Jilted Jock - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,47
party and he followed.
“Will you stop for a second? Just give me two minutes. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
I swiveled around so fast I wobbled in my heels. “I have a boyfriend.”
“You had a boyfriend the night you kissed me too.”
“You kissed me.”
He reached out and grabbed my fingers loosely. “And I plan on doing it again.”
I stared at him, confused and frustrated by his touch. He rubbed his thumb gently along the inside of my palm. “Tell me you haven’t thought about kissing me again.”
“God, you’re arrogant,” I muttered. “And I’ve spent exactly zero seconds thinking about you since I saw you last.”
He laughed. Damn him.
Richard saying my name loudly from the front of the party doused a bucket of cold water over any smoldering emotions Finn might have lit. I glanced up to where Richard stood, careening his neck to find me. “Adele, could you come up here?”
I glanced quickly at Finn. “You need to leave.”
I moved through the crowd in a daze. My friends watched on, big, expectant smiles on their faces. I reached Richard and he wrapped an arm around my waist. He was saying nice things. All the right things. How excited he was. How much he cared for me. I stared out into the crowd, watching Finn’s expression. He looked… mad or upset. A little like the guy I first met – completely heartbroken, but I couldn’t understand why.
I turned my attention to Richard as he dropped his arm and took my hands. “There’s only one thing that could make this night better.”
He dropped to one knee and pulled a ring from his shirt pocket. My knees buckled and Richard steadied me by taking my hand.
“Will you marry me, Adele?”
The crowd cheered. My heart thumped wildly. I looked out to the crowd where Finn had stood but couldn’t find him.
“Put him out of his misery,” someone yelled, and Richard laughed. That good-natured laugh that made people feel at ease around him. He was good at that. And he was good for me.
“What do you say?” Richard asked, nerves making his voice waver slightly. He looked up at me with such love and admiration.
“Yes.”
He stood, kissed me, whispered how much he loved me and then the crowd overtook us patting Richard on the back and congratulating the both of us.
It was a long time before I was able to slip away, but Finn had finally listened to me. He was gone.
Finn
December 2, 11:18 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: No Subject
I need to talk to you. Name the time and place and I’ll be there.
P.S. You looked beautiful last night. I know I already told you that, but it bears repeating.
Finn
December 3, 12:02 a.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hey
Answer your phone, woman. Five minutes, that’s all I need.
December 3, 1:42 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Plan C
Alright, looks like we’re going with Plan C, where Plan A was talking to you last night and Plan B was kissing you until you admitted you have feelings for me. Real bummer, Plan B would have been more fun.
So, Plan C – doing this via email.
I know you have a boyfriend, and I want to respect that, but it’s damn hard to stand by when I’m one hundred percent certain what you and I have blows whatever you have with him out of the water. It’s not too late. At least give me a fair shot to show you how good we could be together.
Finn
December 24, 10:09 p.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas. I got you the best present ever. I finally named kitty. Ready for it? Marshmallow. Great, right? I was thinking about the night we made s’mores and it just came to me. Kitty looks like a lightly toasted marshmallow with her streaks and spots of black.
We miss you.
Finn and Marshmallow
P.S. I still maintain that lightly toasted is better than charred. Marshmallow agrees with me.
December 31, 11:59 a.m.
From: [email protected]
Subject: New Year’s Resolutions
Happy New Year.
Last year I made a New Year’s resolution to give up soda. That lasted all of two weeks before I forgot. I took one sip before I remembered and then once I’d slipped it seemed silly to keep going. Do you make resolutions for the new year? I bet if you do, you stick to them, stubborn woman.
This year I’m not making any resolutions because I don’t want to give up anything. Including you. That’s right, sweetheart. Maybe you think you can ignore me, and I’ll forget about you, but I can be just as stubborn when I