Lead On (Complete)

~ Chapter 20 ~

“You look like you have questions.” Rose looked up from her coffee mug to look at Anna and shook her head. 

 “No, not questions, maybe reservations.”

“About?”

“Going to the beach. Mom knows Jeff’s going and she’s not thrilled. She thinks I’m going to give in to him or something.”

“Moms are allowed to think that. And you know I love your mom, but this is your life.” Anna sat her coffee cup down and Rose glanced from it to her. “Look, I have always liked Jeff and he did you wrong, there is no denying that. And there is no denying you two still love each other. But if your heart, and your body, long to be with him because no one else is cutting it, then it’s okay to be with Jeff too.

“Rose, I have watched you with the little one-nighters you take home and none of them make you happy. You’ve gone on dates here and there and that’s it. I hate seeing you alone, but why is that? Why have you never found anyone else after Jeff? I mean it was ten years.”

“I...,” but Rose couldn’t say. Even ten years later, which was insane, Rose was connected to that man and every man thereafter lacked when she compared them to him. How they talked to her, how they treated her, and how they f****d her, and all were lacking. She hadn’t found one that she had that spark with and she’d rather be alone than to not feel it.

“I get it. Jeff isn’t ideal and perfect, but he was perfect for you.”

“Yes. And as horrible as it may be, there was no one else I felt the same with. It kills me that Jeff still has my heart but I’ve tried taking it back and it won’t come back.” Anna put her hand over Rose’s and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Honey, you don’t have to explain it to me. I’m an outsider looking in and I can see what you two have. And anytime someone is around you, they can feel the energy that comes off of you, it’s intense. I think the more foolish thing to do is to ignore that. I think you’re smart and you know to make him, which work is nice, and knowing the end result....” Rose quickly stood up and cut her off.

“That’s just it. That end result can have my heartbreaking all over again. And if that happens, I can’t survive a round two!” Rose sat back down and covered her face. “Maybe that’s what it is, I’m not sure I want that chance again.” Anna smiled and took a sip of her own coffee.

“It’s the beach honey, not a date or a commitment. There will be other people to talk to and if you want to avoid him you can. Just remember that okay?” Rose nodded and smiled because that was the truth. She was going in thinking she had to deal with Jeff and she didn’t, she just had to remember that. This was a whole group of people, not just the four of them.

“You’re right I know that. And I can do that.”

“Of course.” Anna looked up as the sound of cars pulling up could be heard just as Jimmy came into the kitchen.

“I got the cooler packed in the truck. Jeff and Ted just pulled up with Becky, Suzie, and Joanne. Dave said he’ll meet us there with Todd, Amber, and little Henry.”

“Perfect. Sounds like we’re ready to go.” Rose finished her coffee and put the cup in the sink, giving hers and Anna’s a quick wash.

“Let me just grab my bag and I’ll go put it in the truck,” Rose told them as she walked to the living room. She froze, though, as she saw another rose lying on her bag, this one dyed a more orange color. She looked around, seeing no one around, and she hadn’t heard anyone else come in. She lifted it up, looked around again, and shrugged; there was only one person doing this so it wasn’t like she really needed to know. She was just curious as to how when she hadn’t heard him. She walked out to Jimmy’s truck and was about to put her bag in when Jeff came up behind her.

“Ride with me, please? I had to pick up Joanne and she has done nothing but talk. And it’s not like she has the nicest voice.” Rose turned around and crossed her arms, a smile tugging at her lips.

“So you want me to save you, distract her or something?”

“Well if you join in and talk her voice doesn’t drag on and the three-hour ride might not be so bad.” Rose rolled her eyes playfully and let out a huge sigh.

“Fine, I can be your hero and save you. But don’t make a habit out of it.” Jeff winked as he grabbed her bag and went to his truck, putting it in the bed.

“Sorry though darlin’, I don’t think Joanne is giving up her seat.” Rose looked through the window to see Joanne staring straight ahead. Her jaw was clenched. Her arms were crossed and one could easily see just how upset she was over the added company. Rose wasn’t sure what Joanne was thinking, but Jeff wasn’t into her and there was nothing that Joanne could do to change that.

“Not a problem,” Rose said as she climbed in the cab and almost froze, memories popping up of just a few days ago. And when she sat down, Jeff closed the door behind her, the glint in his eyes said he remembered the same thing. “Hey Joanne, nice drive up?”

“It was. Jeff has been an amazing, great conversationalist.”

“Ah, yeah, guess he can be. Different than what I know since it takes a bit for him to open up to anyone and express views.”

“I’m not just anyone. I’ve known Jeff since high school too. In fact, I saw him that first day he arrived in the office since I was there for second period and offered to show him around. I thought he was the cutest boy I had seen. Sadly, I thought he could be mine.”

“Odd how life works, huh Joanne,” Jeff said as he pulled out behind Ted who had to leave early with Becky and their daughter Suzie early Sunday morning.

“Yeah, I guess so. Y’all lasted longer than most thought.” Jeff glanced in the rearview mirror and Rose who just shook her head. “It was the talk of the town when you left Jeff and didn’t take Rose with you.”

“Sometimes things just happen Joanne, and life happens, just like I said ten years ago,” Rose told her. Now, just like then, Joanne was pushing to get information and though Rose had it now, she wasn’t about to talk. It was no one’s business but Jeff’s. Jeff glanced back at her again and their eyes locked in the mirror. His eyes thanked her for defending him and she wasn’t sure why she was.

“Well, this is true. But I don’t see you falling back into his arms. Maybe you’re just done with him?”

“Why Joanne, think you can handle all that I am? Because there’s a lot there.” Joanne blushed causing Rose to roll her eyes.

“Oh, I’m sure. I’ve handled big.”

“Ah, but it’s not just big, there’s more to it.” Rose almost wanted to laugh at the look on Joanne’s face. She thought Jeff was talking about his d**k, which in a sense was true, but he was just talking about himself. Jeff was good-looking, there was no disputing that. But there were a s**t ton of things that Jeff was and did that wee annoying and made him so far from imperfect that no one knew about. And knowing Joanne, she couldn’t handle Jeff; no one really could.

“I have years of experience Jeff, you might be surprised what I could handle. You didn’t give me a chance in high school but maybe you will now? We do have the whole weekend.” Jeff didn’t comment but just gave her a flirtatious look which made Rose roll her eyes and shake her head yet again. She left out a metal huff and leaned back against the door, not sure what was actually irking her more; the flirting between the two or the fact that she was witness to it at all? Or, and this one she hated to give any credit to, that he was doing it all when he was supposed to be so into her?

Jealousy was something rather new in her book and she refused to give it any more thought. And though she tried to tune them out, she couldn’t. She kept hearing the back and forth and soon she was questioning why the hell Jeff needed her to block anything when he seemed to have gotten along so well with her now. She wished she had put her headphones in her purse rather than her bag so she could listen to something other than Joanne’s obnoxious laugh.

And once the truck pulled up to the house, Rose couldn’t get out fast enough, grateful that Jimmy was already there so it could be unlocked. She grabbed her bag and flew into the house and up the stairs, already knowing which room was hers. She flung the door open and sat her bag down and turned to close the door when Jeff stood there in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Why are you in my room?”

“I’m not in it, yet. Why did you fly out that way?”

“I didn’t fly out Jeff. I wanted to get to my room to change and...” She shut up when he walked in and stood right before her.

“It didn’t mean anything.”

“What didn’t?”

“We both know why you left the truck.” His hands brushed along her cheek before his lips brushed hers. “And I like seeing the jealous look in your eyes.”