24. Jack

24

JACK

A couple of weeks after Aaron leaves town, I’m at the Witching Hour with June, nursing a beer, lost in my head. He hadn’t even been here that long, and already, the town feels emptier without his arresting presence. Or maybe I’m losing it. And it’s all my fault. I knew this would happen if I continued cozying up with him, so I only have myself to blame.

“Why are you being so mopey?” June asks.

“I’m not.”

“Uh-huh.” She rolls her eyes. “You miss him.”

“Who? I don’t miss anyone.” I sound unconvincing even to my ears.

Johnny leans over the bar top. “You can admit it. It’s okay.”

“Says the person who never admits the same about his ex.”

“I’ve dealt with those feelings.”

Johnny may be outgoing and a good listener, but he has remained tight-lipped about what went down between him and his ex. Or should I say husband? They remain legally separated, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say Johnny’s reasons for not seeking a divorce are sentimental. And he says I’m the one holding my feelings close to my vest.

“Whatever you say, Johnny. Besides, this thing with Aaron was never meant to be anything more than a fling.”

June raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, he’s gone.” I motion toward the road. “He lives somewhere else.”

“And you’re constantly texting each other,” she points out.

“What the hell? You been spying on me?” It’s true that we text several times a day. It started with him sounding so happy about reopening his dad’s workshop, and it blew up from there. He always asks about my photos and what’s happening in town, like he’s a long-lost resident, and admittedly, sometimes he feels like one.

June says, “Life is never that cut-and-dried. You should know that by now. I’ve had to move on without my soulmate, and it’s been difficult, to say the least.” I frown. She’s still suffering the aftereffects of what happened with Cain and how much that scared her. “What if you’re pushing aside your feelings because you’re scared, but he’s meant to be in your life?”

“He is in my life. We’re friends.” I motion to my phone. “But what do you expect me to do?”

“I don’t know, go see him for a change?” she deadpans. “Pass through his town?”

“He hasn’t invited me.”

Johnny throws me a pointed look. “He was never invited here, and somehow it all worked out.”

“Did it?” I stand and down the dregs of my beer, done with the conversation. “Gonna head home.”

“He’s right, you know,” I hear as I’m leaving.

Bristling, I turn toward Beth, who’s sipping a glass of wine in a booth by herself. A pang of regret hits me, and I wonder if she feels lonesome in this town despite everybody knowing her name.

“What do you mean?” I ask politely.

“That man adores you, and if I had to guess, you feel the same.”

I hitch a shoulder. “Been there, done that.”

“Life doesn’t work that way, and you know it.”

“I suppose not.”

Beth motions to the bench. “Please, will you take a seat?”

“No, I?—”

“ Please .” She sounds so desperate that I slide in across from her.

She twirls the stem of her wineglass, seemingly lost in thought, and I wonder why I sat down at all, but then she says, “The week your family was lost… I knew that pain well, and I wanted to help.”

My heart climbs to my throat. “I know.”

“And God, I wanted to believe. I didn’t believe with Alise. I felt like she was already gone, and maybe, had I not given in to that negative energy, had I not let it consume me, maybe she would’ve been found in time.” Her eyes grow misty with unshed tears. “I know that doesn’t make much sense, but I wanted it to be different for you. I wanted to send positive energy into the universe, hoping it had some sway.”

My gut churns with that same frustration I’ve held toward her all these years. “So you admit your personal feelings got in the way?”

She nods. “I’m truly sorry for causing any pain.”

“But then, with Cain, you almost fell into the same trap.”

“I wasn’t trying…” Hand to her chest, she makes her case earnestly. “I thought I was offering support.”

And then, like water through a sieve, the anger drains out of me.

I sigh, the fist in my chest releasing its hold. “I’m sorry you lost someone too. Aaron said that’s probably what made you respond that way.”

She gives me a watery smile. “See? He’s good for you.”

“Yeah, yeah…too bad he’s hours away.”

She angles her head. “So do something about it.”

“Now you sound like my meddling siblings.”

She winks. “I’d rather be thought of that way than a bitter, old, interfering woman.”

I bark out a laugh. “Mom always liked you.”

“She was a good lady. I miss her.”

“I miss her too.” For the first time, saying it aloud doesn’t feel like a stab of grief but more like a salve. I glance at her wistful eyes. “Alise was always kind to me.”

Her smile is sad. “She was just that way, wasn’t she?”

We sit in comfortable silence, each lost in our thoughts.

“For what it’s worth, I think being mad at you gave me something to focus on instead of my grief. I’m sorry if I made you second-guess yourself.”

“That might be a lifelong lesson for me.” She pats my hand. “I accept your apology. We’re all only human.”

Suddenly, Walter bounces up from his barstool—well, nearly topples is more like it. He’s obviously tipsy, and though I hadn’t noticed him when I first arrived, now he’s making a spectacle of himself. “Careful,” he says, pointing to us. “She might cast a spell on you.”

“Knock it off.” I stand and loom over him. “You should thank her for keeping your business afloat.”

Then Johnny is there gripping Walter’s arm and removing the keys from his hand. “Let’s get you home safely.”

June is already on the phone, no doubt calling one of his sons. I help Johnny get him seated at a table while he waits for his ride.

“Want me to stay?” I ask.

“Nah, you’ve already done enough good for one night.”

My gaze swings to Beth, who mouths a thank-you to me.

When I get home, I head into my studio, feeling a renewal of energy. I turn off the light and start developing the photos from our magical night on the beach, and the moment Aaron’s intense eyes and chiseled jaw materialize on the photo paper, I’m smiling. He just brings it out of me.

There’s too much to develop, so after about an hour, I call it a night.

I head to the couch and lift my cell, scrolling to his number.

“The photos from the beach turned out great,” I say as soon as he answers.

“I don’t doubt it. Hold on, let’s video call so I can see.”

I hit the button, and his gorgeous face lights up the screen. He’s lying in bed, shirtless, and it makes my heart stutter and my groin stir.

I redirect my thoughts. “There are a couple of you I love.”

His eyes soften. “Admit it, you like having photos of me around.”

“Maybe I do.” And the truth of that makes my heart stagger. “Maybe I can display a couple at the art fair, with your permission.”

“I’m cool with that.”

“Awesome. Not for sale, though. Just for personal use.” I swallow roughly. No way I’d sell them. “And afterward, they’ll make a good dart board.”

He huffs out a laugh. “Set one up in Johnny’s bar and have a go at me.”

“Not a bad idea,” I tease. “He’d call me on it, though. Tell me I’m being a grouchy ass.”

“He wouldn’t be wrong.”

“Hey, I’m not always a grouch. In fact, I had an honest conversation with Beth tonight.”

“You are full of surprises.”

“Long overdue.”

“And? Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“We cleared the air.”

His eyes light up. “How do you feel?”

I think about the conversation for a split second before admitting, “Better.”

“Good. You seem lighter.”

“Do I? Not grumpy?”

“Apparently, no grumpiness is detected when you’ve cleared the air. No grumpiness when you’re coming or kissing me either.”

I push down on my cock with the heel of my hand. “Oh damn, stop it.”

“Why? Is it making you hard?”

“Fuck yes.”

“So sorry! Not. Maybe we shouldn’t talk anymore if it’s causing blue balls.”

“Brat! I can’t be the only one.” I sound whiny even to my ears.

“Of course not. Want to see?”

He pans the camera down his chest.

“Hell yeah.”

Aaron arches a brow. “You first.”

Fine by me. I sit back and make sure the camera is at a good angle before making quick work of pulling out my cock and lazily stroking myself. I hear him suck in a breath right before he pushes back the covers, revealing his boxer briefs.

“Oh God,” my voice rumbles as I drink up the screen. His hard cock is stretching the fabric as if ready to burst through.

He pushes down the waistband, and his shaft strains against his hand.

Soon enough, we’re both stroking and moaning, and because it’s been so long—or maybe because it’s him—I’m already close. I swipe my thumb over the head to collect the precome gathered there and keep going.

“Every time with you was great.” Aaron’s gruff voice is like a hair trigger, going straight to my balls.

“Yeah, so fucking good.”

It doesn’t take long before I’m shooting all over myself, my eyes shut and my back arched. A moment later, I hear Aaron’s long groan as he finds his release too.

I sink against the couch, rein in my runaway breaths, and try not to make more of a mess than I already have.

When I can speak again, I rasp out, “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Me too .” He draws out the word with a satisfied expression.

I want him here with me in my space, sharing my bed, night after night. If I could reach through the screen to kiss him and hold him, I would. My chest aches with a piercing longing I haven’t felt in a very long time.

We smile sleepily at each other before reluctantly deciding to clean up and retire to bed.

“Well…night, Aaron.”

“Night.” Aaron grins dreamily before the screen goes black.