Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)

He released her and she scrambled to her feet, prepared to take him on. Because this was important. He was always in pain and what if she wasn’t around to make him feel better?

“Taryn find her dress yet?” he asked in a very obvious attempt to change the subject. “Because I have to tell you, I don’t think I can take another afternoon in a wedding-gown store.”

“She’s decided and she’s going to look beautiful.”

“Good. She and Angel are good together. They fit.”

He was relaxed as he spoke. There was no tension, no sense of hesitation. She knew in her heart that whatever had happened between them all those years ago had never grown into anything more than friendship. They hadn’t been in love.

Because being in love would change everything. Being in love meant always thinking about the other person. It meant wanting to be close, having everything divided into Jack or not Jack. It meant being happier when he was around and needing his smile, his touch, like she needed air.

“Larissa?”

Jack’s voice came from very far away. Like through water. Or over a distance. She could hear him but she couldn’t react. She was too busy trying to stay standing as the truth slammed into her. That her mother had been right all along. She was in love with Jack.

“I have to go,” she said as she raced for the front door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Everything. “I’m fine.” She would never be fine again.

* * *

LARISSA DIDN’T REMEMBER much about getting from Jack’s house to the Score offices. She was out of breath so she’d probably run more than she was used to. She hurried into the building and raced down the hall. She flung open the door to Taryn’s office and stared at her friend.

Taryn was on the phone. She glanced up, took one look at Larissa and spoke into the receiver. “Jenny, I’m going to have to call you back...Uh-huh. This afternoon. I promise.” She hung up and stood. “Who’s dead?”

“No one. Everyone is fine.”

Taryn’s brows drew together. “You don’t look like everyone is fine.”

“They are. It’s not that. It’s me. It’s my mother. She was right.”

Larissa didn’t want to say the words out loud, so she waited for the truth to sink in. Taryn’s violet eyes widened.

Her friend swore. “Seriously? You’re in love with Jack?”

“I think so. Maybe. I was having lunch with him and he mentioned how you and Angel fit. And then I started thinking what it means to be in love.” She paused for breath. “Is it possible?”

Taryn sank back into her chair. “Dear God, I hope not.”

Larissa settled across from her. “Because it will end badly.”

“That’s one way of putting it. Jack doesn’t commit to anyone. He won’t let himself get that involved.” The worry returned. “You know that, right?”

Larissa nodded. “Of course. I’ve seen him with his women. He’s good for a few weeks and then he’s gone.” She was still trying to absorb the unexpected truth. In love with Jack? Seriously?

She didn’t have to ask how it had happened. He was a great guy. Giving to her causes, always there for her. Funny, charming, sexy. Maybe loving him had been inevitable.

“I really hate that my mother was right,” she admitted.

“That would be annoying.”

“It could be a stage in my emotional development,” she said slowly, thinking aloud. “Being around him like I have, maybe I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

“I warned you about him when you first started.”

“And that was supposed to be enough?”

Taryn sighed. “I suppose not. So now what?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I have to figure out a way to get over him.”

“You’re not going to try to get him to fall in love with you?”

“No way. That’s not possible.” Although it was nice to think about. “If Jack was going to see me as anything more than his friend, don’t you think it would have happened by now?”

“Good point. So how exactly do you plan to get over Jack? He’s kind of a great guy.”

“How did you get over him?”

“I was never in love with him. We were friends and we still are.”

Oh, right. “So how do women get over any guy? You see him as he is, not as you want him to be. I need to focus on Jack’s flaws. He doesn’t commit, he’s emotionally unavailable.”

“Those would be the same thing,” Taryn murmured.

“Okay, so there are others. He’s not good boyfriend material. I know that. I’ve seen him with his other women. He’s...” Larissa felt the pieces fall into place. “I have an unrealistic view of what a relationship with Jack would be like. I’ve only seen that part of his life from the outside.”

“No,” Taryn said firmly. “I’m not sure where this is going, but I don’t like it.”

“It’s brilliant,” Larissa told her. “Totally brilliant. I’m not going to convince Jack to fall in love with me, I’m going to convince him to have an affair with me. Then he won’t be a romantic hero anymore. He’ll just be this guy I used to date. And then I’ll fall out of love with him.”