“I’m well. A lot going on right now with work and such.” She eyed him. “You seem to be doing well. You seem different.” He tried his best to keep from tensing. Was he really that transparent? Or had he been more miserable than he’d known?
“I’m good. Work’s going well.” He tried for a neutral subject. Bethany looked out the corner of her eye and he knew he wasn’t getting off that easily.
“Are you seeing anybody?”
What the hell? Why was everyone so suspicious all of a sudden? Of course, he could just be feeling the pressure of being secretive for the first real time in his life. He didn’t like it one bit.
He also didn’t like lying. Especially to Bethany. Even if their relationship hadn’t been the best for them, he still cared for her. She’d been his friend for such a very long time.
“It’s complicated,” he answered. Her eyes snapped to his, but a smile crossed her face.
“That’s really good. Not the complicated. But that you’re seeing someone. If she can get you smiling like that, I should shake her hand.”
Jay grunted, a little surprised at her being so supportive. He wasn’t so egotistical as to think she still had thoughts of reconciling. Hell, they’d shared dating horror stories enough over the last couple years since their official separation. She’d even seen someone fairly seriously for a couple months.
“What about you?”
She shook her head. “Not so much. But, I’m thinking of making a move soon, so I haven’t really been looking. I want to talk to you about it, what it’ll mean for the kids, but I want to get my ducks in a row first.”
Jay frowned thoughtfully. “Oh-kay,” he drawled.
“I should know more come thanksgiving.”
“Well, that’s only three weeks from now. I suppose the suspense won’t kill me,” Jay teased. She cast him an unfathomable look, then shook her head and smiled fondly.
She patted his knee. “I’m going to head up to bed. I’ll do breakfast in the morning so you can sleep in, then I’ll head out and go see my parents before I head back to Atlanta.”
“Sleep good, Beths,” he said as she stood to leave.
“You too, Jay. And really. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. I hate...” She paused, closing her eyes, and sighed. “No would’ve, should’ve, could’ves. Just glad you’re happy.”
“Are you?” he asked.
“I think so,” she answered.
And as she walked up the stairs, watching her back, he realized the chapter closed right then. He didn’t know what that meant for the next chapter any more than it had before, but this one was well and surely written, crossed, dotted, and the page had turned.
He wasn’t surprised at all that his first thought was to call Landon and tell him this development. But to be fair to Landon, himself, and his kids—hell, even to Beths—he had to find the first words for that next chapter, or at least stop holding himself back. So, instead, he surprised himself and called the messenger service to make an appointment with the counselor. If it was time to really be New Jay, or at least the Real Jay, he’d have to do some things that may be a little uncomfortable to Old Jay.
Chapter 16
Landon bounded into the office at the saw mill, a pep in his step. The day had qualified as one of his longest in a while, and his body teetered on the edge of exhaustion. He couldn’t give in, excited energy propelled him on. Ms. Lynne, thankfully, had already headed out for the night, since he was coming in later than usual. He signed his mileage log and dropped it in the bin with the rest.
On his way in from his one and only haul for the day, his phone had trilled with two calls he’d been waiting for. He hadn’t expected one so soon, and hoped for the other for days. First, the reason he’d taken the morning off, a job proposal from a friend; second, he’d heard from Jay, privately, for the first time in the three days since he’d left Jay’s house upon his kids’ return.