“Hey,”
I called as he walked toward his cabin. His shirt was sweat-soaked and filthy,
and his blond waves stuck up all over his head. When he didn’t turn around, I
raised my voice even louder. “I said,
hey Jamie!”
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
“What, Molly?”
I ground my teeth together. “We need
to come to an agreement.”
He turned halfway around, cocking an
eyebrow. “We came to an agreement months ago after a mediation session and three
grand in legal fees.”
“Nice.” Rolling my eyes upward, I
prayed that Bree’s ghost would stop me from picking up a rock off of the path
and lobbing it at his head. “What I’m saying is, we’re here for the same
reason. Agreed?”
“That depends.” Jamie narrowed his
eyes “What are you here for, Molly?”
I met his glare with one of my own.
I knew where he was going with this. He was suggesting I was there to get back
together with him. And sure, the thought had crossed my mind a few thousand
times over the last year and a half, but judging by the way things had gone
over the last twenty-four hours, the only thing Jamie and I would be doing at
Chimalis was wish the other would fall off Cross Mountain and hit every rock
going down.
“I’m here for Bree,” I told him
sharply. “And Sue and Owen, too. And because I’m going to see Rachael and April
in a matter of days, and I missed this place. Believe me, it had very little to
do with you.”
Something flashed in his eyes, and
he sniffed indignantly. “Good. Me, too.”
I bit back the urge to call him a
dick stick, and snapped, “Fine.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.” I put my hands on my hips
and started pacing. I had an adrenaline rush. “I think since we’re both here to
help Sue and Owen carry out their daughter’s wishes, we should agree to stop
fighting.”
He jutted his chin at me. “Who’s
fighting?”
I could feel anger sizzling under my skin like bacon on a hot pan. “Are you kidding me? That drama you pulled at dinner last night was Oscar-worthy, Jamie.”
I could feel anger sizzling under my skin like bacon on a hot pan. “Are you kidding me? That drama you pulled at dinner last night was Oscar-worthy, Jamie.”
“It’s James,” he spat. “And what about your little performance this
afternoon while we were working?” He raised his voice and stuck his hands on
his hips, clearly imitating me. “Sorry I
missed lunch, boys. I’m on my way for a snack. Maybe I can help later.”
“That wasn’t a performance. I was
hungry. It happens. And besides, you were the one to throw the first insult
today, and you know it.”
He began pacing himself. “Only
because you think flirting with Graham is going to make me jealous.”
“Well clearly it—”
Jamie pointed a finger at me. “Don’t
you dare. That’s not what I meant.”
My mouth dropped. “I was not flirting with Graham. I’m being nice.
I’m sure it’s foreign to you, it’s been a while since you’ve been nice to me.”
“Likewise.”
We stood there engaging in a fifteen-second
stare down. I wanted to throw that rock now. I’m sure he did, too. But wasn’t
sure which of us could bend down and pick one up first.
Jamie finally rubbed his eyes. “For
hell’s sake, Molly, this is stupid. I need to shower before dinner. What do you
want?”
I swallowed, my rage tasting bitter.
“I think we should agree not to fight in front of Sue and Owen again. It isn’t
their fault Bree wanted us here alone. They didn’t mean to start World War III.
They’re just trying to help.”
“We’re beyond help.”