She glanced up. “Are you that anxious to get away from me?”
“Of course not.”
She turned back to the magazine. “I could take the train back. You don’t have to wait if you’re that anxious to go.”
“Would you stop putting words in my mouth? I just wanted to know if I should take the dress to the car.”
“Oh.” She glanced down at the earth-tone swirls of the plush carpeting.
How in the world had they gone from laughter and kissing among other delicious things to this awkward silence? Agitation churned in his gut. He knew the answer, and he didn’t like it one bit. He’d let things get out of hand. When he’d tried to fix it, it was too late. And he’d only made things worse.
Lizzie approached them. “That was Dante. He needs me right away at the restaurant. Something’s come up. Do you think you could handle picking out the candles for the tables? I’m really sorry about this.”
More time together. More stress and tension. Stefano’s body grew rigid.
“Sure.” Jules wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Do you need anything else?”
“Not that I can think of.” Lizzie gave her a hug. “You’ve been great. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. I’m really going to miss you when you leave for school.”
“I’m sure you’ll be so busy being a newlywed that you won’t even notice.”
Lizzie beamed. “I think you’re right. Oh, there is one more thing. Would you mind stopping by the florist? They called and said that one of the flowers they ordered is out of stock or some such thing. Anyway, they said they had a suitable replacement, but I haven’t had a chance to stop by. Would you mind?”
This was the last straw. Stefano just couldn’t take it anymore. Everyone was acting as if everything was perfect, and it wasn’t. Nothing about this was right. Jules was hiding the truth from her sister, and her sister was taking advantage of Jules’s guilt and generosity.
“Yes, she minds,” he heard himself say. “She’s been running herself ragged for you because of that television show, and she can’t do everything. You need to stop taking advantage of Jules and listen to what she needs and wants.”
Both women gaped at him as if he’d just sprouted another head. But he didn’t care at this point. Lizzie didn’t know how much it was costing Jules to spend time in the car with him. He could tell that she just wanted to get away from him.
Jules stepped up to him and poked a finger at his chest. “You’re the pot calling the kettle black. Who are you to tell Lizzie that when you refuse to hear what I’ve been telling you? You are so caught up in trying to make up for the past that you can’t see what’s right in front of you. You’re squandering your future, and it’s for nothing. You did nothing wrong.” Her shoulders hunched as she shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m wasting my time. You refuse to accept anything I say.”
He wanted to object, but he couldn’t. Was she right? Was it time to let go of the past? Could he move past the guilt?
Jules snatched the dress from him and turned her back to him. “Come on, Lizzie.”
At the sight of her retreating back, he once again found his voice. “Jules, wait.”
She stopped and turned, giving him an icy, pointed stare that stabbed straight through to his heart. “Lizzie, I need someplace to stay tonight.”
“Umm...sure. Whatever you need.” Lizzie frowned at him. When he went to approach Jules, who was already pulling the front door open, Lizzie held up her palm, stopping him in his tracks. “Let her go.”
He blew out a pent-up breath as he raked his fingers through his hair. He’d blown it. He’d meant to help Jules and instead he’d opened his mouth and inserted his size-twelve shoe. Once upon a time he’d been good at talking to the ladies, but lately he just never seemed to say the right thing. At least not where Jules was concerned.
Still he couldn’t stand the thought of her hating him. He had to say something. Whether or not it would help things he didn’t know. “I’m sorry.”
The glass door swung shut, and his words were lost in the warm breeze. Oh, man, what had he done? He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to gather himself. How had things ended up in such a jumbled mess? The truth was he’d ended up causing Jules the very same pain he’d been trying to save her from.
He had to stop them. He had to try again to apologize. But he was too late. He stopped on the sidewalk and didn’t see the women anywhere. It was as though they’d vanished.