway, his headlights illuminating the camper.

"You live here?"

"Yup."

Jacob regards me suspiciously. Getting out of the truck, he goes around to the other side and opens the door for me. He offers me a hand as I step out of the truck, then grabs the flashlight from his glove box and walks up to the camper with me, shining the light on the door as I unlock it. Once open, I reach inside and turn the lights on. As I do, Jacob peeks inside the door and looks around at my setup.

"Why?" he asks.

"Why what?" I begin to feel defensive. My phone buzzes. I look down at it in my hand. Another text from Caleb. I ignore it and look back at Jacob.

"Why do you live here . . . in a camper . . . by yourself? It's hardly safe."

I sigh loudly and roll my eyes.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, you've got a pretty nice setup here. I just don't understand why you would make this your permanent residence. Looks more like a weekend getaway or something," Jacob says, trying to lighten the offense I'm certain he can see growing in my eyes.

"I'm a grown-ass woman. I have no one to answer to and can do as I please. I happen to like my little gypsy wagon, so you can knock it all you want, but frankly, I don't care what anyone else thinks. It works for me. And I like it," I rant.

"Gypsy wagon?" Jacob repeats, a smile dancing on the corners of this mouth.

"Okay, so I did say that, but?—"

"No, I like it." Jacob nods, still fighting off the smile. "I see what you mean. You're just a little gypsy floating around wherever you please." He wiggles his fingers through the air.

"Sure..." I say, waiting for the punch line. Jacob just stands there, continuing to nod and looking like he has a secret. "Okay, well then! I appreciate the ride. I will see you in the morning?"

"Sure thing . . . Gypsy."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll see you bright and early." Jacob rotates around me, heading for his truck without turning his back to me. I narrow my eyes at him. "Have a good night, Gypsy."

"This is not going to be a thing!" I call after him. "You're not calling me Gypsy! Be here at eight sharp!"

Jacob gives me a wave and backs out of the driveway.

"Why? Why did I have to run off at the mouth like that in front of him?" I ask out loud as I climb into the camper and trudge my way to bed.

As I undress, the card from the flowers flutters out of my pocket and onto the floor. I scoop it up, remembering that I need to call Caleb. Maybe I'll just send him a quick text instead.

Me: You sent me flowers?

Caleb: About that...I ordered them directly through Mrs. Jones on Friday before everything happened. I hope you can enjoy them anyway.

Me: Thank you. That's very sweet of you.

Relief sweeps over me, as I'm reminded yet again that Caleb isn't Ben. I settle onto my pillow, thinking about how different he is from Ben. Caleb hasn't once lost his temper with me a single time. In fact, in all the time we've spent together, I've never seen him mad. With Ben, on the other hand, I could never do anything right.

"Lace, what's wrong?" Jalynn's voice rang through my cell phone.

"Can . . . you come . . . get me?" I somehow got the words out between ragged breaths.

"Where are you? What's happened?"

"I'm . . . not . . . sure."

"Are you hurt, Lace?"

"No." This time a sob slipped out with my reply.

"Send me your location," Jalynn ordered.

I ended the call with shaky hands and sent my location to Jalynn's phone. Thank goodness for technology. I didn't have the mental capacity at that moment to try to figure out where I was exactly. Using the flashlight on my phone to see through the heavy darkness, I found a stump off to the side of the road to sit on while I waited to be rescued. It was wet, like everything else around me, but I didn't care. I'd be soaked through by the time I was found anyway.

The cold rain washed over my body, making me shiver uncontrollably. A low of fifty degrees wasn't cold enough for snow, but the large raindrops slid down my bare skin like ice daggers, and the wet cold clung to my clothes. I had thrown my coat into the back seat of Ben's car during our argument. With the heat blaring from the vents of his dash, and our anger and frustration flaring over our disagreement, it had been too warm in the car to wear it. I never expected him to kick me out of the car.

He'd pulled the car over on the secluded road, screaming at me to get out. When I'd refused, he'd reached across me and threw my door open, then proceeded to unbuckle my seat belt for me and had tried to push me out of the car. Proving to be more difficult than he had interest in dealing with, he'd wrestled me for my phone, popping me in the mouth in the process. The taste of blood had spread over my tongue, and I'd sucked my split lip into my mouth, trying to calm the pulsing pain.

Ben had tossed my phone out the door, to the side of the road. I'd made a dash for it, grabbing for it before the screen went dark again. My feet hadn't even hit the ground, though, when Ben had shoved me from behind, sending me to the ground, and the door had slammed shut again with the jolt of him accelerating away from me.

So there I sat soaked through with ripped up knees, skinned hands, and a busted lip, shivering and sobbing in the rain, when the headlights of George's truck illuminated my surroundings, and Jalynn rushed to my side. Jalynn threw her arms around me and pulled me to my feet. George was close on her heels, draping his own coat over my soggy shoulders and helping Jalynn get me into the front seat of the truck. Jalynn climbed in next to me and turned up the heat, pointing the vents toward me in attempt to warm my shaking body.

"That no-good, worthless bastard!" Jalynn exclaimed, pacing the floor later that evening.

George had driven us back to his and Jalynn's apartment. Jalynn had helped me get cleaned up and in warm, dry clothes. She settled on the couch next to me, waiting for an explanation. I stared at my bandaged hands in my lap, unable to look at either of them while I recounted the events of the evening.

George was being pretty quiet, occupied by his buzzing phone. Jalynn caught sight of the caller as she paced by, and she lunged for the phone.

"I don't think so," George said, holding the phone over his head.

"Let me talk to the slimy dick waffle. I have a few things to say to him," Jalynn fumed, still reaching for the phone.

"Is it Ben? Is Ben calling?" I asked, perking up from my seat. "He's probably looking for me."

I grabbed my phone from the end table next to me, but it didn't respond. The battery was dead. This wasn't good. Ben would be furious if he'd been trying to get a hold of me.

"Lacey, please tell me you're done with him," Jalynn said, abandoning her mission to get the phone from George to come sit next to me again.

"It was a bad fight," I said. "He lost his temper, but he still loves me."

"Lace..." Jalynn said, disappointment washing over her face.

We were interrupted when someone pounded on their front door. George hopped up out of his chair to answer it. Ben's voice came from the other side, and he tried to push past George to get in. George reared back and slammed his fist into Ben's face, knocking Ben off his feet. I jumped off the couch, screaming, and grabbed onto George's recoiled arm before he could punch Ben again.

Wedging myself between them, I helped Ben back to his feet. Ben glowered at George, and Jalynn reached around George to grab hold of my hand.

"Please, Lace. Don't go with him. Stay here with us," she pleaded, desperation in her eyes.

"I can't, Jay. I gotta go. It's okay, though. Thank you for picking me up. I'll call you tomorrow," I said.

I pulled my hand free from her grasp and took a few steps backward, then I turned and followed Ben to his car. I adored my friends. They didn't come much better than Jay and George. Not all of us got to have the storybook romance like they did, though. They didn't want to believe that, but I'd already accepted it. Ben was my future, despite his imperfections.

Maybe I'm wrong to believe Jalynn. Maybe that's why the sparks weren't there with Caleb. He was too good for me. I was trying for something that's just not meant to be.

I turn on the shower and begin to undress while the water heats. When all else fails, I always feel better after a shower and clean clothes.