Chapter 10

Disclaimer: All rights to the Mother-Daughter-Book-Club series belong to Heather Vogel Frederick.

I glance at Jonas anxiously as I cross the floor to where Katie is standing. Although his face is curiously blank, there's a tic in his jaw that makes me nervous about what he's really thinking. I try to give him a comforting smile as I take the box from Katie, but it doesn't reach my eyes.

I turn my attention to the box and I can feel both Katie and Jonas staring at me. Feeling incredibly self-conscious, I lift the lid and when I see what's inside, my breath catches. Nestled against the white cotton is a gorgeous necklace. The stone itself is about the size of my thumb nail and is a bright blue; aquamarine. Surrounding it is a rim of silver and it's on a delicate chain that glints in the light.

"Look at the box," Katie says excitedly.

I carefully flip the box so I can see what it says. Tiffany & Co. I feel lightheaded and put down the box before sinking down onto the floor, my knees drawn up to my chest.

"Jess?" Katie asks, kneeling down beside me, looking concerned.

"How could he?" I ask, shaking slightly.

"How could he what?" Jonas is talking now, wrapping his arm protectively around me. I vaguely register that he's swept his voice clean of any emotion but worry for me.

"How could he spend so much on me?" I say, my voice barely a whisper. "A necklace like that must've cost hundreds of dollars."

My mind wanders back to what he said when he gave me the present. I got it when we were still together and thought maybe you'd still like it. And it's true. This is the kind of necklace that would make me stop in the street and wonder how much it would cost. But in my wildest dreams I never imagined it being bought for me, it would simply be a fantasy—something I dreamed of when I was in a boring lecture.

"It's really romantic," Katie murmurs, and I come out of my thoughts to send her a murderous glare. The last thing I need is for her to start gushing about how great my ex-boyfriend is when my current one is trying to comfort me.

"It really is," Jonas agrees carefully, and I feel a rush of gratefulness towards him. I'm pretty sure that if the situation was reversed and he was the one opening an expensive gift from his ex, I'd be throwing a fit instead of trying to be supportive.

Katie stands up, brushing off her jeans. "Well, it's about dinner time. I think I might head down to the dining hall. Anybody else hungry?"

It's clear that she now understands the situation is for Jonas and me to deal with, but the two of them seem to be trying to act as if everything is normal and not incredibly awkward, which is totally is.

Jonas shakes his head. "We're good thanks. I was hoping to take Jess out for dinner somewhere nice."

"Right," Katie says. "Okay, um, it was nice to meet you, Jonas."

"You too," Jonas replies with a terse smile and in a flash she's gone, the door shutting softly behind her.

Jonas and I sit in silence for a moment; me still huddled on the floor with his arm around me.

"Okay, Jess," Jonas finally says, his voice heavy. "It's obvious there are some things that we need to work out. So how about we head to that Japanese restaurant, Japonica, around the corner and talk it out?"

I nod, wondering if he's decided that maybe being with me so soon after my breakup with Darcy is too much and is planning on breaking up with me. The thought terrifies me, which in turn surprises me. I hadn't realized how much I'd come to depend on Jonas for moral support, but now since the prospect of losing him seems realistic, I suddenly have to acknowledge it.

As it turns out Japonica is incredibly busy on Saturday nights, so Jonas and I have to wait for fifteen minutes to be seated. When we finally get led to a table, I'm half relieved and half disappointed that it's a two person table, nestled in the corner, made romantic by a flickering candle.

We settle into our chairs, and I wait for Jonas to say something, anything. To my surprise, Jonas smiles slightly and his gray eyes light up in amusement.

"What?" I ask defensively, sure that he's laughing at me.

"Oh, Jess," he chuckles, leaning across the table to take my hand. "You look so frightened. Don't worry; I'm not breaking up with you. I seriously only want to talk."

I let out a relieved breath, wondering how he knew what I was thinking and thinking about how foolish I was to convince myself that he was going to end our relationship.

"So," Jonas starts. "It's clear that Darcy will still be a big part of your life even though you're still broken up."

I nod slowly. "Yeah. He's Emma's big brother and I can't avoid him."

"But does it really have to be in the form of him giving you presents?" Jonas asks and even though his tone is teasing, I can tell that he's asking me something serious.

"No," I promise. "I'll give it back, and make it clear where we stand."

"Just so you know," Jonas says, "I'm not trying to be overprotective or anything. It's just that I feel like I'm kind of…You know what? Never mind."

"No, what were you going to say?" I say. "I really want to make this a relationship where we can tell each other anything."

"It's going to make me sound really bratty," Jonas warns.

I give him a wry smile. "Believe me, I know bratty."

"All right," Jonas relents. "It's just that I feel like at a disadvantage."

"To Darcy?" I ask, my eyebrows shooting up.

He nods sheepishly. "Yeah. I mean, he's known you for almost your whole life. You've grown up with him and he was your first love, your high school sweetheart. You share the same hometown, friends, and yeah, he cheated on you, but he's still Darcy."

I stare at him, my heart clenching. I didn't realize that he felt like that, and as much as I want to tell him none of that is true, I know it would be a lie. I think back to all the memories I have of Darcy. There are the ones where he was simply my best friend's brother and slowly, they morph into the ones where he was my first boyfriend, including our first kiss, dancing in England, kisses on New Year's Eve, and library meet ups when I was at Colonial Academy.

The memories are sweet. They represent my childhood innocence and teenage happiness. My memories of Jonas, however, are tinged with reality; my first heartbreak, friendship troubles, and conflicting emotions. But it doesn't make those memories any less precious; in fact, it makes them more real and adult. I realize that I need to tell Jonas this so that it shows him that he doesn't have to be worried about Darcy.

When I explain to Jonas my feelings, I can tell that he is more relaxed and happy to finally put some of his fears to rest.

"Thank you, Jess," he says. "I realize that our relationship has been a bit of a whirlwind, and that hasn't always been easy for you. Sometimes I forget that there are more to relationships than whether a basic attraction."

I smile at his words and lean over the table to give him a peck on the lips. "And I'm happy that everything has worked out. First with Emma and now with you—it feels amazing to be drama free."

"With you college girls, drama is always around the corner," Jonas teases me and I roll my eyes playfully, elated that we're back to our usual teasing banter.

I push back my desk chair, satisfied with the email I've drafted to the professor in charge of the a cappella group. During dinner, I'd brought up the flyer Katie had given me, and Jonas talked me through my fears and into trying out. "You love singing, Jess, and you're good at it so go for it. Don't be one of those people who doesn't try anything during college," he'd said, not unkindly. So once he dropped me off at my dorm and headed to his hotel, I booted up my computer and found the professor's email.

Just as I've finished changing into my pajamas, my cell phone rings. I frown. Who could it be? It's past midnight. Checking the caller ID, I see it's one of the twins, Ryan. I feel a faint flicker of panic. Is something wrong?

"Ryan?" I say quickly.

"Jess," he says, and my alarm increases when I realize it sounds as if he's been crying.

"What's wrong?" I demand, fearing the worst. "Is it Dylan? Or Mom or Dad?"

"No," he hiccups softly. "I just, I needed to talk with someone, and I thought of you."

"Oh," I say, nonplussed. As flattered as I am that he turned to me, I also want to get to bed.

"I know it's late, but I wanted to wait until Dylan was asleep."

I frown. As far as I know, the twins share everything and are inseparable. What could Ryan want to tell me that Dylan doesn't know?"

"Uh, well Dylan does know, but I thought maybe you could help me," Ryan says and again, I try to think of what could have him so upset.

"Well, I'm listening," I say. For all the times I've comforted my friends, I've never had to counsel one of my brothers. There's always been someone else for that.

"There's this girl—Melissa," Ryan begins, and I have to stifle a laugh. This is about a girl? And then I remember that Ryan is thirteen, the same age that I was when I had a crush on Darcy. "She's really cool. She's on the sports teams and hangs out with all the boys and stuff. And so, I asked her out, and she said she liked someone else…Dylan."

"Dylan?" I ask, shocked. I still can't quite believe that the twins are interested in girls, but I realize something much larger is afoot. Something like this could easily drive the boys apart.

"Yeah," Ryan says softly.

I sigh. Even though to most people Ryan and Dylan are the same in every way, they are separate people. As they've gotten older, Ryan has turned out to be the more sensitive one. He still likes to play sports and horse around with Dylan, but he also likes to act and can always be counted on to spend time with animals around the farm. Dylan is more the jock. More competitive, more aggressive, and more outgoing.

I can only imagine how difficult it must've been for Ryan to summon the courage to ask Melissa out, only to be shot down in favor for his twin brother. So I pull myself together and switch into older sister pep talk mode.

"Well obviously Melissa isn't worth your time," I say briskly. "And besides, you've seen what girls can be like. You've been there when my friends and I talk about boys. We girls are a cruel species."

Almost against his will, Ryan laughs and I smile, relieved that I'm getting through to him.

"Anyway, later on there'll be more time for exclusive relationships," I tell him, heading into more serious topics. "Right now you have to see who you are so that when the time comes you can find someone who'll be suited for you. And one day, all of this will simply be a vague memory. The sting will fade," I add. "Right now it'll hurt, but eventually you'll feel better."

"Was it like that with Darcy?" Ryan asks me. I'm trying to figure out how to answer him when he suddenly lowers his voice. "I've got to go, but thanks for talking."

All of a sudden a new, stern, voice comes from his side of the line. "Ryan Delaney. Why are you talking on the phone at this hour?"

I wince. Busted.

"Sorry, Mom," Ryan says. "I just wanted to talk with Jess."

"Jess!" my mother scolds. "Don't encourage him!"

"Sorry," I say.

"Ryan, go to bed," my mother says. "Leave the phone. I want a word with Jess."

I hear footsteps leaving, and wait, fully expecting to be chewed out. Instead, my mother says, "Did you give him advice?"

"You know?" I ask, surprised.

She scoffs. "Ryan didn't tell me if that's what you're wondering, but when he was all morose and didn't eat, I figured something was up."

"Yeah, I did," I say.

"That's good," she says. "He wouldn't have listened to me and wouldn't ask his father. Too embarrassing, I suppose." I laugh, and she sighs. "Has everything been cleared up with you, Jess?"

"Yeah," I say. "Everything's a-okay with me."

"Great," she says. "I was worried that the whole thing with Darcy would completely-well, I'm just glad it's worked out. I should probably let you go, though. It's almost one. Night, honey."

"Night, Mom," I say and hang up.

I crawl into bed and shut off the light, but lay awake thinking for a while. I've been so wrapped up in my own personal drama, I never stopped to think that maybe other people have problems too. I certainly wouldn't have guessed that Ryan had almost as much as me. I giggle slightly, and turn over before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

A/N: I know, lame ending, but I couldn't think of a better way. I might rewrite if something comes to me. Anyway, sorry for any grammar errors and thank you so much for all the reviews. Keep them coming!

Up next: Jess confronts Darcy about the necklace.