Meredith stared through the windshield. “Are you done?”
“No, I’m not. I understand you not wanting to end up with a guy like Rick-the-Dick, but he wasn’t a dick because he was a journalist. He was a dick because he was a dick! No other reason. You’re afraid to go out with Tanner because you’re really attracted to him and you really like him. I mean, the guy even backed off when you needed more time. He’s a good one, Mere. What’s holding you back?”
She turned in her seat, the belt cutting into her side. “I told you. He’s a journalist, Jillie, and I won’t do that again.”
“And you called me stubborn.” Jill flung a strand of hair over her shoulder. “That’s a stupid rule, Mere, and you know it.”
“I don’t care. I’m not dating him!”
“You sound like a child.”
Her face heated, and her heart rate doubled. “You’re just upset because Tanner beat you, and you’re taking it out on me.”
“Bullshit! Yeah, it pissed me off, but he was even gracious about that. I was hoping he’d be a heel so I could feel superior somehow, but he wasn’t. You’re being stupid!”
She slammed her hand on the gearshift. “Don’t call me, stupid! You don’t know what it’s like to have your confidence stripped away like old paint.”
“No, I don’t know, but I do know that you’re still letting that asshole do it.”
“I’m going to need to find my own place if we can’t get along,” Meredith said, knowing it was unfair. They’d gotten along perfectly well until this moment. “I don’t want to fight like this.” The words made her look away, eyes blurring from tears.
“Fine, run away! But you can’t run far. When are you going to understand that? Your problems go where you do.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to start over? I’m thirty years old and divorced. A failure. It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Meredith cried, leaning her head against the seat.
Grabbing her by a shoulder, Jill said, “No, I don’t know, but as they say, it is what it is. You’re one of the most awesome women I know. You’re a great journalist who made it in New York City. And you’re a loving and funny woman who’s managed to get the entire male population of Dare Valley under the age of sixty hot and bothered in a month. You can do anything you want to do. You always have.”
Time to start believing it, Divorcée Woman chimed in.
She was quiet for a long moment, and then she said, “Okay. You’re right. I was having a pity party.”
“A big one.” Jill said, letting out a gusty breath. “Forget the pity party. Have a real party! Live a little.”
Meredith tapped her fingers against the wheel. “You mean Tanner.”
“Yes, I mean Tanner! The man is smokin’. You should hear his students talk. He’s super smart, and he tells them stuff that isn’t in the textbooks. And he’s into you. Any of the women at Hairy’s tonight would have killed to get his attention. Didn’t you see it?”
Yes, she’d noticed the gazes, the overtures. She’d expected him to give up on her and give someone else a chance. But he hadn’t. It was flattering. But deep down, it also made her suspicious.
Why would he keep dogging her when she said she wouldn’t go out with him? Was he one of those guys who liked the chase more than the catch? His history of working overseas with no roots suggested that he didn’t want a relationship, but what did she really know about him?
You won’t know unless you give him a chance, Divorcée Woman advised.
You’ve got to stop talking to me, she fired back, mostly because now she had two people making her feel unreasonable.
You’re nuts if you let a man like that slip through your fingers.
She turned to look at Jill. “I’m sorry about what I said before. I love living with you. Even with all your crazy decorations.”
Jill reached for her, and they hugged like two long-lost pretzels. “I’m sorry too.”
“It’s okay,” Meredith whispered, her face cooling from the blistering onslaught of emotion. “We’re okay.”
Jill tucked her head into Meredith’s neck. “I love you, Mermaid. I’m glad you’re home.”
“I love you too, and I’m happy I’m here.”
They separated and smiled. Jill wiped a tear slipping down her face.
“Since we’re having a moment, I think I should tell you something,” Meredith murmured, her face breaking into a grin.
“What is it?”
“Brian said something about you banging Tanner. What the hell did you do?”