The Dream - Whitney Dineen Page 0,50
in the local newspaper, they’re very impressive.
While I doubt anyone is at Beau’s office at ten o’clock on a Sunday morning, I’m suddenly driven to find out. Even if he’s not there, there’s a large bulletin board in the first-floor entryway that has fliers for new listings hanging on it.
As soon as I walk through the front doors, I notice the stores are dark. I’m not surprised, as most retail is closed on Sunday. I grab a handful of pamphlets off the cork board in front of me on my way to the elevator.
When I get out of the second floor, I discover that Frothingham Realty is closed, as well. Darn it.
Back in the elevator, I don’t hit the down button right away. Instead, I flip through several of the fliers in my hands. There are cute older cottages and newer two-story houses along with townhouses and even houseboats.
The only ones that interest me are the cottages. Not only are they smaller and therefore perfect for a single person, but they’re charming and have small properties that I should have no trouble caring for on my own.
The elevator starts to move, and I step out when the doors open. I run smack into Davis.
“Hey,” I say after the initial shock passes.
“Did you come here to see me?” he asks, equally surprised.
“No. Why would I be here to see you?”
“Because I live here?”
“I didn’t know that,” I tell him. And even if I did, why would I just show up without calling first?
Before he can answer, Jessica scurries into the elevator behind him, saying, “I locked the door.” When she sees me, she asks, “Hey, what are you doing here?”
I lift the real estate brochures up in the air. “I was getting some information about houses for sale.”
“Oh,” she manages before closing her mouth. Could this moment be any more awkward?
I want to ask Jessica what she’s doing at Davis’s condo so early on a Sunday morning, but it’s none of my business. Yet, my crushed heart doesn’t seem to care.
Davis looks highly agitated as he glances between me and his high-school girlfriend. He finally manages, “We were just going to grab some breakfast. Do you want to join us?” Jessica looks at him like he just suggested we have a three-way in the elevator.
“No, thanks.”
“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asks.
Considering Jessica and Davis are leaving his place together, I decide not to correct his assumption. “He’s still on London time so it’ll take him a couple days to get acclimated.” If I’d thought before speaking, I’d have remembered that it’s suppertime in England right now and not bedtime.
“I can’t wait to see the pictures he took from last night,” Jessica says. She’ll be surprised how few there are, as Buck spent most of the night dancing.
Davis adds, “Yeah, I’m glad you and Alexander were there.”
I can’t help but wonder why. It seems he and Jessica mean more to each other than he let on last night, otherwise why would she be leaving his condo with him this morning? I want to scream at him for coming back into my life. I want to yell at him for taking me off to a secluded spot and holding my hand. Obviously, anything I’d hoped might happen between us is now completely off the table.
I feel equal parts despondent and resolved not to let this information bother me. At least I know where I stand. As of now, there is nothing keeping me from moving on with my life.
When the doors open to the first floor, Davis says, “I’ll pick you up this afternoon at three.”
“What’s happening this afternoon?” Jessica wants to know.
“Ashley and I are going to take my grandmother home for dinner. The family is hoping she might be able to come to Emmie’s wedding if we get her used to leaving the nursing home occasionally.”
“That’s nice,” Jessica replies, obviously concluding I’m no threat.
How insulting.
I watch as they walk away and make no move to keep pace with them. I feel hollowed out and empty and I don’t need any witnesses to my grief. Much like my mom, I’m no actress, and I’m sure the look on my face speaks clearly of heartbreak.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
August 27, 2008
Dear Molly,
Buck and I went to a kegger at Jason Morgan’s house last night. He never gave either of us the time of day in high school. I didn’t want to go, but Buck thought it would be his last chance to see Jessica, so he made