she was lying—either to you or to herself. Believe me when I say that she was truly an unremarkable blip on my radar.” He must have caught a look on Jackie’s face that said she wasn’t convinced, because he added, “I can’t even remember what it was like with her. That’s how unremarkable it was.”
He pulled her in for a kiss before she walked away, which she allowed, but if anything, his words only made things worse. Would there come a time when he was taking about her that way? That she was an unremarkable blip, while Jackie’s life might never be the same because of what they’d shared? From the way Tania had put it, Jackie got the sense that this was a chronic problem of Daniel’s—that women fell in love with him while he remained indifferent and unattached. He hadn’t seemed indifferent the previous night…but maybe he was always like that, in the moment. Maybe he made every woman feel special and treasured…right up until he forgot them to focus on business again. What if Tania was Future Jackie? Daniel might have altered her world just the same way. There couldn’t be any other explanation as to why she’d warn off a new love interest of Daniel’s. After all, the usual MO for women watching others date their exes was figure it out for yourself. Jackie’s skin buzzed with the unsavory revelation as she walked on wooden legs toward the bar.
Nothing was guaranteed with Daniel—and she shouldn’t forget that. If anything, she needed to keep focused. In that way, Tania showing up was a godsend. Clearly, she’d desperately needed the reminder that Daniel didn’t stop for anybody. And in the long history of remarkable women and experiences he’d had access to…Jackie would do well to remember that years down the road, Daniel probably wouldn’t think twice about her either.
By the time she ordered two glasses of Chambourcin, she was feeling lower than ever, which also made her feel guilty. This was Mila and Grayson’s rehearsal dinner—she should at least put on a good show and pretend to be happy and bubbly.
Besides, if she was being honest with herself, she needed to screw her head on straight when it came to Daniel. Which meant keeping herself on track when it came to all the ways that she was falling head over heels for that man. The wedding was tomorrow—and they were leaving the day after that.
And what then? She’d assumed that there would be more—that they both wanted more. But maybe she’d just been fooling herself.
Daniel was lost in conversation with someone when she returned with their drinks. Daniel paused to introduce her as his girlfriend to the well-dressed man who turned out to be Mila’s brother, and then barreled on talking about the IPO of some company she didn’t recognize. She sipped her Chambourcin, nodding her greeting to people who milled by. The energy of the room was vibrant and light. And she needed to get on that same wavelength.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before Daniel slid his hand over the small of her back. Completely lost in her own world, she jolted at the sudden touch.
“Hey. Didn’t mean to startle you. Was that totally boring?”
Her laugh rang fake to her ears. “No. What? Why?”
He seared her with a knowing look. “Sorry. Let’s go find our seats. They’re getting ready for appetizers.”
She followed him to their seats, holding onto the tips of his fingers. A gesture that would look natural to anyone else, but one that allowed her to feel like she was making some progress in detaching herself from him.
Because that’s what she needed to do now. Full stop. Detach from Daniel and pump the brakes on all the wild, infatuated, love-of-my-life thoughts that had been swelling and blooming inside of her like an exotic flower.
Maybe this was the wake-up call she needed, even though it was unwanted.
Jackie did her best to put on a convincing show for the rest of dinner. She laughed, and feigned interest, and squeezed Daniel’s hand on regular intervals. But by the time plates were cleared and everyone was thinking about dessert or more drinks, Jackie was exhausted.
“Hey. What do you feel like doing?”
Daniel’s intense blue gaze waited for her, and she couldn’t hold it for long. She’d barely made eye contact with him the entire night.
“Whatever you want.”
“Let’s go back to the room.”
Jackie gnawed on the inside of her lip, gaze darting across the room. Two hours ago,