“He thought it went very well. He thought his parents enjoyed meeting me. He had a great time.”
Grimacing, Devin muttered, “Well, it is his family. I’m sure he loves them. And he probably enjoyed introducing you to them.”
Maybe, Shannon thought glumly, but as far as she was concerned, that meal had only served as proof that she and James were completely mismatched.
“Let me get this straight. You’re breaking up with me?”
Shannon wrapped her arms tightly around her middle and faced James in her living room Monday evening, speaking lightly in answer to his displeased question. This was hardly the way she had hoped the after-dinner conversation she’d initiated would proceed. Perhaps she had hoped—dreaded?—that he would agree their impulsive affair had run its course, that he would be somewhat relieved she was the one bringing it to an amicable end so he didn’t have to.
“It’s hardly a breakup, James. That would imply we had more than a casual friendship to start with. And I still consider you a friend, by the way.”
“A friend you never want to see again.” His face was set in hard lines, making his eyes look like glittering onyx from beneath lowered brows.
She released a sharp sigh. “I didn’t say I never want to see you again.”
“You said, specifically…”
“You don’t have to quote my exact words back to me with that fancy photo memory of yours,” she cut in somewhat peevishly. “Essentially, what I said was, I don’t think we should try to keep anything going between us after you leave for Seattle. You’ll be out of the state for two straight months—?
??
“I’ll be home for one weekend in between the two months.”
“You’ll basically be out of the state for two straight months,” she amended impatiently. “You’ll be flying all over the country in December and January interviewing for residency programs. In March and April you’ll be doing more rotations here, which—”
“I’m well aware of my schedule.”
“—which will keep you very busy, after which you’ll have graduation and then you’ll be moving a few weeks after that to start your internship,” she continued doggedly, speaking over him.
This was more the style of conversation she was used to than the stuffy back-and-forth comments his family exchanged, she thought fleetingly. And though James might be more accustomed to his family’s patterns, he was keeping up pretty well with hers.
“And all of that has what exactly to do with why you don’t want to see me again?” he asked, his cool tone the only real sign of his agitation apart from the frown that creased his eyebrows.
“Would you stop saying that? I’m sure we’ll see each other again someday. I would always enjoy hearing from you. Maybe we’ll get together for dinner sometime before you graduate and you can tell me all about the great residency I’m sure you’ll get into. Maybe I’ll come to your graduation—I would enjoy that.”
“Well, isn’t that friendly and congenial.”
She felt her eyes widen a bit in response to what she would almost call a savage edge to his voice now. It sounded so unlike James. “I’m just—”
He looked at his watch. “I’d better go. I have some packing to do.”
He wouldn’t leave for another three days, so she doubted that it would take him all that long to pack. “James, I hope you aren’t leaving angry.”
“Haven’t you heard?” he asked flatly, turning toward the door. “Just ask anyone who knows me. I don’t get angry. Or hurt or lonely or insulted or just plain old pissed off. We Stillmans believe such unseemly emotions are beneath us.”
“James, wait—”
He opened the door and his expression was as completely shuttered as she’d ever seen it when he glanced back at her over his shoulder. “See you, Shannon.”
She released a sad sigh when the door closed with a restrained snap behind him. That exchange had not been pleasant. In fact, it had hurt like hell.
Despite his denials, he had obviously been annoyed with her. She hadn’t handled the discussion as well as she’d hoped. Or maybe he was really as take-charge and controlling as she had feared at the beginning. Perhaps he just hid it better than most people, but still wanted to be the one to call the shots, to decide when to say goodbye. In which case, her decision was even more justified.
Whatever the cause for his resentment, she noted sadly that he certainly hadn’t tried very hard to change her mind.
Chapter Eleven
Seattle was as beautiful as it had been billed, lush with the greenery that had earned it the nickname The Emerald City, surrounded by water and mountain ranges. The population was as diverse as the architecture and the many parks and public attractions tempted residents and visitors alike to spend a great deal of time outdoors. A center of research and technology, the city bustled with energy and activity, yet had a generally relaxed atmosphere that set it apart from some of the other large metropolitan areas James had visited.