Why Now? Read Online Free PDF Page A

all of the memories come back to me.
    Lifting my chin and praying my voice doesn’t shake I reply. “Hi, Jake. I didn’t know you were in town.”
    Instantly, I regret my words and their implication that I should be aware of his movements. His response is lost on me as I look away.
    Heath comes to stand at the opening of my booth. Shifting toward the wall, I move to make room for him.
    He surprises me by murmuring, “Hey, Kace,” before leaning toward me and kissing my cheek.
    I had been mid motion, turning my face Heath’s lips hit my cheek stopping me from turning any further. When he lifts his head, I lock eyes with Jake as Heath slides in next to me.
    The pride I had felt all week in knowing that Heath wanted me to be his wife faltered. Feeling a piece of my heart crumple, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering why I was never good enough for Jake.
    Reilly moves back into her side of the booth as Jake slides in next to her. Our waitress comes right over to take our order, and it hits me then that she waited for Heath and Jake to show to do that.
    “Why didn’t you tell me Heath and your brother were joining us?” I ask Reilly, trying to not sound overly accusatory.
    Giving me innocent eyes, she replies, “I didn’t know Heath was coming and I wasn’t sure Jake was going to make it.”
    Jake lifts a brow but it’s Heath who speaks. “Jake told me he was having dinner with Reilly and asked if I wanted to tag along.”
    “Yeah,” Jake drawls. “Didn’t know I was going to be a surprise.”
    Reilly changes the subject. “Kacey, show Jake your engagement ring.”
    It takes physical effort to keep my mouth from dropping open.
    Show Jake my ring?
    Show. Jake. My. Ring.
    Heath reaches for my hand, the one that had been safely resting on my thigh, and stretches it across the table to present it to Jake. In horror, I watch as Jake lifts his hand, taking my hand from Heath.
    The pads of his fingertips brush against the sensitive underside of my hand, tilting it as he lowers his face to get a closer look at my ring.
    His face is close enough for his breath to caress my knuckles.
    Too close.
    I tug my hand back and I’m surprised by the brief resistance of him not letting go of it.
    “It was my grandmother’s ring,” Heath proudly adds, not seeming to notice the tension now at the table.
    Reilly leans into Jake. If she noticed the way he held onto my hand she doesn’t say.
    She looks up at him. “I missed you.”
    He shifts to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “I missed you too, kid.”
    Being an only child, I envied their relationship growing up. Aren’t they supposed to bug each other? Sibling rivalry and all that?
    Not Reilly and Jake, though. There were times when they annoyed each other but it never lasted long. Could being so young when their parent’s died have made them that way?
    Reilly has no memories of either of her parents, only pictures. Whether Jake remembers them or not I don’t know.
    They moved in with their grandparents after that. Looking around the table, it strikes me that in a few months Heath will be part of the having lost a parent club.
    My dad is still alive so I don’t have it as bad as Reilly and Jake. Not that it matters, my dad has been a living ghost ever since the day my mom died.
    Heath got to have both a mom and dad see him finish school. They got to see him settle into his own place and land a good job. The fact that getting married before Mrs. Mackey passes is so important to him shows what a good mom she was.
    “Ace?” Heath asks.
    I blink. Shit, I zoned out there. Flushing, I notice that I’ve been randomly staring at Jake while Heath was trying to talk to me.
    I quickly turn my face towards his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear your question.”
    He frowns at me. “It wasn’t my question. Reilly asked you if you had anything planned for Saturday night.”
    My gaze moves to her and I shake my head. “No, not that I know of.”
    “Great. Then Jake and Heath