He kissed her again, not giving her a chance to protest further. Come the weekend, he might lose her for good. But how much worse would it be six months from now? A year from now? Jamie rationalized that recovery time would be shorter if he didn’t let himself fall too deep for too long.
He kissed her wet cheeks, her salty eyes, and then gave her his patented kiss on the forehead. They would be together for two more days, but it already felt like they were saying good-bye.
“I do love you,” she said, burying her head in his neck. “You believe that. Don’t you?”
He stroked her hair, her back, wishing this could be easier.
He nodded. “And I love you. But this isn’t how it was supposed to happen. I should have been honest from the start, but it should also go both ways. The past ten years will always be between us if we don’t see this through. I don’t want to be the guy who stood in the way if there is someone who could make you happier than I could.”
That was the truth. She meant enough to him that her happiness came first. He didn’t add that it would ruin him, though, if she fell for someone else. That much honesty wouldn’t be fair if he was going to see this through.
He backed away. “I think there are some extra pillows and blankets in the closet. I’ll take the floor tonight.”
“Jamie…”
“I love you, Sleepy Jean.”
But he didn’t wait to hear her say it again. His determination was wearing thin as it was. He just had to make it through two more nights and two more days on the road. With Holbrook being a regular stop on the trip, Jamie had booked a room ahead at the touristy Wigwam Motel. Two beds. After that, L.A.
Despite the cold outside, Brynn waited until he was in his makeshift bed on the floor to return. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, sure she knew it was an act, but neither of them broke character. He heard muffled conversation from the bathroom and assumed she was filling Holly in on the latest turn of events.
When he finally started to drift off, he heard the sound of a door’s latch opening and then quietly closing. He sprang upright to see the bed empty. When he looked at his phone to check the time, only ten o’clock, he saw a text waiting.
Brynn: Dora and Frank had a room to spare. Don’t worry. I’ll pay for it. I know we have a long drive tomorrow, so I’ll meet you at the truck at eight. You need to be well rested for the drive.
Jamie: OK.
He collapsed back on the floor, the pillow not enough to cushion his head against the force of his frustrated momentum.
“Shit,” he said, rolling to his side and massaging his now throbbing skull. Then he settled back into position, prepared for a less-than-restful night’s sleep, the bed remaining empty till morning.
…
“Please,” Jamie said. “I insist.”
Dora shook her head. “That room would have sat empty last night. Now at least it was put to good use.”
Jamie looked at Brynn waiting by the door.
“I’m not so sure about that,” he said. “I’d also like to take care of her room.”
“Oh, hush,” Dora said. “That’s between her and me. As for the two of you, married or not, it’s as good a love story as I’ve ever heard. Y’all just haven’t gotten to the happy ending yet.”
He sighed. They’d reached an ending, all right. But it was far from happy.
“Thank you. It’s too generous.”
She pulled something from behind the counter. “Here. You almost forgot this.”
In a freezer-size Ziploc bag, Dora handed him what she’d found this morning in the Garden Cottage’s trash can—the lucky bouquet.
He had no choice but to take it. He’d insisted on carrying both their bags, so Jamie zipped it into the one empty spot in Brynn’s bulging suitcase, the outer front pocket. It would get crushed no matter what. This way it would be crushed and contained.
“Don’t waste it,” she said.
Frank snuck up from behind and threw an arm over Jamie’s shoulder.
“So you’re not married, huh?”
“No,” Jamie said. “I’m sorry we lied.”
“Aw, hell,” Frank continued. “Enough with the apologizing. Make it up to us by making things right with that girl.”
“Lasso the moon for her,” Dora added.
Jamie’s eyes widened, but there was no way Dora knew about his plan for this weekend. “I’m not sure I’m the one who’s supposed to,” he said.
Dora laughed. “Silly boy. The one who can lasso the moon is the one who is supposed to lasso the moon.”
Jamie’s brows pulled together. He wasn’t sure where this metaphor was going, so he thanked the couple again, these people who knew him and Brynn for a minute and seemed to have more confidence in their relationship than he’d had in a decade.
“Come see us if you ever pass through Amarillo again,” Frank said.
Jamie pulled the brim of his Sox cap down in what he hoped was a gesture akin to tipping his hat.
“Will do,” he said and headed to the door. “Wait.” He turned back toward the couple. “Please tell me you have a gas station and an ATM nearby. We’re out of, well, everything.”