Instead, I’d found Jack.
And Colton.
My belly twists as I recall the hurt etched across the blond football player’s face. All I could do was stare at Jack in shock. At some point, I’ll have to deal with the Colton situation.
It takes effort to shake off those thoughts and focus on the guy in front of me. Even though it’s only been a couple of weeks since I left him behind at Heathrow Airport, it feels like forever. Now that he’s here, I realize how much I’ve missed our friendship. Facetime and texting are not the same as being in the same room and spending time together.
“How long are you in town for?” I’m hoping that it’s at least a few days. Maybe even a week. I’m sure Mia wouldn’t mind having an unexpected guest crash on the couch. They met in London when she visited over Christmas break and struck up an instant friendship.
The wattage of his smile dims. “Twenty-four hours.”
“What?” My heart sinks. “That’s it?”
“I’m afraid so, love.” He shrugs. “I need to return by Tuesday. Even though it’s a quick turnaround, I couldn’t fly to the States without visiting you.”
“I’m glad you did. I’ve missed you so much.” As thrilled as I am to see Jack, I’m already filled with sadness that this will be such a brief trip. It’ll be over before I know it.
“I’ve missed you, too. Perhaps I can convince you to return to London for a holiday.”
Even though I left behind quite a few friends, I haven’t given any consideration to visiting so soon. Sometimes it feels like I’m still trying to acclimate to life at Wesley. Not to mention, I’ll be graduating this spring. I need to get my act together and figure out a plan for the future.
And then there’s Colton. At every turn, he’s there, pushing me, refusing to back off. He’s gradually taken over more and more of my headspace.
Jack must see the flicker of emotion as it crosses my face. He gives me a considering look before asking lightly, “The lad from the hall, is he a friend?”
And there it is.
The dreaded question.
Heat suffuses my cheeks.
Jack knows all about Colton. The good, the bad, and the heartbreaking. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been quite so truthful with him, but it had been important to work through all the crap in my head, and Jack had been a willing listener. Plus, I’d wanted him to understand that I couldn’t move forward with a new relationship when I was hung up on a different one.
I blow out a steady breath, unsure where to begin.
His voice softens as he searches my eyes. “Come on then, is it really that bad?”
Ha! He doesn’t have a clue. But that’s only because I’ve been reluctant to divulge the details since I’ve returned to Wesley. I know Jack is holding out hope that with enough time, there will come a point when I’m ready to move on. And when that happens, it’ll be with him.
“Friend might be overstating our relationship,” I say lightly. “That was Colton.”
His brows arch. “Ahhh.”
That one-word response says it all.
I snort. “Exactly.”
He shifts on the couch as understanding floods his features. “Do you want to talk about it?”
My heart constricts almost painfully as I jerk my shoulders. Of course, that would be Jack’s response. There is no sign of anger, jealousy, or even disappointment.
Only concern. It makes me feel even worse about the situation. Why couldn’t I have fallen head over heels for this guy?
He really is perfect. Kind and considerate. I’ve never had to guess where I stood with him. He let me know from the very beginning.
“No matter what happens,” he says softly, “I’ll always be here for you.”
It takes effort to blink the wetness from my eyes. Before I realize it, I’m flying out of the chair and hurtling myself at him. As soon as I land against Jack’s chest, he wraps his arms around me and holds me close. I squeeze my eyes tight as the citrusy scent of his aftershave soothes my senses.
When he presses his lips against my hair, I lift my face until our gazes can lock. One hand rises, the blunt tips of his fingers settling under my chin before tilting it upward until our mouths are able to align. The caress is a light sweep, but it’s more than enough.
Enough to know that he will never stir the kind of emotion that Colton does. Jack is a safe port in a storm, but he’s not the man I long for. He doesn’t send my pulse skittering or put my body into overdrive.
He is steady and calm. And I’m probably the biggest idiot in the world for not giving him a real chance and exploring the possibilities.
But I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to Jack. He deserves a woman who is head over heels in love with him, and that’s not me.