Free Loving Jack by Cat Miller Page B

you buckle under its weight. Grace would see Jack around campus with Victor and another guy she’d never met. She assumed he was another boyfriend. Jack knew better than to approach her if he wasn’t alone when they crossed paths. Every time it happened she sank deeper into the chasm of despair that was quickly swallowing her whole. She’d seen Jack’s blond bestie a few times but the ridiculously attractive woman always glared at Grace and sniffed with disdain. She supposed his friends blamed her for Jack’s moods.
    After graduation, the student body was busy moving out of the dorms. Grace was about ready to go and the knowledge that she wouldn’t see Jack again was a dark shadow over what should have been one of the happiest times of her life. She had several offers for internships at finance and accounting firms, one of which was in Seattle. Jack would be going home to Washington State. Somewhere in the corner of her mind that still believed in fairytales Grace was still waiting for her prince to make her dreams come true. So she applied for the internship in a moment of weakness. So as not to put all of her eggs in Jack’s basket, she’d also applied to firms in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. She’d been offered the positions in Seattle, New York, and Atlanta. Now was the hard part. She had to decide which company was the best choice for her career and her future, and she had to do it fast.  
    It was her last night on campus and Jack dragged her out for dinner and dancing at a new Latin club in town. This always happened after she saw him with one of his men. He would show up at her door dressed and ready for a night on the town insisting they spend some quality time on the dance floor. Jessie would glare at him and comment that he must not have anyone better to abuse that night. Jessie hated that Grace was letting the situation with Jack drag her down. But when she and Jack were together Grace wasn’t down. She was happy. She was in love. It was when Jack was gone that the misery took over. This time was different though. There was an air of finality between her and Jack. This was it. Jack knew about her internship offer in Seattle and he was pushing hard for her to accept it and follow him home.
    After an incredible night of dancing and just being together Grace felt her will to resist Jack slipping. She loved him so much that she’d nearly convinced herself that she could win Jack’s heart if she only took a chance and sacrificed her own. She had the opportunity to take the relationship further. It would be hard to move to a new city and start her career there, but it would be worth it if they ended up together, just the two of them forever.
    “What are you thinking about, babe?” Jack asked. They were dancing close and Grace was trying to work up the nerve to tell him she planned to take the job in Seattle.
    “I’m thinking about you . . . and me,” she admitted. Jack sobered and searched her face. He looked at her mouth and back up to her eyes. He wanted to kiss her, again. And this time she wouldn’t try to pretend she didn’t want him to do it.
    “What are you saying?” he asked. She just smiled up at him. She didn’t want to talk about it here in a crowded club.
    “Can I stay the night with you tonight?” she asked with a blush. “We can talk about it later . . . or maybe in the morning.” They both knew if he got her in a secluded place they’d both be naked in a hurry. Jack’s smile started small and quickly spread across his face. He did kiss her then. Jack brought his lips down on hers and he kissed her softly, sweetly, with the promise of all that was to come later when he got her home.
    Jack let out a trumpet, “Woohoo!” and they took off into another dance. Grace’s heart felt buoyant and ready to soar. Jack and she laughed and smiled like fools as he attempted to teach her the steps to the sultry dance.  
    That’s when the unthinkable happened. Victor appeared on the