Page 13 of Mister McStudmuffin

“You don’t want to lose him?”

I shake my head, ignoring the damn tears streaming down my cheeks. “I can’t. I don’t know how to be me anymore without him.”

“No. Love is wonderful and I want you to have what Max and I have. But the truth is, you are an amazing, smart, beautiful, funny and talented woman, with or without a man by your side.”

I give my big sister a watery smile.

“Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to march into the office on Monday and you’re going to tell him the truth. Enough is enough. This charade is eating you up inside and that is not okay. Will he understand your lunacy? I don’t know. But I suspect if he feels about you the way I think he does, he’ll get over it.”

I snatch the pint of ice cream from her and take a big bite.

“Monday morning,” I say around a mouthful of coldness.

She nods, then turns on a rerun of Gilmore Girls and we stare at Luke Danes and agree he is the perfect TV boyfriend.

chapter

seven

JD

The decision is made.

I even feel good about it. It’ll be great to be close to my sisters and get to know their guys better. My brain knows this is what’s best. I’m ready for my heart to join the party.

I’ve already spoken to Helen about how I want things structured this morning. When I step into my office, Chelsea is already in there. She’s standing, just in the middle of the room and she’s so goddamn gorgeous she nearly steals my breath.

“Good morning,” I say and turn towards my desk. Not looking at her will help. I hate that she makes me so damn weak. That I would literally do anything for her. I hate even more that she doesn’t see me the way I see her.

“Morning,” she says, her voice artificially chipper. “I have something I need to tell you.”

I don’t say anything, nor do I acknowledge her words. I simply can’t right now. If I give her my undivided attention like I normally would, I’ll ask her what’s wrong? Ask her why she sounds different and what can I do to fix it.

I refuse to be the man who encroaches on another man’s woman. And I will not beg her to be mine.

If I talk to her, if I turn around and tell her that I’m leaving before I announce it, I’ll ask her to come with me. Marry me. Be with me forever.

“JD, did you hear me? Can you look at me, please?”

I set my stuff down behind my desk and turn to face her. “I did hear you.”

“Can we talk, please?” she asks.

“Actually, not this morning. I’m making an announcement to the entire company.” I check my watch. “In about ten minutes. We can talk later, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah, sure.” She nods.

I leave her standing in my office before I say all the things I’ve been holding back the last three years.

I grab a banana out of the break room just to do something before I speak to the entire company.

This is the right decision. Maybe if I repeat that to myself, over and over again, I’ll start to believe it.

Ten minutes later, all of the staff is standing around the bullpen.

“Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy mornings for this unplanned meeting. I can assure you, you’ll be back at your desks in just a few minutes.”

I see heads nodding. Chelsea is standing at the edge of the room, leaning against a desk.