“Sure Daylin.”
She was sure she would call him if she stayed in town long enough. Maybe looking for a job wasn’t such a good idea she thought. But then again, she had to have some way to live until she figured out what the hell she was going to do with her life.
He gave her another quick kiss and then with a huge sigh got behind the wheel of his car. "Goodbye Jess."
"Bye Daylin.”
She stood and watched until she couldn't see his car anymore. She didn't know how she felt. Part of her had wanted to run after him when he was leaving to tell her to take her with him. Another part was afraid that he would. Another small part told her that she wouldn't see him again, that she wouldn't hear from him. That she was just another woman in a long list of them that could never mean to him what Amanda had meant to him.
She shook her head at herself and headed back to her apartment.
She ran a brush through her hair once she was back in the apartment and decided to leave her hair down. She decided she might as well look for a job as soon as possible. At least if she was working she wouldn’t be sitting around her apartment all day, trying not to think about Daylin.
She checked her wallet to make sure that her social security card was inside, and pulled out the only picture she'd ever kept in her wallet. It was an old picture. She'd only been two when it was taken. It was hard to believe sometimes that she'd ever been that young. They all looked so happy, she balanced on her father's knee, her mother standing proudly beside them, one hand on top of Jess's and the other clasped in her husband's on the other side where he was holding the hand that she had slung around his waist. Who would have known that a year later he would be gone? Who would have known that the little girl in that picture would grow up to be the woman that she was today? Now truly fatherless and feeling so lost.
She sighed, shoving the picture back into her wallet, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fill her eyes.
She took a deep breath and went outside, locking the door behind her.
Chapter 7
She drove downtown since she’s remembered seeing a bar that had a help wanted sign. She wasn’t sure how much Daylin would like her working in a bar, but she still thought that maybe she could push him away before he got any closer. She wasn’t looking forward to running into him in town and wondered how long she could really stand to stay in Welton. She figured that working at a bar would be a job that would be easy to walk away from at any time since she certainly didn’t expect to make bartending her life’s work.
There was a pretty woman tending the bar when she walked in. The woman gave her a smile and said “What can I get you hon?”
“An application please.”
“Sure. Have you bartended before?”
“No. But I’m a quick learner and I do have experience with a cash register. I’m looking for something kind of short term if that’s okay.”
The woman nodded. “Yeah, most people that come through Welton don’t stay long. It’s okay hon. Right now we’re looking for someone to fill a spot while one of our bartenders is on maternity leave. Tomorrow is her last night. If you’re interested you could start Wednesday.”
“That sounds great.”
The woman dug around on a shelf underneath the cash register and come back with an application. “Fill this out please. I’ll take your ID and social if you have it to make a copy.”
Jess nodded. She pulled both out of her wallet and handed them to the woman, glad that getting a job had been easy at least. With the way things were going in her life lately, she was glad that something was easy at least.
She filled out the application and left a few minutes later. She headed home, wondering what Daylin was up to. Then she shook her head at herself. She had to stop thinking about him or she was going to drive herself crazy.
Moments later she was in her apartment. Her phone rang when she was seated on the couch in front of her computer, wondering if she should e-mail her stepmom.
Since Daylin was the only one that had her number, she knew that it had to be him. She looked at the screen amused when she saw that he had put his number in under "lover" and pressed the button to answer the call “Hello.”
"Just the voice I wanted to hear.”
"I'd guess so Daylin since I'm the one you called.”
"Smart ass. Are you happy with your new place?”
“Sure. I got a job.”
“Jess, I told you to talk to me before you went looking for a job. Where will you be working?”
“The bar downtown.”
“Jess, men get drunk when they go to the bar.”
“Duh, that’s kind of the point Daylin.”
“You’re going to get hit on all the time Jess.”
“I can handle myself Daylin. I am a grown woman.”
“You make me want to protect you Jess. Why won’t you give it up and just let me?”
“Because I just met you Daylin.”
“You are stubborn Jess.”
“Never said I wasn’t.”
"What are you up to tonight?"
"Not much. I decided to get one of those online movie subscriptions so I'll probably watch a couple movies and then go to bed."
"I knew you'd like having a computer. Are you going to make enough money working at the bar?”
"With tips I should be good."
"I hope so, though I will always be here if you need anything and I mean anything. Have you met any of your neighbors?"
Jess smiled because he couldn’t see her. "Not yet."
“That’s too bad. So Cam and Lucy found a house."
"Did they really? That's good."
"Lucy and my aunt dragged Cameron around all day looking at every house in town that was for sale. Or that's what he claims anyway. They ended up taking the first one they looked at."
"Is it nice?"
"It's pretty nice. It's got a nice big fenced yard, three bedrooms. They got a pretty good price so hopefully they won't be paying for it for the rest of their lives."
"That's good. Did Lucy get whatever was going on at work straightened out?"
Daylin sighed. "I wrote the fuck a check first thing after I got home. I swear Lucy invites trouble. I don't know what she's going to do sitting in the house with Cameron at work all day trying not to think about drinking and smoking."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"You could hang out with her, help distract her."
"Daylin.”
"I'll shut up. She does have a couple of friends that stay home with their kids so she'll have them to hang out with."
"That's good."
"They set a date for the wedding too."
"When is it?"
"They're getting married on Valentine's Day. Lucy insisted."
"That's very romantic."
"Cameron originally wanted it to be in April on the 5th, that's the day between his birthday and Lucy's birthday. She said she'll be too fat then."
"It sounds nice."
"You know, there's still time. . ."
"Do not start Daylin.”
“Okay, I'll be good. Don't you even miss me a little bit Jess?"
"I didn't say I didn't miss you. I said that I'm not going to move in with you or marry you four days after I met you."
"February is five months away."
"I don't think that I'm going to be ready to get married in five months Daylin."
"You're a spoil sport. I'll buy you a really nice ring, even nicer than Lucy's."
"Daylin."
"Yes, I promised to be good. I know. I don't want to lose you. I'm so afraid of losing you before you even really given me a chance."
"You won't lose me Daylin."
Never mind that there was still a part of her that wanted to run away from him, never mind that she had a feeling she was going to run away from him if she let herself feel too much of what she was feeling.
He sighed. "I never thought I'd lose Amanda either."
"Oh Daylin.”
Jess thought that he must have figured it was best to change the subject then, because he said "When are you planning on meeting your stepmom?"
"I'm not sure. I'm still getting used to the idea of having a stepmom and a half grown brother and sister."
"I can be there with you when you meet them if you want."
"I don't know Daylin. I'm not even sure how far away they are. I have the address from my mom but I never bothered to check out exactly where it was. If they're close to my grandparents’ maybe I could do it all at the same time."
"If you want me there I'm more than willing."
"Thanks."
"So have you put any thought into where you'll be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas?"
"Not really."
"You could meet the rest of my family. With my mom being so sick it probably won't be much of a celebration, but it looks like it might be her last. I'd like you to be here. I mean, if you don't mind."
"Sure." Who the hell knew what things would be like in two months anyway Jess thought? She didn't want to hurt his feelings by refusing outright.
"Great. Well, as much as I hate to, I'd better let you go. Have a good night. Call me anytime, text me, IM me. Just don't forget me and remember to miss me okay?"
She laughed. "Of course."
"Bye baby."
"Bye Daylin."
Later that night when she was ready for bed, she shut her computer down and went into the bedroom, using the restroom and then changing into her pajamas and climbing into bed.
She put her arm under her pillow and felt a piece of cloth. She pulled it out and saw Daylin’s t-shirt. So he was trying to make sure she couldn’t forget about him, she thought. She smiled and slipped her shirt over her head and replaced it with his. It wasn’t quite as good as being in his arms, but it would have to do for now, because there was no way she was going to break down this easily and give in to him. She knew that if she called him anytime soon, she’d end up right back in his bed.
Chapter 8
She slept better that night. It was a little after eight a.m. when she got out of bed. She took a quick shower, then got dressed and started a pot of coffee.
She opened her e-mail and saw another e-mail from her mother. She opened it and read ‘Jess, have you talked to Selana? I was just wondering how you were and whether you decided to get yourself a phone. Who convinced you to call your mother? I think I'd like to meet them. Levi has been asking about you. He's been back in town for a while now. I thought I would pass along the message. Well, take care sweetheart and call me anytime. I love you, Mom. PS I enclosed a picture I found of you and Levi at the spring dance. You look so beautiful, so happy’
She clicked on the picture and looked at it. They did look happy. Maybe because the young Jess didn't know that her wonderful boyfriend was going to screw her and dump her less than a month later. And her mother thought that she would jump at the chance at getting back together with Levi? Yuck, Jess thought. Last she’d known he was supposed to marry some girl he had gotten pregnant before he left to join the army. Then again, that had been a long time ago and things had obviously changed.
She typed out a reply to her mother. ‘Mom, I did e-mail Selana. I'll set up a meeting with her and the kids when I feel ready, which isn't now.’ She didn't know how to explain Daylin to her mother. She didn't think that her mother would approve whether or not she was twenty-four years old; of a man that she had went to bed with a few hours after she had met him. She agonized for a minute and then said ‘The guy that made me call you is Daylin. I don't know when you'll meet him. He wants me to spend Thanksgiving with his family, but I don't know if I'll go or not. About Levi, I'm not really interested. I thought that he was going to marry that girl, the one that was supposed to be pregnant with his baby when he left. How are your parents doing? Well, I start a new job tomorrow so I'd better let you go. I'll give you a call in the next few days. Love you, Jess.’
She spent the day watching movies to keep her mind off of Daylin. It didn’t really work and she wondered how much longer she could fool herself into thinking that she didn’t care for him. She ate a light dinner and then made herself a cup of tea. Once she had her tea and was back in the living room, she sat down in front of the computer and started an e-mail to Daylin, figuring that it would be safer to e-mail him than to call him. ‘I don't know how you managed to leave the shirt under my pillow, but I appreciate it. I do miss you Daylin and hope things are going okay for everyone. I'll probably call you Thursday evening if that's okay. Let me know if you have plans. Jess’
She hit send and then stretched. She was beat. She turned off the computer and went to the bedroom, feeling a little less silly tonight when she slipped Daylin's t-shirt over her head.
Her sleep wasn't as sound that night. She had a dream about Daylin. It was so vivid that when she woke up she could almost feel his hands on her body. She was sweaty and felt weird. She'd never had a dream quite like that before. She'd had sex dreams of course, but nothing like that.
She used the restroom and brushed her teeth, then went out to the living room. She lit a cigarette and turned on her computer, wondering if Daylin had e-mailed her back.
He had. She smiled as she read what he had written. ‘I thought you'd like the shirt. Bet you're wondering how I got it there without you noticing huh? It's my little secret darlin’. Of course you can call me on Thursday. Don't ask, just do it. Oh, my mom's not doing very well, so Cam and Luce decided to move the wedding up to make sure she can be there. They're getting married the day after Christmas. While I promise I won't bug you about a double wedding anymore (too much), I still expect you to be there. I miss you love. Take care, Daylin.’
She typed out a reply ‘Now you've really got me curious about where the shirt came from. Am I sleeping in some smelly shirt you had in your car? Kidding, because it really does smell good. I'm so sorry about your mom, but yes, I will come to the wedding with you. I miss you too. Jess’
She made herself a cup of coffee and read a book until it was time to go to work. She felt a little overwhelmed behind the bar. There was a lot to remember, but the guy she was working with whose name was John was very helpful. She felt like he was flirting with her a little at first, but then he told her that he’d heard around town that she was with Daylin. She told him that she wasn’t really with Daylin, but he just smiled and told her to be careful. She was tired of hearing about how many hearts Daylin had broken, how many women he had been with. She was beginning to wonder if she should call him tomorrow at all, since she had the night off.
But she did miss him already and her decision to call him was cemented when she went home to her empty apartment. Her bed felt so empty without him.
She slept in his shirt again that night. She had another sex dream about Daylin that night and wondered if calling him was a good idea. But then she figured she might as well at least give him a chance while she was in town and decided to call him early that evening, figuring he should be home from work then.
The day seemed to drag. She realized how nervous she was when she dialed his number. There was no answer. She was disappointed, but decided against leaving him a voicemail and decided she’d spend the evening by herself watching movies.
When she had looked through what felt like half of the movies on her internet subscription site and nothing looked good she decided to try Daylin one more time. If he didn’t answer the phone, she was going to show up on his doorstep she thought.
Daylin didn’t answer his phone. So, feeling better than she had all day with her spur of the moment decision to visit him, she locked her apartment and headed to her car. If things went well she thought she might even give in to him and spend the night again.
When she reached Daylin’s house, his car was in the driveway and the lights were on in the living room and the kitchen. But nobody answered when she knocked.
There was loud music playing so she figured he hadn't heard her and
tried knocking louder. There was still no response. She wondered if he was in the shower. She started to turn around, figuring she would call him to let him know she was there, but something told her to try the door.
It was unlocked. She pushed it open. About two seconds later she wished she hadn't. The scene in front of her made her upset stomach feel worse.
The man and woman before her on the couch weren't naked, but both their jeans were undone and Daylin's mouth was locked in a passionate kiss with Kateisha. Her hand was down the front of Daylin's pants and his hand was down the front of hers.
She let out a little gasp that she hadn't known had come from her lips until Kateisha turned. The look on the woman's face turned from one of irritation at being interrupted to one of utter triumph.
Daylin saw her then and said "Oh, shit."
She turned to the door before he could say anything else and ending up slamming it in his face.
Her legs were shaky as she went back to her car. It took her two tries to get the door open because she hadn't pressed the button hard enough the first time. She sat behind the wheel for a moment, head in her hands, waiting for the door to open. She had sat up and lit a cigarette, trying to calm her nerves when Daylin came out, still buttoning his pants. As the door closed she heard Kateisha call out "Don't be too long baby. We have unfinished business."
"Shut the fuck up Kateisha." Daylin slammed the door.
He went around to the passenger side of her car and tried the door, but she responded by clicking the button to lock it. He sighed and came back around to her window. "Jess, that was not what it looked like."
She had to laugh. "What could that possibly have been other than what it looked like Daylin?"
"Okay, so fuck me, it was what it looked like."
"I thought you didn't like her Daylin."
"I don't. You're the one I want."
"It wasn't my pants your hand was down, wasn't my hand on your dick."
"Jess please. You've got to listen to me. I know that I told you I was ready to feel what I feel for you but I was wrong. I got scared, and when I’m scared I tend to fuck things up."
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 196