Read Home to You for Free Online Page B
Authors: Taylor Sullivan
he had a girlfriend. It shouldn’t have bothered me. I’d seen him with dozens of women over the years. Maybe hundreds.
“So we can unload.”
I shook my head. “I only need a few boxes. The rest can go to storage until I find a place.”
“That’s ridiculous, where are your keys?” His tone more serious now.
“Jake…” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling very uncomfortable. He was already giving me a room. How could I take over his garage too?
“Either you give them to me, or I’ll have to get them myself. You’re not going to win.”
I smiled at the familiar banter, and he grinned back.
“Fine.” I pulled the keys from my pocket and slapped them to his outstretched palm.
He flashed his sideways smile like he’d just won a pillow fight, then looked to Grace. “You guys get acquainted, I’ll be right back.”
I watched as he bent to softly kiss her forehead before leaving the room. My jealous gut twisted. She was adorable. At least eight inches shorter than me, short and sassy blond hair, big blue eyes, and killer curves. The kind of girl you could toss in the air and give a piggyback ride to without breaking a sweat. Just like the girls Kevin cheated on me with.
“How long do you think you’ll be staying?” She smiled with her question, but her eyes told me she wasn’t happy about my visit.
“Umm... Not too long, just a couple weeks. I hope. I have an interview on Monday.” I shook my head. “I see Jake is as stubborn as ever.”
“Yes, he is.” She looked to the bedroom window just as Jake walked through the front gate. “He’s been so nervous about having everything ready for you.”
She said it like a statement, but I heard the fleck of apprehension lingering under the surface. I tried to think of something to ease her mind, but what could I tell her? There was a history between Jake and me even I didn’t understand. A history that three years separation couldn’t heal.
“I hear you’re a photojournalist?”
I cleared my throat, thankful for the change in subject. “Yes. Though actually I’m trying to switch fields. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to break into the wedding market.”
“How wonderful.” Her face lit up. “Maybe Jake and I will end up needing you one of these days.”
A knot twisted in my stomach. “Are you guys engaged? I hadn’t heard—”
“Oh, no.” She cut me off. “But a girl can always hope, right?”
“Of course,” I whispered.
The whole room fell to an uncomfortable silence, and I turned to the window again.
“Well, I better go see if they need any help.” My tone was awkward, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Alright.” She gestured over her shoulder in the direction of Jake’s room. “I just have some calls to make...”
I nodded, thankful she wouldn’t be joining me, and we both left in different directions. I should’ve been grateful he had a girlfriend. I didn’t need the complication of knowing he was available when my life was already falling apart. But I couldn’t help the bubble of jealousy that grew inside me like a lovesick teenager. Just like it always had.
I entered the garage through the door off the living room to see the truck already backing up into the driveway. I rushed to the middle of the garage, waving him back with one hand as I kept an eye on each side to make sure nothing was hit. When he’d backed up far enough, I gestured for him to stop. The door opened, but the man who jumped from the cab wasn’t Jake.
“Hey, thanks,” he said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he walked toward me. He was younger than Jake, but not by much. His shoulders were broad, body fit, and his smile infectious.
“No problem.” I smiled back. The way he was looking at me made me a little nervous, and I bit my inner cheek to keep my smile from spreading to a full grin.
“You must be the little sister.” He held out a hand to shake. “I’m John. Jake and I
“So we can unload.”
I shook my head. “I only need a few boxes. The rest can go to storage until I find a place.”
“That’s ridiculous, where are your keys?” His tone more serious now.
“Jake…” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling very uncomfortable. He was already giving me a room. How could I take over his garage too?
“Either you give them to me, or I’ll have to get them myself. You’re not going to win.”
I smiled at the familiar banter, and he grinned back.
“Fine.” I pulled the keys from my pocket and slapped them to his outstretched palm.
He flashed his sideways smile like he’d just won a pillow fight, then looked to Grace. “You guys get acquainted, I’ll be right back.”
I watched as he bent to softly kiss her forehead before leaving the room. My jealous gut twisted. She was adorable. At least eight inches shorter than me, short and sassy blond hair, big blue eyes, and killer curves. The kind of girl you could toss in the air and give a piggyback ride to without breaking a sweat. Just like the girls Kevin cheated on me with.
“How long do you think you’ll be staying?” She smiled with her question, but her eyes told me she wasn’t happy about my visit.
“Umm... Not too long, just a couple weeks. I hope. I have an interview on Monday.” I shook my head. “I see Jake is as stubborn as ever.”
“Yes, he is.” She looked to the bedroom window just as Jake walked through the front gate. “He’s been so nervous about having everything ready for you.”
She said it like a statement, but I heard the fleck of apprehension lingering under the surface. I tried to think of something to ease her mind, but what could I tell her? There was a history between Jake and me even I didn’t understand. A history that three years separation couldn’t heal.
“I hear you’re a photojournalist?”
I cleared my throat, thankful for the change in subject. “Yes. Though actually I’m trying to switch fields. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to break into the wedding market.”
“How wonderful.” Her face lit up. “Maybe Jake and I will end up needing you one of these days.”
A knot twisted in my stomach. “Are you guys engaged? I hadn’t heard—”
“Oh, no.” She cut me off. “But a girl can always hope, right?”
“Of course,” I whispered.
The whole room fell to an uncomfortable silence, and I turned to the window again.
“Well, I better go see if they need any help.” My tone was awkward, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Alright.” She gestured over her shoulder in the direction of Jake’s room. “I just have some calls to make...”
I nodded, thankful she wouldn’t be joining me, and we both left in different directions. I should’ve been grateful he had a girlfriend. I didn’t need the complication of knowing he was available when my life was already falling apart. But I couldn’t help the bubble of jealousy that grew inside me like a lovesick teenager. Just like it always had.
I entered the garage through the door off the living room to see the truck already backing up into the driveway. I rushed to the middle of the garage, waving him back with one hand as I kept an eye on each side to make sure nothing was hit. When he’d backed up far enough, I gestured for him to stop. The door opened, but the man who jumped from the cab wasn’t Jake.
“Hey, thanks,” he said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he walked toward me. He was younger than Jake, but not by much. His shoulders were broad, body fit, and his smile infectious.
“No problem.” I smiled back. The way he was looking at me made me a little nervous, and I bit my inner cheek to keep my smile from spreading to a full grin.
“You must be the little sister.” He held out a hand to shake. “I’m John. Jake and I
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