He nodded as he let me walk past him toward his truck. I opened the door and slammed it shut before he could even try to help me in. He walked around the front of his truck and looked back at his front door. When I turned back toward the door, I saw Chelsea standing there.

Fucking bitch. I hate her.

He got in his truck, started it up, and headed down the driveway. “Jessie—”

“Please just turn on the radio. I really don’t want to talk to you.”

He let out a sigh as he reached for the stereo. Right when he turned it on, Hot Chelle Rae’s “Why Don’t You Love Me” started to play. Looking out the window, I let out a gruff laugh and just let the tears fall.

How could I let this happen? Again.

I didn’t even care that he knew I was crying. I didn’t care about anything anymore.

“Jessie, please—”

I shook my head and prayed for God to please just let me get home fast. I closed my eyes as I listened to the words of the song. What a perfect fucking song. I’m so tired of being hurt.

He pulled up to Aaron and Jenny’s house, and I jumped out before he could even put it in park.

He got out, ran over to me, and grabbed me. “Jessica, please let me talk to you.”

I looked up at him and laughed. “Do you remember the first time you kissed me?”

He closed his eyes and then opened them again. “Of course I do…under the bleachers after football practice.”

“Do you remember why you walked away from me?”

He just stared at me. His eyes filled with sadness.

“Well, let me refresh your memory. After you kissed me, you pulled away and looked into my eyes. At that moment, I gave you my heart and soul. Only, you threw it to the ground and stomped on it. Chelsea walked by and said, ‘Hi,’ to you. You took one look at her and turned back to me with a smile. Then, you laughed and said, ‘Thanks for the kiss, Tiny!’ before you ran after her.”

Scott went to say something but then shut his mouth. I stepped away from him and started to walk up the stairs leading to the front door.

“Jessie…I was an idiot, and we were in high school. I had no idea you felt like that about me. I thought you were just Aaron and Dewey’s—”

I turned and looked at him. “Little, tiny sister…yeah, I know.”

“Jessie, please drive with me to the coast tomorrow. Please.”

I shook my head as I felt tears building again. As one dropped, I turned away from him. “This was a mistake. It was all just a mistake. I was stupid to think you’d ever be interested in me like that.”

“Fuck, Jessie. Would you please just stop and let me talk to you? Chelsea is not a part of my life anymore. I want to get to know you more, angel. I want to be with you, Jessie. Please don’t do this.”

“When I saw you look at her…” I sucked in a breath of air, trying to stop myself from crying. “And you didn’t tell her to leave and come back tomorrow, Scott. You made your choice…and again, you picked her.”

I ran up the stairs. I opened the front door and shut it before he could say anything. Leaning against the door, I listened as he started his truck and then headed down the driveway. I slowly sank to the floor as I let the tears fall freely.

I was so stupid to think anything could ever happen between us.

Never again.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

When I pulled into my driveway, I saw Chelsea’s car still sitting there. I slammed the steering wheel. “Fuck!”

I walked into the house and looked around for her. “Chelsea?” Where in the hell is she?

“I’m up in your room,” she called out.

My heart started to pound. Ah shit.

I headed to my room, wondering what in the hell she was doing there. The door was cracked open. When I pushed it open, I saw Chelsea lying naked on my bed.

Oh fuck.

She smiled and gestured for me to come to her. For one brief second, I wanted nothing more than to go and make love to her, but then Jessie’s smiling face popped into my head and brought me back to my senses. I thought about Chelsea saying that she never loved me and she was leaving me for Mitch.

“Get dressed, Chels, and meet me downstairs.” I turned and walked away.

“Scott! If you walk any farther, you will never have another chance with me. Ever.”

I closed my eyes and let out sigh. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

I reached for my phone in my back pocket and sent Jessie a text message.

Scott: Making Chelsea leave. Please let me pick you up in the morning. Please.

I waited a few minutes, and when she hadn’t replied, I decided to call her. I hit dial on her number, and after three rings, it went to voice mail. “Jessie, I really need to talk to you. Please call me back. Chelsea is leaving, and I…well, I just really need to talk to you.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you resort to begging before, Scott. If it’s sex you want so much, you had your chance a minute ago.”

I turned and glared at her. “What the fuck are you doing here anyway?”

“I had a fight with Mitch.”

You have got to be kidding me. “And?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “And that’s it. He said some mean things, and I was upset, so I decided to come see you. Maybe leaving you was a mistake. I mean, we were so good together.” She made her way over to me and went to sit in my lap.

I put my hand up to stop her. If she had come to me a few weeks ago…I probably would have been a fool and taken her back. But now, there was Jessie. Something about Jessie made me feel all weird inside. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced with Chelsea. When I’d touched Jess, it felt like fire was moving through my body. When I’d kissed her, I just wanted to crawl deep inside her. I’d never experienced anything like that before. With Chelsea, it had all been just…sex.

Damn it! I screwed up so badly.

“Let me walk you out.” I stood up, took her by the arm, and started walking toward the front door. I opened the door and gave her a little push out. “Next time you have a fight with your boyfriend, don’t come here. As a matter of fact, don’t come here ever again unless you call first. I also need my key back.”

She just stood there and stared at me. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to pick some country bumpkin over me, Scott? Have you been drinking or something?”

“Chelsea, Jessica has more class in her pinkie finger than you do in your whole body. I’ve never in my life met anyone who makes me feel the way she does when I’m with her. Will you please leave now?”

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

“No…the biggest mistake of my life was walking away from her in the first place.”

She turned and stomped off toward her car, bitching the whole way.

I looked at my phone. Nothing. I headed back in and made plans to get up early, so I could go to Jessie’s and beg her to drive with me to the coast.

I had some serious making up to do with that girl. I just hoped I wouldn’t fuck it up. Last time, I’d walked away from her because I was scared to death of the strong feelings I had for her.

This time, I’m not going anywhere.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

After I loaded up the last of our suitcases, I started to make my way back into the house. I saw Mrs. Smith walking down the street with her little monster dog who hated me.

I’m gonna get a giant-ass dog and have him eat that thing.

“Josh! Hello, darling. How are you feeling?”

I gave her my best smile, which always made her blush. “I’m feeling wonderful, Mrs. Smith. Thank you. I’m about to be married to the most beautiful girl in the world. What could be better?”

She laughed and looked around for Heather. “Where are you taking her for the honeymoon? She said you wouldn’t tell her.”

Nosy-ass neighbors, I swear. I smiled as I shook my head. “Oh no. I know how you women are. Y’all stick together! The minute I tell you, you’ll tell Heather.”

“Oh no! I won’t. I promise.” She winked.

Just then, Heather walked out of the house, carrying her wedding dress in a white bag. I’d felt tempted to look at it when she was in the shower, but I didn’t.

“Saved by my bride-to-be,” I said with a laugh.

Heather looked between Mrs. Smith and me before she started laughing. “Are we about ready to go?” Heather asked with a wink.

God, I love this girl. How did she know I needed to be saved from the nosy neighbor? “Yep! Just about.” I turned back to Mrs. Smith. “You have a lovely day. See ya later, little puppy.” I quickly moved away and started back toward the house.

Heather’s mouth dropped as I left her to fend for herself with Mrs. Smith.

I walked into the house and did a quick once-over since we wouldn’t be back for almost two weeks. I smiled when I thought about how surprised Heather would be when she found out we were going to Italy.

When I picked the girls’ brains about where to take Heather, they all agreed on Italy. Heather had visited there a few times with her mom and dad. I was worried it would bring back memories, but Amanda had said Heather had talked about going back almost as soon as her parents had died.

Heather had a small pouch that she kept on her dresser. I’d asked her once what it was, and she’d told me it held rose petals from a flower her parents had given her. They’d planned on going to Italy for Heather’s high school graduation present. They had wanted to stand on the ocean shoreline and drop the petals into the water. Her father had said it would be a way to celebrate her moving on to the next phase of her life.

I picked up the pouch and put it in my backpack. I opened up my dresser drawer and took out the ring box. I slipped it into my backpack beside the pouch. I smiled and headed downstairs. I stopped and looked into the empty bedroom that would be the nursery. I already had an idea of the cribs I wanted to make. I’d drawn them up and sent them over to my dad to get his thoughts. He loved them, and he’d asked if he could help make them.

When I felt Heather’s hand on my shoulder, I turned to look at her.

“What are you thinking about? Nervous? Getting cold feet maybe?” she asked with a wink.

“Hell no. Thinking about the cribs,” I said with a grin. I kissed her quickly on the lips before walking toward the kitchen.

When I heard her sigh behind me, I tried so hard not to laugh.

“Josh, come on. Why can’t I see your drawings for the cribs? All these secrets! Do you know what it took for me to get Mrs. Smith to try and find out where you are taking me for our honeymoon?”

I spun around to look at her. “You didn’t?”

She laughed, and the blush that filled her cheeks caused my dick to jump.

“Heather, here I was, thinking that the woman was just being a nosy neighbor, and you asked her to pump me for information?”

She laughed as she walked up to me and placed her hands on my face. She reached up as I leaned down, and she kissed me so sweetly that I just about dropped everything.

Then, she let out a moan.

Fuck it.