almost laugh remembering how I tried to talk Molly out of coming to California with me. And then how much fun it was having her there. And how much better she made me feel about my family.
I see my own feelings reflected in Molly’s eyes. The same gratitude. Happiness, yet sorrow. The same longing.
We share a smile, a slow sorrowful smile. I lean in and she turns up her face so I can cover her mouth with mine. My lips cling to hers in an achingly tender kiss and my heart nearly beats out of my chest.
“It has to be this way,” she whispers. “Right?”
It takes me a few seconds to get the word out. “Right.”
We plod back to the cottage, holding hands, not saying anything.
When we get there, Grandma and Grandpa are sitting on the deck.
“Where’s Mom and Dad?” I ask.
“They went for a walk too,” Grandma says.
Grandpa frowns.
“Oh. Okay.” I’m not sure what’s going on with them, but I’m sure as hell not going to be crazy enough to think they could get back together.
“I’ll just go finish packing,” Molly says. “I’m almost ready to go.”
She disappears into the cottage, and I sit with my grandparents.
“She’s a lovely girl,” Grandma says.
“Yeah.”
I feel the unspoken questions weighing heavy in the air. How can I answer them? She’s a friend. A sweet, funny, smart, caring friend who gives unbelievable blow jobs and fucks like a dream. But she’s off-limits. She’s a teammate’s ex.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel driveway has our heads turning and we see Mom and Dad rounding the corner of the cottage. They both wear an expression on their face that I can’t read, but it’s…something. I wouldn’t say anger, but there’s a definite tension.
Mom smiles. “Well. Just about time to go, I guess. Jax, come help me with my suitcase.”
I’m pretty sure Mom doesn’t need help with her suitcase, but I follow her into the cottage just as Molly pulls her bag out of the bedroom. “I’m all set!” she says with phony cheeriness.
“Okay, we’ll head out in a few minutes,” Mom says.
In her bedroom, she waits until she hears the sliding doors onto the deck close, meaning we’re alone in the cottage.
“Your dad says you two had a good talk in California.”
“Oh. Uh. Yeah.”
She holds my gaze steadily. “You thought Dad cheated on me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you think that?”
“I overheard you talking to Betsy once. You said you felt betrayed.”
She closes her eyes, nodding slowly. “I did feel betrayed. But not because he cheated on me with another woman. I felt betrayed that our marriage didn’t turn out like I expected. I felt betrayed by the fact that he was always working. Traveling. Never around to deal with family stuff. His career took precedence and mine got put on hold. That was why I felt that way.”
I swallow.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything, Jax?”
“You didn’t talk about what happened. And I didn’t want to bring up something that would upset you.”
“All these years, you believed that, though.” She closes her eyes, the corners of her mouth turning down. “I’m so sorry, Jackson. We didn’t want to burden you and Riley with our problems. But maybe we should have said more.” She sighs and opens her eyes. “I’m glad that you two talked.”
“Molly made me do it,” I say jokingly.
Mom has the best poker face. Her expression doesn’t change, but her gaze fastens on my face in that penetrating way she has. “Oh, did she?” She pauses. “Is everything okay? With you and Molly?”
“Oh yeah. Of course.” I’m lying. I should end it there, but stupidly I ask, “Why?”
“You both seem sad. Are you sure she wants to come back with us?”
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “She needs to get back to Chicago. She, uh…well, she was engaged to one of my teammates.”
Mom’s not surprised. “I heard.”
I gnaw briefly on my bottom lip. “That’s why she’s here. She found out he was cheating on her. She needed to get out of town.”
“That poor girl. That’s terrible.”
“Yeah. It was pretty hard on her. I, uh, think this summer away’s been good for her though.”
Now Mom’s eyebrows lift. “Jax.” She stops.
“What?”
“I know she was just engaged to someone else, but…I think she has feelings for you.”
My lips push out and my forehead tightens. “What?”
Mom touches her fingertips to her lips. “She’s crazy about you, Jax.”
“No.” I give my head a violent shake. “No, she’s not.”
“Oh, dear.” Mom sighs. “And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you have feelings for