Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

The words keep tumbling out. “Oh, and I think my blood sugar must be low; I didn’t eat any breakfast this morning. So that’s part of why I think I was a little extra on edge, you know?”

Jude is still just staring at me, not speaking. His calmness and silence are enviable. He’s giving me nothing.

Against my better judgment, the words keep coming. “So, anyway, again, I really apologize, and I hope we can start over from the beginning, because I’m not usually that irrational, and I don’t make a habit of swearing at men I’ve just met—”

“Are you done?” he asks, cutting me off.

Oh, thank God.

“I… Yes. Sorry. Yes.” I shake my head and press my lips together, trying to physically stop the flow of my pathetic monologue.

He turns away from me and opens the door to his truck. I instantly deflate; he doesn’t even want to speak to me any more than necessary. I can’t blame him, not after how I treated him when he was only trying to help me out. My gaze drops to my feet and I send a wish to the universe for the magical ability to transport myself away from here, into my bedroom and under my covers, where I could safely shame-spiral in private.

“Heads up.” I hear him say.

I snap my head up just in time to see the small object whizzing through the air toward me, which I manage to snag awkwardly with a free hand before it hits me in the face. I drop my gaze and turn it over in my confusion, the plastic wrapper crinkling in my hand. It’s a protein bar.

“What? Why?” I manage quietly as I look up at Jude in utter bewilderment.

“You said you hadn’t eaten breakfast, right?” He shuts the door and leans with his back against the side of his truck, crossing his arms again as he looks at me with an eyebrow raised.

I furrow my brows, then relax them, letting out a breath. “Yes, but—”

“But what? You’re hungry and you need to eat. So eat.” He gives me a small smile.

“Why are you being nice to me?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. I don’t understand what his game is. I’ve been awful to him, blathered on endlessly… and now he’s feeding me?

He smiles ruefully and looks up at the trees, then back at me. “That’s a weird way of saying thank you.” He tilts his head quizzically as he smiles at me. He’s definitely enjoying this.

I close my eyes. “Of course, thank you. I’m so sorry.” Could this be more humiliating? I meet his gaze again. “I should go.” I need to get the hell out of here before I embarrass myself any further. Unlocking the Jetta, I throw my belongings, protein bar included, onto the passenger seat.

“Wait,” he says.

I slowly turn around to face him, bracing for what he’ll say next.

“I’m sorry too.”

I furrow my brow, feeling thrown off.

“For following so close earlier. You were right. It was a bit dangerous.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets. “That was my bad.”

“Oh,” I say. “Yeah.” I shrug, trying to brush it off. I’d rather just forget about everything that happened on the road earlier.

He lifts his chin. “What was that book you were holding onto earlier?”

“What book?” I look at him in confusion.

“The one you held a death grip on but never opened. You had that thing with you the whole time we walked around the place. What is it?”

“Oh, my portfolio?” I turn to see the book on the seat of the car behind me and briefly note that it’s avoided landing directly on top of my sopping wet jacket. Small mercies. Relieved, I turn back to Jude.

“Lemme have a look.” He reaches out a hand expectantly, like a teacher who’s caught his students passing notes in class.

“Oh, no, you don’t need to,” I start, smiling nervously. “I just thought Charles might want to look through the photos but he didn’t ask to. It’s fine.” I’m hoping he’ll drop the subject.

He doesn’t. “Come on, Olena,” he says, holding my gaze.

The sound of my name on his lips makes my breath hitch. I quickly shake it off and hope he hasn’t noticed.