Forsaking All Others

by Linda Hudson-Smith

  “Sorry, but he’s in the shower right now. Can I take a message?”

  Jessica was sure her heart had stopped. Breathing was suddenly difficult. The woman’s comments as to Weston’s whereabouts had given her the absolute chills. “No message. I’ll…call back…later. By the…way, may…I ask…who…you are?”

  “Perhaps you should ask Weston,” she said, her chuckle throaty and wicked.

  London smiled devilishly. She loved being a naughty girl. If Jessica was a love interest for Weston, then she had definitely created the beginnings of a romantic rift. If it was a business colleague…Oh well, they’d eventually reconnect. The nerve of me! To ensure that there’d be no more interruptions, she turned off his phone and dropped it behind one of the sofa pillows. Then London threw her head back and howled.

  Weston came back. “What’s so funny? I heard you from way down the hall.”

  “A private joke of a sort. I love it when I get the last laugh.” She patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Let’s get this reunion party going.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Weston handed London the glass of wine. He didn’t take the seat next to her. Instead, he sat down on the arm of the sofa, at the opposite end. He had good reason to keep his distance from the sexy, beautiful London Reese.

  London understood Weston’s reluctance to get close to her. Finding her way back into his life would be difficult at best. He wasn’t the type who got burned twice, and definitely not by the same person.

  London brought Weston up to date on the past and current events in her life. As a CPA and a tax preparer, she had gone back to work for a large corporation. Her business had failed after two years. She was back at square one and trying to reestablish herself.

  As she spoke of her divorce, her tone dropped a couple of decibels. Talking about her husband’s countless infidelities was still painful. Weston wasn’t the kind of man who’d maliciously point out to her that “what goes around comes around.” He would never say she’d gotten exactly what she’d deserved—even if she had.

  London had cheated on Weston with one of her ex-boyfriends, right after she and Weston had decided to date exclusively. He had been terribly hurt by it. She was sure he had felt pain and rage, but never had he privately or publicly displayed his emotions.

  “Sounds like you’ve had a rough time. Sorry about that.”

  “I bounce back hard. You know me.”

  Weston didn’t know London, not a bit, even to this day. He had thought he did. She was a slick one, too. Birds of a feather, he thought. An interesting mess occurred when the two hunters clashed. In the case of London and Dean, it sounded to him like two player-players had been involved.

  “Where are you living?”

  “A fantastic apartment complex not too far from here. It’s nice.” She giggled. “Actually, it’s quite posh. You know me. Love the luxuries.”

  Why did she keep saying he knew her when he didn’t? He didn’t know her and he had no desire to get to know her.

  “Hope you’ll drop in on me sometime soon,” London cooed flirtatiously.

  Weston didn’t respond to that. He had no intention of dropping in on her or to have her continue to drop in on him. In fact, he didn’t plan to see her beyond this visit.

  “Are you romantically involved, Wes?”

  “In love is what I am. That sweet, crazy kind of love.”

  Was Jessica Harrington the someone he loved? How interesting that would be.

  “Are you guys living together?”

  Weston shook his head. “She’s an L.A. girl.”

  “Is she moving here to New York?”

  “I wish. I don’t think so, but the distance will get worked out. Rest assured.”

  “Sounds like you’re willing to move to L.A.” Fat chance.

  “I’m actually considering it. My parents are moving back there also.”

  “I hope it all works out for you and J…your lady.” Oops, my mistake. Watch your mouth, she told herself, cringing inwardly.

  Weston looked curious, wondering about the J he’d heard her almost say. He could’ve sworn she was about to call out Jessica’s name. But she didn’t know Jessica, nor had he mentioned her by name. Just his imagination, he figured, perhaps the result of missing his lady so much. Or was it really his imagination? One could never be sure when London Reese was involved.

  An hour later, when London finally stood, Weston was happy this little reunion was over. His mind was on overload from too much information. The lady had always loved to talk about herself.

  Still upset from what had occurred earlier, Jessica totally ignored Weston’s call. Ask Weston indeed. She’d die before she did that. The woman’s voice had been laced with poison when she’d told her to ask him who she was.

  It had to be someone close to Weston. Didn’t it? A stranger wouldn’t answer his cell phone. She had specifically said he was busy “taking a shower.” The latter part bothered her the most, made her fearful and angry and jealous and sad and confused.

  Jessica dialed the message center and put in her password. “Hey, I promised to call you,” Weston said. “Maybe you’re still asleep. If so, it’s ’cause you need it. If you don’t call back tonight, I’ll understand. Know that I miss you, fiercely. Love you, Jess.”

  Jessica was just about to hang up when she heard music. Then Kem’s voice came over the line singing “Tonight.”

  Deciding not to waste another precious second playing silly games, Jessica dialed Weston’s home number. After only one ring, the voice mail picked right up, no fax tone. Wondering where he was, she chewed on her lower lip, her stomach queasy.

  It was one o’clock in the morning in New York City.

  “Wes, where are you?”

  Though anxious to call Jessica, since he hadn’t heard from her again last night, Weston refrained. It was too early yet. After taking the towel from his waist, he slipped on a pair of boxers. Once he put on his socks, he pulled on a pair of burgundy denim jeans and a gray-and-burgundy sweater. He often wore a sports jacket and an open-collar dress shirt to work, but he wasn’t up for it today. Casual worked best for his dark mood.

  Realizing his cell phone was missing, he looked around for it, trying to recall where he’d had it last. He searched for it for a couple of minutes before using the house phone to call it. He followed the rings, which led him into the living room. The ring tone was coming from the sofa. Once he moved the sofa pillows around, he spotted it, wondering how it had gotten there.

  As Weston checked his cell for missed calls, London came to mind. Had she put his phone behind the pillows? That was a ridiculous notion, he decided. It had probably slipped out of his pocket.

  Weston closed the blinds in his office. The sun was shining a little too brightly, threatening to lift his dark mood. Until he heard from Jessica, there’d be no light in his life. He had already lost count of how many times he’d phoned her. He was sick of hearing her cheerful message, wanting to reach through the phone and silence it. The recording of her voice didn’t do for him what the real thing did. All he wanted was to hear her sweet voice telling him everything was all right, that she loved and missed him.

  If only he could figure it all out.

  Chapter 16

  The night had been without end for Jessica. Each time she had fallen asleep it had only lasted twenty to thirty minutes. It was highly unusual for her to awaken all through the night. She was normally a sound sleeper. When she had managed to fall asleep a few times, the short naps had been fitful. Bliss was starting to turn to bitterness. The situation with Weston had her feeling bitter and blue even as she tried to rebirth hope.

  Once again it appeared that their love affair was over. She had so many warm memories. But memories couldn’t keep her heated up as physical contact did. Weston had become so important to her. She’d find herself figuring him into everything she desired to do. Was he still available to her? Or had he already checked out on her?

  Lying across his bed, Weston wa
s both worried about and also angry with Jessica. She wasn’t answering her phone by design. Not one response from her to a single e-mail. If she was upset about something, he wished she’d just tell him about it. He wasn’t a mind reader. No use continuing to rack his brain for answers that only she possessed.

  “Finally, Jess. I’ve been trying to reach you for a long time.” Weston’s decision not to call her had lasted less than forty-eight hours.

  Even though Jessica had known the caller was Weston, she was temporarily at a loss for words.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  As if Weston could somehow see her, Jessica hunched her shoulders.

  Pushing his hand through his hair, Weston sighed with frustration. “Can you please tell me what’s going on? I can’t figure this one out on my own. I’ve tried.”

  “Who is she?”

  Weston figured he could feign ignorance. But he knew exactly whom she’d referred to. Deep down inside he’d been pretty sure London had had something to do with Jessica’s odd behavior. “She’s an ex-girlfriend.”

  Jessica was totally surprised by Weston confirming the relationship between him and this woman. His honesty had her groping for something appropriate to say. She swallowed hard, sweat popping out on her brow. “Are…you…or were…you in love with her?”

  “I had thought I could love her. It didn’t happen, though.” He went on to explain that London’s cheating ways had brought their relationship to an abrupt end.

  Jessica’s heart actually went out to Weston. Then, when she thought of him showering naked in this woman’s presence, her heart hardened all over again.

  “London recently moved back to the city. She just dropped in to say hello. I can only guess that she answered my cell while I was out of the room.”

  “Out of the room showering? Her place or yours?”

  “What?”

  “Don’t feign innocence. You know what!”

  “Afraid I don’t. If you’re not willing to enlighten me, I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about the truth?”

  “The truth about what? I’ve already told you why she was at my place. I’m no mind reader. And why are you so insecure all of a sudden?”

  “Insecure! I don’t think so. You hang out with your ex-girlfriend—and I’m suddenly insecure. Is this a joke of some sort or what?”

  “Sorry if I offended you, but you are acting so weird. It’s ludicrous. You have a best friend who’s madly in love with you, yet you begrudge me a few minutes in my ex’s company. I didn’t invite her here. Can you say the same about your boy, Jarred?”

  “This is obviously not getting us anywhere. Call me back when you grow up.” Incensed, Jessica slammed the receiver down, causing Weston to wince.

  Well, he thought, their conversation certainly hadn’t played out like that in his head. First of all, he had been surprised that she’d even answered the phone. Because she had, he had figured she was ready to cut through the silence. He had been wrong on all counts. Flying to L.A. was definitely out of the question now. They had made the phone connection, but it couldn’t have gone any worse. He had made a valiant attempt to get through to her. Failure was his to claim.

  Had she just sealed her fate with Weston? Jessica wondered, tears streaming down her face. Was he, too, through with her? One minute she had given him praise for his honesty and in the next one she was berating him, telling him to grow up. She could also do a bit of growing up. Her behavior was definitely juvenile and downright silly.

  The conditions between them had gone badly in an instant, from worse to worst. She had been consciously rude in blurting out the very question she had planned to avoid like the plague.

  Who is she?

  As badly as Jessica had wanted to know the answer to her one burning question, she believed she could’ve found a more diplomatic way to inquire about the lady. Then she had had the nerve to shout at Weston to tell the truth, her gentler and roundabout way of calling him a liar.

  Jessica shuddered as she recalled the anger in Weston’s tone. It seemed that she wasn’t the only bitter one. Bliss had gotten away from him, too.

  Jessica crossed her legs and began to rehash all the experiences she’d had with Weston. She smiled softly. For the most part, their encounters had been wonderful. They had had a couple of snafus, but none too big for them to overcome.

  Could they possibly conquer this one, too?

  If Jessica didn’t want Weston’s ex around, and he did, wouldn’t it be unfair of her to keep Jarred in her life? Jarred was only a friend to her, but his interest in her had changed drastically. Weston was well aware of the change. Would he be within his rights to demand that she cut Jarred out?

  He would if he didn’t have anything to hide, Jessica concluded.

  Jessica tried hard to turn off her mind. Just thinking about all this bad stuff was painful. She would have to come to terms with Weston, one way or the other. They shouldn’t leave things up in the air. That would only cause more devastation. This should be simple enough to resolve, but it wasn’t. Stay together? Or go their separate ways?

  Weston felt that Jessica was such a hypocrite. As he paced back and forth across his bedroom floor, he looked ready to explode. She wanted to keep a “friend” in her life, but wanted to dictate to him whom he could or couldn’t have in his. He didn’t want London in his life any more than Jessica did, but principle was involved here.

  As Jarred had once told Jessica, she wanted to have her cake and eat it, too. Well, so did he. He also wanted the freedom to choose his own friends, exes or otherwise, and to spend time with whomever he so desired.

  Had he and Jessica reached a stalemate? Possibly so, but only time would tell.

  The first guests to arrive at Jessica’s town house were Megan and her boyfriend, Rodney. While the two women took care of last-minute items out in the kitchen, he stayed behind in the living room to answer the door and to host the other arrivals. He was also given the job of stacking the CD player with music appropriate for the evening’s festivities. The entire group was big on easy-listening music and jazz vocals.

  As everyone sat around talking about their fabulous plans for Valentine’s Day, Jessica had the strangest look on her face. Rodney and Megan were flying up to San Francisco to celebrate the lovers’ holiday. Shauna and Beau had tickets to a Beyoncé Knowles concert, with dinner in an upscale restaurant before the megaentertainment. Melissa and Rich had reservations on a romantic dinner cruise out of Marina del Rey. Brandy and Ethan hadn’t finalized their plans yet, but they were considering holing up in a boutique-style Santa Barbara hotel and ordering in room service.

  Jessica couldn’t help wondering what she and Weston would’ve planned had they been together. No doubt it would have been a romantic adventure. She fought off her emotions. No use crying over what was obviously never meant to be.

  Chapter 17

  Seated in front of the computer in her home office, Jessica was at her lowest point emotionally since she had last spoken to Weston. A few weeks had passed since that fateful day, but to her it seemed like an eternity. His handsome image popped into her head so many times in a single day that she couldn’t even count them all. Getting him out of her mind was impossible. Getting him out of her heart wasn’t something she even wanted to accomplish. True love couldn’t be turned off so easily.

  As Jessica scrolled down her dozens of personal e-mails, she spotted an e-mail address she’d never seen before. Normally she didn’t open mail from unrecognized screen names, but this one aroused her curiosity: California Boy.

  Jessica wasn’t surprised to find herself wishing the note was from Weston, but he certainly wasn’t a California Boy. Jarred came to mind next, but he’d never e-mailed her under an alias. Besides, he had once again promised to accept her offer of friendship only. She loved Jarred dearly but only as a friend.

  Jessica’s heart belonged solely to Weston.

  Seconds into the interesting read Jes
sica’s heart began to flutter. California Boy was requesting a date with her on February fourteenth, Valentine’s Day. The lovers’ holiday was only a couple of days away, yet she didn’t have a date. She had been asked out; she just hadn’t felt romantic enough about anyone to accept.

  It took Jessica a couple of minutes to figure out who S.A. was. She didn’t know anyone with those initials. Secret Admirer was the only thing that seemed to fit. A night of dinner and dancing was promised, along with a limo ride to a fancy restaurant in L.A. S.A. would be there to meet her.

  Feeling she should at least respond to the note, Jessica began composing her reply e-mail. Declining the invitation was the only course of action, since she didn’t know the sender. Too many nutcases were running around for her to take a chance that the sender might actually be sane. Once she explained her position to S.A., she hit the Send button. Jessica couldn’t help wondering if she would hear back from the mystery person behind the Valentine’s Day invitation.

  As the three-page letter Jessica had recently written to Weston popped into her mind, she retrieved her journal from the top of her computer desk. Tears formed in her eyes as she reread it. That she deeply regretted her decision to cut off communication with him—and her second thoughts on it—was the gist of the letter.

  Jessica desperately wanted another chance with Weston and she hoped he’d give it to her. She ended the note by confessing how much she loved him and saying that she had forgiven him. Both of them had handled things badly.

  “You’ve got mail” suddenly sang out from the computer, startling Jessica momentarily. A quick look at the screen let her know it was from California Boy. She couldn’t believe how quickly he had responded. He must’ve been online already.

  Dear Jessica:

  Thanks for responding so quickly. I understand where you are coming from. I am not a crazy man and I am not a stranger to you. You do know me. If you will agree to go out with me on Valentine’s Day, when the limo driver picks you up, he’ll have solid proof of my identity. You will know who I am before you get into the limo. I’d never put you in harm’s way. I hope you will trust me. If not, my heart will be deeply wounded.