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His gut clenched. How could he focus on collegefootball if he had to focus on her? “We canuse email to keep in touch.” That wouldn’t takeup too much time. “After all, that’s what friendsdo.”
“That’s all we are?”
“What doyou want to hear from me?” His Adam’s applebobbed up and down. If she used thel-word, it would ruin everything.
Her green eyes darkened, and she stepped out of his arms. “What are we doing?”She gestured between them. “What is this? A f-fling?”The last word sputtered between her lips.
“Bebe. Youknow you’re my best friend.”
“You don’tkiss friends, Jay.”
But he couldn’t help himself. BebeWillabee was everything. Even now, the image of her onprom night dressed in a light green gown that had matched her eyes and shimmered like the sea tore athim. They could be more, but football...
“Bebe.”
“Sowe’re just friends, then?” She nodded slowly.
Some unknown emotion clogged his throat. “I...” He coulddo this. If he was going to make it to the NFL, then he needed to end their relationship. He didn’twant to disappoint one more person. His father already expectedhim to fail. Jay didn’t want to fail Bebetoo. It was better to go back to being friends. “Yes. Just friends is all we’ll ever be.”
“How can you say that?” A tear fell down hercheek.
Because he had to. “It’s better this way.You’ll see.”
And because he knew Bebe would never be the one to walk away, he turned and left.
Jahleel sighed, laying his head against the same sofa they had shared stolen kisses on. Why had he come back home?
Seeing Bebe brought up memories he thought were long buried. Only one glimpse at those beautiful eyes, and all he could see were his mistakes. He’d never emailed Bebe, and she’d never sent him one. Their friendship ended the day he walked away.
What if he had kept in contact? What if he had asked her to wait and be his girlfriend while he went to Texas for college? Would they still be together, or would he have disappointed her like he’d believed he would?
He ran a hand down his face, snuck a peek around the living room, and stood. It was time to retreat to his room and ignore the emotions Peachwood Bay was trying to bring out in him.
Chapter
FOUR
Bebe groaned as her cell phone rang. The simple ringtone belonged to one person: Will. She stared at the screen as it rang a third time.Did she really have to answer it?Another ring.Answer or let it go to voicemail, girl.
“Hello?”
“Lucille, it’s Will.”
She winced at the use of her given name. No one called her that.No one.Lucille was mere formality, and because her father was an avid B.B. King fan, he’d graced her with the nickname Bebe. Will refused to use her nickname, had thought it low-class.Should’ve been red flag number one.
“How can I help you?”Please help me keep my cool, Lord.
“I’m not going to be able to get Hope up here this Christmas. Angie’s nonprofit is throwing a charity ball on Christmas Eve.” He paused. “It’s a black-tie event.”
“You can take Hope with you. She’d enjoy it.” Which was the truth. Her little girl loved parties and would love to get to know her father. She hadn’t seen him since they moved here. Video phone calls once a year didn’t count. And no matter how many times her ex chose Angie or some work event overtheir daughter, her little girl refused to give up hope that she’d have a loving relationship with him.
Of course, it could be because Bebe refused to tell Hope about his annual request to see her. One he’d yet to follow through on.
“Ugh. It’s like you don’t even hear me. It’s black-tie,Lucille. You know kids can’t sit still at these types of prestigious gatherings.”
He wassonot a good person. How had she ever fallen for him? “Fine.” She took a fortifying breath. “Maybe you could pick her up after the event. Keep her until New Year’s.”
“We’ll be with Angie’s parents. Their place isn’t equipped for kids.”
