“It’s what?” Madison purred. “It’s different?”
“Yes,” Mollie said resolutely. “I don’t envy you navigating the world of dating a celebrity—of becoming one yourself. But Jackson’s not that guy anymore. The challenges you two had don’t apply to our life here in New York.”
“Your time with Jackson is a fraction of the time I spent with him. Don’t forget that.”
“Of course I can’t forget that! You think I don’t know that it’s early and complicated?” Mollie pleaded. “I know that better than anyone. But he makes me so happy.”
Madison said nothing.
Mollie’s eyes watered as she begged her sister to understand. “I love him, Maddie.”
Her sister’s blue gaze was cold as she sat back in her chair and stared at Mollie. “You love him? You don’t even know him, Mollie. Sure, you know the big brother Jackson, and you know that he’s fucking hot in bed, which I know too, by the way, but you don’t know—”
“Don’t tell me what I don’t know.” Mollie’s temper snapped. “Yeah, I wasn’t his first love, and yeah, he didn’t chase me for years. Yeah, we won’t share all the firsts that you guys had. But I think I know him as well as you ever did. Maybe better. Who do you think he talked to every night when you were out with your girlfriends on that stupid Housewives show? Who do you think he called for help picking out every Christmas gift? I may have been on the sidelines, but at least I was there.”
Madison’s perfectly shaped eyebrows arched. “You went from apologetic to being on the offensive pretty quick there.”
Mollie squeezed her eyes shut. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Madison. I feel torn between the two most important people in my life. And like I said, I don’t expect instant forgiveness, and I don’t expect your blessing. I guess I just…You deserve the truth. And the truth is that I love him. I want a future with him more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
“In New York? A future with Jackson in New York?”
Mollie frowned. “Well, yeah. Where else?”
Madison studied her. “And where does Jackson stand on all this? Does he love you too? Does he want a future with you?”
Mollie flinched. Jackson’s silence on the whole thing was her Achilles’ heel, and she suspected her sister knew it.
Madison’s smile was cold and a little cruel as she crossed her arms on the table.
“You know how Jackson used to run to you and tell you all his secrets while he was married to me?”
Mollie swallowed dryly and nodded.
“Well”—Madison leaned forward even more—“guess what, sister darling. The tables have turned. Now he’s coming to me with all his secrets while he runs home to screw you.”
Mollie’s heart began to pound. “What secrets?”
“See, Molls, while you were busy falling in love, Jackson was busy trying to get his old life back.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jackson accepted a coaching job with the Redhawks.”
Mollie felt the blood leave her face.
“Oh.” Madison made a fake sad face. “Did he not mention it?”
No, he had not mentioned it. He hadn’t even mentioned that he wanted a coaching job, much less that he’d accepted one.
Mollie racked her brain trying to think of a reason. An excuse. An explanation. But she had nothing.
He’d had every opportunity to tell her. To confide in her. Instead he’d confided in Madison.
Mollie stopped breathing for a moment as the rest of the pieces fell into place.
“That’s right,” Madison said, her voice resuming its usual sugary tone. “The new job means he’ll be coming back to Texas. Jackson’s coming home, Mollie. That’s why he told me instead of you. I’m his home.”
Mollie struggled to breathe as Madison stood, pushing her hair over her shoulder. “You know, on second thought, I don’t think I have an appetite.”
She pulled a few bills out of her wallet and dropped them on the table as she walked by, pausing when she stood even with Mollie’s chair.
Her sister’s hand touched her shoulder gently. “I love you, Mollie. I really do. But I’m sure you’ll understand why I won’t be asking you to be my maid of honor again at my and Jackson’s second wedding. And sweetie…there will be another wedding.”
Chapter 28
Jackson was just adding tomato to his massive turkey sandwich when he heard the front door open.
“Hey, babe,” he called, licking mayo from his thumb. “You eat? I can make another sandwich real fast.”
Mollie didn’t respond. When he glanced over his shoulder, he froze. Something was wrong. No, “wrong” didn’t even cover it. He didn’t think he’d ever seen someone as pale and angry as his girl looked right now.
He forgot all about the sandwich and moved toward her. “Mollie, what happened?”
“You’re moving to Texas?”
Jackson’s head snapped back as his heart seemed to stop beating.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuuuucccccckkk!