Girl of Mine (28 page)

That’s when Jill knew it had never been about her.

“What are you doing, Luke? Stealing my girl?”

“No, Troy. I’m making up with my fiancée.”

“Don’t you mean
my
fiancée?”

Jill spoke up. “I’m sorry, Troy. I can’t marry you. Luke and I are going to be married.”

He didn’t even glance at her. “Thanks a lot, Graham.”

“Troy, I . . .”

He didn’t let Luke finish. “What kind of friend are you? How could you go behind my back?”

Actually it was the other way around and everyone in the room knew it.

“You’re my best friend, Troy. I’d do anything for you, but . . .”

“But you can’t keep your hands off my property?”

“Property?” Jill repeated. She took umbrage at that.

Troy continued, seemingly unaware of the unfairness of his accusations. “You can’t stop yourself from moving in on my girl?”

“Troy, no . . .”

“I think I have some say in this,” Jill mumbled.

“You think it’s okay to have a secret romantic rendezvous with my girl? How dare you.”

“Troy, that’s enough. Stop it right now,” Luke’s icy voice sliced through the tension, brooking no argument. Jill had never heard that tone from Luke. It implied that every word leaving Troy’s lips was utter nonsense. Luke wasn’t standing for it anymore.

Troy’s eyes narrowed as Luke and Troy stared each other down, perhaps the first time they’d ever really confronted each other since they were twelve.

There’d never been a need for a showdown; Luke always gave in. And Troy knew it—and took advantage of it.

“Knock it off,” Luke said. “I’m not stealing Jill from you and I’m not going behind your back or any such thing.”

“Then . . . then how do you explain your actions?” Troy demanded, his lips curling in an angry snarl.

“I don’t have anything to explain.”

“You don’t think you owe me an explanation?” Troy’s roar seemed to rattle the walls.

“I owe you everything, Troy. But I can’t stay away from the girl I love. Please don’t ask me to.”

Troy’s eyes flashed with anger, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. His chest rose and fell with indignation. Jill wanted to hide behind Luke and escape the wrath in his glare.

In the next moment, she wanted to step in front of Luke and protect him. Lightning flashed in the sky, bursting through the window and casting an eerie glow across Troy’s face. He looked as though he’d stepped off one of the pages of his horror novels. Presently, he could certainly pass as a character in one. Jill wondered if he had an axe hidden under that huge black raincoat.

A dark and stormy night. A love triangle. A remote ranch house. A jilted fiancé. Raging emotions. A crime of passion.

Quit it, Jill.
Her imagination was on overdrive.

Troy’s grip on his cane tightened and his fingers turned white. Deliberately, he looked down at his cane. With his head in a downward position, only his eyes lifted and glared at Luke with piercing intensity, making him look sinister. Jill felt sure he was going to take a swing at Luke. She held her breath and waited for it.

Luke’s muscles tensed, his arms taut and firm. He released her hand, perhaps preparing to defend himself.

“I can’t believe you would do this to me,” Troy rasped, his voice a harsh whisper.

“I didn’t do anything to you.” Luke didn’t back down, not even an inch.

Troy’s eyes wandered around the room in an eerie fashion, making Jill think he was searching for his sanity.

“
You
did this to me!” Troy yelled, one hand pointing in the direction of his feet.

Luke reached for Jill’s hand again and held it in both of his hands protectively. “You did this for me, Troy. You gave me life. I’m here, able to enjoy my life because of
you
.”

Troy scowled with disbelief as he scoffed. Jill had to admit, Luke’s approach surprised her as well.

Troy’s grip on his cane relaxed ever so slightly. Was he calming down? Jill wasn’t positive. Judging by Luke’s aggressive stance and the fact that he once again released her hand, it was obvious he wasn’t sure either.

“Fat lot of good it did me,” Troy spat, verbally throwing his words at Luke, but he didn’t seem as confident as earlier.

Luke didn’t flinch. His eyes remained glued on Troy as if prepared for the unexpected. “You sacrificed everything for me and I will never, ever forget it.”

Troy’s shoulders relaxed and he appeared shaken to the very core. He no longer looked poised for a fight, but Jill wasn’t ready to bet on it.

“Yeah, well, neither will I. I have a constant reminder that will never let me forget a thing. I can’t walk across the room without remembering our time on that mountain top.”

“Every day when I wake up in the morning, I remember I’m alive because of
you
. I’ve never forgotten. Not for one single, solitary second.” Luke’s words hung in the air, fierce and passionate.

The little furrow between Troy’s eyebrows disappeared as if a magic wand had passed over his face. “Yeah . . . right.” Now Troy sounded hesitant, tentative.

“Yes, right. When a man sacrifices his life for another man, the man doesn’t forget it. Ever.”

Troy’s eyes lowered to the floor. He seemed uncertain as he wondered at Luke’s words. “That can’t be true.”

“I swear it,” Luke told him with undying strength in the timbre of every syllable.

Pride washed over Jill. That Luke was her man. That she had the privilege of standing at his side.

“I will always be here for you, Troy. Always. If you need something, I’ll be there. You can always count on me,” Luke told him.

Luke and Troy stood, staring at one another, for what seemed like forever. Jill wanted to say something, but thought better of it and remained silent.

Ever so slowly, Troy’s countenance changed. His features relaxed and a look of pure agony washed over his expression. His face seemed to crumble before their eyes and he dropped his cane and fell to his knees. His hands covered his face and he began to weep. No not weep, sob.

“I’m sorry, Luke. I’m sorry.”

Luke and Jill exchanged a puzzled expression. In spite of Luke’s tender expressions, Jill wondered at Troy’s abrupt change. Perhaps when faced with his own mortality, Troy was seeing things a little differently. Confronting death had to be a soul searching experience. Maybe knowing he was about to lose his life had changed his outlook.

“I don’t know why I did it. I just don’t know why,” Troy said between gulps of air.

Luke stepped forward and knelt in front of Troy. “Troy, it’s all right, buddy.”

Jill couldn’t help but feel nervous about Luke’s close proximity to Troy. He was a loose cannon.

“It’s not all right. I’ve been such a jerk to you. I hate the person I’ve become. Ever since the accident I became this person I don’t know, a man filled with spite and anger; anger I’ve never been able to let go of. It’s like this raging energy of hate inside me. I’ve stoked the fire and I’ve never let it die down. I don’t want to be that person anymore.”

Luke touched his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it.”

“It does matter. I’ve hated you for a long time. I hated you for living, for breathing, for succeeding, for being happy. I hated you for being normal when I couldn’t be. I especially hated that no matter how badly I treated you, you were always so damn nice to me. I figured you’d leave me alone eventually. I was sure you’d get tired of me and wash your hands of me.” Troy ran his hands over his face with despair etched in his features. “But you never did. Not once.”

“I would never do that, Troy.”

“All this time, I’ve felt like God must hate me. Why would He let bad things happen to me when I was doing something good? I just don’t get it. I felt abandoned, like God didn’t care about me.”

“Don’t say that. It isn’t true.”

“You’re right, it isn’t true. You know how I know that?”

“How?”

“Because He sent me you. You’ve never left me. If I need something, you come running. Every time. I’ve never felt alone. I always knew you were there for me.”

“I’m still here for you. I always will be.”

“Why? Why would you give me the time of day?”

“Because . . . you’re my best friend, Troy.”

Troy’s hands clenched into fists as he lowered his head and deep heart-wrenching sobs escaped from his chest. “I’m sorry, Luke, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to give up Jill. I just wanted to see how far you would go. I was pushing the limits and I knew it. I knew I was being a jerk, but I couldn’t stop myself. I just couldn’t stop myself.”

Luke wrapped his arms around Troy, patting his back in a brotherly fashion. “Hey, don’t worry about it. It’s water under the bridge. No harm done.”

Jill felt she could debate that last thought. How could Luke let it go so easily? But tears were swelling in her eyes at the sight of the best friends making peace with each other and she cast any thoughts of holding a grudge aside. Harmony was long overdue.

Troy swayed in Luke’s arms as a soft moan escaped. “I need to lie down.”

Luke helped Troy remove his raincoat, then helped him to the couch, propping his head with a pillow. “You all right?”

“My head’s pounding. Headaches have been the worst thing so far. When they come on I’m good for nothin’. I’m not even supposed to be driving.”

Jill ran to the kitchen and threw some ice in a baggie. She wet a kitchen towel and wrung it out. Returning to Troy, she placed the cool towel on his forehead, and held the ice on top of the towel. “Something cold always relieves my headaches,” she told him.

“That feels good. Thanks, Jill.” Troy’s sporadic breathing worried her as he panted through the haze of pain.

When he calmed, they sat in silence for a while with Jill holding the ice bag, Luke gripping Troy’s hand, and Troy closing his eyes in respite. The storm still raged outside.

Jill met Luke’s gaze and their eyes held. She saw worry in his eyes, but she also saw relief. A myriad of unspoken emotion passed between them.

Twenty minutes later, an ashen faced Troy opened his eyes, staring at the two people who’d refused to leave his side. “Thank you. It’s subsiding now.”

Neither Luke nor Jill moved.

“Can you take something?” Luke asked.

“Not if I want to be fit for driving.”

“You’re not driving anywhere. I’ll take you home.”

Troy nodded. “In my pocket.”

Jill grabbed a glass of water and Troy dutifully took his pain medication. He collapsed onto the couch as if the action had taken all of his energy.

The trio studied one another for a few moments.

“I’m sorry, Jill,” Troy offered contritely.

“It all worked out in the end,” she told him. Although he’d certainly put her and Luke through the wringer. He’d tested the strength of their relationship and the durability of their love, yet they’d come out on top.

Troy nodded and exhaled loudly. “So, you two are gonna get married before Luke leaves again?” His eyes were a little skittish, but at least he made the effort to be affable.

Jill couldn’t suppress the smile begging to be unleashed. “Yes, tonight actually.”

“Tonight?”

Luke glanced at his watch. “Yeah, we leave for Vegas in four hours.”

“Four hours? Don’t you need to get to the airport?”

“As long as we leave within the hour, we’ll be good,” Luke answered.

Troy clasped his hands tightly over his chest. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.” The words came out slightly stilted, yet felt sincere nonetheless. “You two belong together. I’ve always known it.”

“Thanks, Troy,” Luke said thickly.

“Troy . . .” Jill started, then paused to swallow the lump in her throat. “I’ll stay with you. You won’t be alone.”

“I’d like that,” he whispered, unable to find his voice.

“So . . . what comes next?” Luke asked Troy.

Jill wasn’t sure if Luke meant right now at the present moment, or treatment-wise.

Troy sighed. “Don’t know. Sit around and wait to die, I guess.” He sounded utterly defeated.

Luke objected. “No, no, no. That’s not okay. You’re still alive. Embrace life, be happy, and live to the fullest,” he encouraged. “Enjoy the time you have left.”

Luke’s words sounded slightly forced as he attempted to act cheerful. Jill knew losing Troy was going to be tough on him.

Troy grunted with noncompliance. “I don’t think so.”

“Aw, c’mon. I know a certain someone who would love to spend every second she can with you.”

“Do you . . . do you mean Joni?” Troy said, surprised.

“Yes. You broke her heart. What are you gonna do about it?”

Troy fiddled with his scarf. “I burned that bridge. There’s no going back.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute.”

“You . . . you think she’d take me back?”

“I happen to know she’d take you back.”

“Really?” The color returned to Troy’s face.

“Yep.”

Troy deflated. “Oh, I don’t know about that. She knows I was engaged to Jill. I’m not sure she’ll even speak to me.”

“At least give it a try.” Luke looked Jill in the eyes as he spoke to Troy. “Be totally honest and explain everything. She’ll understand.”

“Maybe.” Troy’s “maybe” made it sound as though he’d never do it.

“No maybe. Do it,” Luke said forcefully.

“You can borrow the ranch house. I have it on good authority that it’s the perfect place to resume a love affair,” Jill added.

Luke grinned and winked at her.

Troy released a deep breath. “She’s mad at me and I don’t blame her. If she saw me coming, she’d turn and walk the other way.”

“Luke has handcuffs you can borrow,” Jill muttered under her breath.

“What?” Troy asked, perplexed.

Luke glared at her, attempting to hide his mirth. “Nothing,” Jill said.

“Let’s start this conversation over. What comes next?” Luke said, repeating his earlier question.

Jill didn’t think Troy was going to answer. He mulled over the idea for several moments. Then he surprised them by saying, “Next, I’m gonna track down Joni and beg her forgiveness. And if she’ll have me, I’ll marry her.”

“What?” Luke said with a huge grin, fake punching him in the arm.