Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,91
thought something might be happening.”
“We?” Stella echoed with a groan. “Don’t tell me everyone’s gossiping.”
“Not everyone, just… us. We all want you to be happy,” Alice added. “To find someone who deserves you.”
There it was again: the painful ache of heartbreak, beating in her chest.
“I’m nowhere near ready to think about moving on,” Stella told her with a sigh. “In fact, if I manage to make it through the day without crying over Aidan, it’s a miracle.”
“I’m sorry.” Alice squeezed her hand. “Can I do anything to help?”
Stella managed a smile. “Well, I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to another cookie…”
They both laughed, just as the sound came of the front door opening. Jackson stuck his head into the room, taking off his coat. “Hi Stella,” he said. “How’s school prep going? I saw Matty in the hardware store the other day, stocking up on an emergency kit. Responsible kid you’ve got there.”
“I try.” Stella straightened up a little, and smoothed down her hair. She hated even thinking about it, but Jackson was Aidan’s brother, and if he happened to ask how Stella was doing… She didn’t want Jackson reporting back that she looked like a heartbroken mess.
“Alice, can I talk to you a second?” Jackson asked, beckoning her into the hallway.
Alice looked confused, but she got up. “More tea?” she offered Stella.
“No, I’m good. I should really be getting back.”
As Alice and Jackson talked in hushed tones, just outside the door, Stella reluctantly pulled on her cardigan, and laced up her boots.
“Wait!” Alice blurted, reappearing in the doorway. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” she replied with a yawn. “It’s been a long, expensive day.”
“But… Don’t you have your dance class tonight?” Alice asked, shooting Jackson a look that Stella couldn’t quite read.
Stella shook her head. “I’m not really in the mood.”
“I thought you said it was fun.”
“It was…” Stella gave a sad smile. “With Aidan.”
“Still, you shouldn’t let him ruin it for you,” Alice said, sounding oddly determined.
“Otherwise you’d have to stop eating cinnamon buns and pizza, too,” Jackson added. “And then where would you be?”
“He’s right!” Alice exclaimed. “You should go!”
Stella looked back and forth between them, confused. What was going on? “Are you guys feeling OK?” she asked slowly.
“Great. Why? Oh, look at the time,” Alice said, making a show of checking her watch. “If your class starts at eight, you should get going.” She steered Stella to the door so quickly, she almost left her bag behind.
“Well, thanks for the chat…” she said, as Alice hustled her out of the door. “Goodnight!”
Stella headed home. Clearly, Alice and Jackson wanted some alone time together, and were using the dance class as an excuse to get her out of their hair. But all the same, maybe she should think about going. She hadn’t been back in a couple of weeks, but didn’t they say, activity was good for lifting your spirits?
Well, hers were in definite need of lifting, so she quickly stopped back at the house to change into a dress and a pair of low heels, remind Matty to eat a vegetable, then hit the road. But as she drove, she had to fight her instincts to turn around, and go hide out under her duvet.
She knew Alice was right, she couldn’t keep avoiding things just because they made her heart sting. But when she remembered that first class, and the way it had felt to be in Aidan’s arms, spinning around the floor...
Stella sighed. She was just going to have to get used to being without him. She didn’t know what he was doing right now, but she would have bet he wasn’t wistfully thinking of a small-town dance studio, not with the bright lights of the city around him again. No, he was probably having a great time, off at some fancy restaurant, or hanging with his friends.
Or even out on a date with another woman.
Her heart clenched at the thought, full of regret. And she couldn’t ignore the question that had haunted her, ever since she’d told him to go.
What if she’d made a terrible mistake?
What if Aidan was right – that she’d pushed him away, rather than be brave enough to try loving him?
By the time she arrived in Provincetown and managed to find a parking spot, she was running late. She hurried up the stairs to the studio, breathless. “Sorry—” she started to apologize, before she realized that the lights were all off.
Stella paused. Had they changed the day of the class?