Needing Happily Ever After - Elena Aitken Page 0,11

of young families, but it was the best he could do with the time he had. Now that it looked like he’d be staying in Glacier Falls, he’d make a point to find some more challenging routes for some real trail running.

Just as it always did, Damon’s mind cleared and the weight that had settled on his shoulders vanished completely as he made his way back down to Main Street. He was just slowing his pace to a walk when he heard his name called out.

“Damon! Damon Banks!”

It was a familiar voice, but not a happy one. Damon came to a stop and turned around, just in time to see Jeremy Davis, his best buddy from school—next to Katie, of course—striding toward him. He grinned and lifted his hand to wave, but Jeremy didn’t look happy.

“Hey.” Damon extended his hand as Jeremy grew closer. “It’s great to see you, man. I’ve—”

“What the fuck, Damon?”

So much for pleasantries.

“Good to see you, too, Jeremy.” He didn’t even have to force the smile on his face, because it was good to see Jeremy. Despite the fact that his old friend looked as though he wanted to punch him in the face. A thought that had the potential to become a reality if he wasn’t careful. “It’s been how long now? Years, right?”

“You’re marrying her? Really?”

Ahh. Katie. Of course.

Not that he should be surprised, really. After all, they did date. But that had been years ago. Maybe Damon should be surprised. There was no way Jeremy could be holding a torch after all this time.

“I am,” he answered cautiously. “And I don’t suppose you’re here to offer me congratulations.”

“Fuck you, Damon.” Jeremy clenched his fists at his side, but Damon had already had enough.

“Seriously, Jeremy.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re pissed? You dated in high school. What the hell is your problem?”

“We’ve dated since high school, hot shot.”

“It’s been—since high school?” It took a moment for Jeremy’s words to make sense. But as soon as they registered, they hit him in the gut. “Like a few years ago?” He tried to keep his voice light. This was not going to affect him.

Jeremy tipped his head smugly.

“Last year?”

“More like last month, Damon.”

His words sliced through him, which was complete bullshit because Damon didn’t have any right to be pissed or hurt or pretty much anything when it came to Katie’s love life. No right at all.

Still.

“Last month?”

“Last month,” he repeated. “Katie and I have a thing.”

A thing. What the actual fuck did that mean?

Damon took a deep breath and forced himself not to react. He would not lose the sense of calm that he’d regained after his run. Jeremy was hurt. No doubt he was a little embarrassed, too. After all, if they had a thing—whatever the hell that meant—he would not have been expecting to hear about her engagement. Worse, Damon hadn’t even asked whether she was seeing someone. How selfish could he be? Dammit. But she’d said yes. Hell, she hadn’t even hesitated before agreeing to be his fiancée. Clearly, whatever was going on with Jeremy wasn’t that serious or she would have mentioned it.

“Well, I don’t know about your thing.” He emphasized the word. “But—”

“Sex,” Jeremy interrupted him. “We have sex, Damon. And now, just like that, you’re—”

“Not one more word.” It was Damon’s turn to clench his fists. Blood rushed to his face, and he wouldn’t hesitate to be the one throwing the punches if it came to it. And it would come to it if he said one more thing about Katie.

“Or what, Damon?” Jeremy stepped to him and every fiber in Damon’s muscles bristled. “Or you’ll hit me?”

“So help me, Jeremy. I’ll—”

“Jeremy! Damon!” The voice cut the tension and they both turned at the same time to see Katie running down the sidewalk toward them. She wore shorts and a T-shirt. Simple, but gorgeous. The ring on her finger flashed in the sunlight. The ring he’d given her. Damon couldn’t help but feel a little vindictive in hoping that Jeremy noticed it. “Hey.” Katie came to a stop beside them. For a moment, she looked uncertain about where to stand, or more specifically, who to stand with. Damon took a possessive step toward her but it was Jeremy she spoke to. “I was looking for you, Jeremy. You weren’t at the station, and the guys told me you—”

“Went for a walk.” Jeremy looked pointedly at Damon. “There was something I had to deal with.”

“Station?” Despite the