9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Evie

After seeing Jessica in her wedding gown, I was inspired with an idea for the cake topper. If I can actually find what I'm looking for, it will be absolutely perfect for the couple. Sometimes, in this day and age of internet technology, I feel like everything is at my fingertips, but only if I have the right keyword to find what I'm looking for.

I sigh; I've tried searching and searching, but nothing yet. I'll figure it out eventually and find what I want. It's just going to take me a little bit.

My eyes land on a couple with their backs to each other, holding guns. I didn't realize they made spy toppers. That's actually pretty darn cute. My thoughts flit over to Jamie—where they've been slipping frequently. I attempt to reel them back in but fail.

He looked so handsome at the party. My stomach fluttered when I saw he wore the sweater I gave him last Christmas. Last Christmas, when I thought we were moving toward something. When I could've sworn he thought we were moving toward something, too.

I've known Jamie my entire life. I've seen him in and out of relationships with other women. I always thought that he just wasn't picking the right one. Maybe I'm not the right one either.

I shake my head quickly and attempt to bring my thoughts back to my search for the perfect cake topper when there is a light knock on the door—so light that I wonder if I imagined it.

The door opens slightly, and Jamie is standing in the opening staring at me, his lips slightly pulled up at the corner, his hazel eyes hopeful. The hesitant smile on his lips has my heart leaping, and my mouth fills with cotton when my gaze meets his. Did my thoughts conjure him up? I notice his brows draw together and see his mouth moving.

"Evie?"

I blink a few times and try to clear my throat. "Sorry. Did you say something?"

"I asked, what put that frown on your face?" I can see the hesitancy in his eyes as he continues to look at me. He pushes the door open, closes it almost all the way, and heads to sit in the chair in front of my desk. I feel my lips quirk up.

Jamie has always been about making sure that things are proper. He has never closed my office door completely when it's only been the two of us. I always found it endearing. I mentally kick that thought away and push it to the back of my mind. And bring to the one thought that matters, how he left.

The way he left was anything but endearing.

My chest tightens as the wall around my heart refortifies itself from the charms of the man sitting across from me. Despite that, I can't stop my eyes from roaming over his face and noticing every nuance of his expression.

Someone I've missed every day since I've been away.

My stomach flutters as those words try to penetrate my well-forged armor. He looks so uncomfortable. I feel the ice around my heart thaw a tiny bit before I catch myself and harden my expression.

NO! It doesn't matter how uncomfortable he looks; I can't forget how he left and that he never once reached out to me while he was away.

I can tell when he notices the shift in my expression as his eyes dim a bit, and he bites his bottom lip.

"What brings you here?" The chill in my voice extends through my body and I run my hands up and down my arms to try and warm up.

The last of his smile fades, and I notice he rubs his hand against his pants.

"Evie—" He stops, running his hand up and down his face. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" My traitorous heart leaps at his words even though he hasn't said anything else yet, and it feels like all the air is sucked from the small space.

"I made a mistake when I left the way I did." He pauses. I watch as his chest rises and then falls with the big breath he blows out, but I don't say anything. "The biggest mistake. I'm not very good at—"

"Oh, perfect!" Sean's voice cuts Jamie off as he and Jessica push into my office. The small space suddenly feels overly crowded. "You're both here."

I inwardly groan as I look at them. Jamie was just getting ready to tell me why he left like he did. The thing that I've been wanting to know for the last six months, only to have my brother and best friend barge in at the exact moment.

Normally, I'm excited to see the happy couple, but right now, I want to tell them both to leave. Shooing them out, though, would only make them try harder at whatever game they're playing where Jamie and I are concerned.

So instead, I force a smile. "Hey there!"

Their smiles are blinding as they look at each other. They excitedly talk about something, but I'm so distracted by Jamie that I'm not processing what they're saying. I glance over at him and catch him still looking at me. The longing in his eyes catches my breath.

"Are you okay, Evie?" Jessica asks. Guess that groan was out loud. Oops, I quickly force the corners of my mouth up to cover up the emotions running rampant within me.

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry. I was just telling Jamie about my surprise for the two of you." I throw the bone to get her bloodhound-like senses off where my thoughts are.

"Surprise?" Jess claps her hands and jumps up and down, pumping Sean's arm. A real smile breaks free as I look at her. Sean turns his adoring eyes to his fiancé. I'm just grateful that it was enough to distract them both from the quizzical looks they were giving Jamie and me.

"So, what brings you here?"

"Weren't you listening at all to what I was saying?" Jessica glances back and forth between us as we both shake our heads.

"That's no surprise." Sean's smirk is directed at me as he examines my face a bit too intently for my liking.

"Something about ice skating?" Jamie throws in.

"So you were listening!" Sean slaps him on the back, and he takes the seat next to him. I see Jamie wince and then glare at my brother while Sean just lets out a loud laugh. "Yes, Jess and I need your help. It's part of the MOH and BM duties."

"BM duties ? Let's not use acronyms, okay big brother?" I giggle. "Especially when BM and duties are next to each other."

The tension in the room eases as we all laugh at Sean's choice of words.

Sean stands behind Jessica, gives her a kiss on the head before resting his hands on the back of the chair she's sitting in. "We're going to have a pre-wedding party where we meet up at the ice skating rink in the park. Near where Sean and I had our second ‘date'."

At her words, I remember Sean and Jessica's budding romance. Sean was helping Jessica find the right man by taking her out on ‘practice dates'—yeah, we all thought the same. Anyway, that park has an ice skating rink. I look over at Jamie, and I remember us walking by there last December.

I can remember the lights shining around the rink, casting it in a soft glow. A little further out, there was a fire pit near a hot chocolate stand, where everyone was taking a break to warm up their hands and toes. I quickly glanced over at Jamie and saw his intent eyes on me.

"The one where they do private parties on certain occasions?" My stomach drops as I remember that evening. I can still feel the warmth of Jamie's hand, his fingers entwined with mine. I look over toward Jess and Sean and groan as I catch them staring adoringly at each other. "Were you two listening to me?"

I can see both their lips quirk up as Sean kisses Jessica's forehead. "Yes. And yes, that's the one. We have an appointment with the rink manager tomorrow to discuss the details and wanted both of you to be there." The grin on his face as he looks back and forth between me and Jamie has me narrowing my eyes at him. "To help with those duties ."

Jamie and I both groan. I try not to give the tingling in my stomach any acknowledgment. It was just a groan. But I can't control the beating of my heart, which is suddenly pounding a little harder.

"No," I firmly say out loud. Oops.

"No?" Everyone looks at me and asks with small smiles on their faces. I glare at Jamie, and I see him press his lips together at me to keep from laughing.

"Of course I will," I look at Jamie and move my hand back and forth. "We'll help you."

"Amazing," Jessica and Sean beam at me.

I can't help but smile at how truly adorable they are, and my stomach flips as I feel a longing so deep that my bones ache. I want what they have. I flick my gaze to Jamie and am immediately caught in his eyes. My heart starts to race, and I swallow, quickly looking away from him, to Jessica and Sean.

I hope the flush I feel creeping up my face isn't also a shade of pink.

"What time do you want us there?" I inwardly cringe as I see the expressions on both Jessica's and Sean's faces. They. See. Everything.

I force my hands to stay on the desk and not cover my face like I want to. I will my heart rate to slow and keep my expression relaxed while I wait for them to respond.

"Tomorrow at three. Does that work?" Jessica flits her head back and forth between Jamie and me. Sean, I notice, keeps his keen gaze directed at me.

"Works for me." I nod, and from the corner of my eye, I see Jamie nod, too.

"Wonderful." Jessica claps her hands. I can't help but smile while I roll my eyes. This new Jess annoys me a bit. At least she annoys cranky Evie. How ironic that at this point and time I would be the one annoyed by my grumpy best friend's happy mood.

I look at Jamie and smile like a Cheshire cat. I can see a worried expression in his eyes and notice his Adam's apple bob as he swallows.

I blame it on her brother.