#Chapter 85 – Jane Sets a Date

Jane

“I swear he’s losing it.” The man in question is back home with our pups, while I try to wrap my head around what just happened with the help of Linda and Eric. I’m seated on my friend’s plush sofa, with Eric beside me and Linda looking on from the kitchen while she brews a pot of tea. “He threatened to blackmail me tonight.”

“I warned you he wasn’t really going to let the pups go.” Eric frowns, “what on earth did he try to blackmail you with?”

My face flushes with color as I stare at my lap, fidgeting nervously. “Well…” I begin, trying to find the courage to speak the

words aloud.

“Oh I know that look!” Linda chimes in, a

note of humor in her voice. “What did you do, you bad girl?”

“I sort of slept with him.” I confess,

burying my face in my hands rather than

face their scrutiny. “So he threatened to tell Eric so he’d call of our wedding.”

“I knew it!” Linda exclaims, “How did it

happen, when did it happen – I want

details!”

“You slept with him?!” Eric adds,

sounding appalled.

“It was the other day, when we went wine

tasting.” I share, peeking at Eric through my fingers and seeing his furious face.” We got a little tipsy and -”

“You were drunk?” Eric repeats,

immediately rising to my defense. “He took advantage of you!”

“He didn’t.” I murmur. “I mean yes I

lowered my inhibitions, but I wanted it.

I’ve been resisting him for so long.” Eric is fuming, and I suddenly feel very guilty for sharing this with him when I know he has feelings for me. “I’m sorry.” I profess, resting my hand on his arm, “I shouldn’t be sharing this kind of thing

with you. I’m not trying to be insensitive, I just… I told him you already knew.”

“No it’s okay.” He assures me, quickly covering my hand with his own, “I need to know these things if I’m going to help you. If he says anything about it, I’ll pretend I knew all along.”

“Are you sure?” I inquire hesitantly. “I feel like I’m asking way too much of you.”

“I’m sure.” Eric promises, “and if you ask me Ethan isn’t losing it, he’s just showing you his true colors. If you want to see the man behind the mask you should keep pushing him, otherwise

you’ll simply be letting him fool you

again.”

Linda, clearly reading my slightly affronted energy, interjects, “I don’t think she “let” him do anything.” She says with a frown, her eyes locked on Eric even as she speaks to me. “And I don’t know that pushing him is a good idea, Janey. He’s clearly feeling desperate and

more conflict isn’t good for anyone. I

history here, but if you force him into a corner he might

the depth of

tells

with Eric, they’ve always gotten along like gangbusters, but now she actually

then it’s all

Why are you giving her such

argue, you guys.”

discord at home. I just want to relax with

softens almost immediately, patting my leg

seeming preoccupied with Eric. If I didn’t know any better I might think she was angry he’s giving me so much attention, but surely if she liked him she would have

and never even hinted at being interested in him. “I don’t understand.” She muses, finally turning away from him. “How

is that they

about it, I doubt they waited very long – which means whatever they

occurred to me, but I realize he’s right. The pups would have certainly been impatient to find out the truth about whatever they heard, so it must have happened today. A niggling doubt enters the

brow furrowed in

expression.

“I just…” Trailing off, I rise to my feet, beginning to pace. Is that tea ready

me check,” Linda responds,

clearly isn’t nothing.” Eric observes,

“I mean Ethan just made a very

turn and he truly seems

what happened between us…

“But?” Eric prompts.

phone to his beta or something, about taking me prisoner again now that he has proof the pups are his?”

think that’s

if he wants to comfort me, but isn’t sure if

How twisted is it that he’s the reason I’m afraid of letting people get too close to

kitchen, strolling back

reason to think

if he was talking

probably his regrets

is that not a leap?”

questions her stiffly.

because

he’d been talking about doing something in the future they probably would have told Jane, especially because they clearly turned against him.” Linda reasons, “And second,

hawk. I’ve seen

he’s

friend’s words are a welcome

tormented nerves. I

but he seems so protective of

as paranoid as I

he was vicariously

try to recover from

cope with my

my side, and

she’s sounding more

moment.

I breathe, accepting a

and letting the

right, I’m being a

crazy.”

a bit crazy sometimes.”

Eric, who is mutinously grumbling

and return to

shows that I was right about leaving. I can’t wait

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