Chapter 2
"A little to the left…okay, now, forward…go right…" Terri was saying as she directed the flow of moving furniture.
"Terri, sweetheart, make up your mind," Larry said impatiently. "This dresser isn't exactly the lightest thing in the world."
"How did we get talked into doing this?" Jack wanted to know.
"Because you love me," Terri answered sweetly.
"I knew there had to be a reason."
"Hey!" The good – natured banter and chattering went on for the next half hour as the guys helped Terri refurnish her bedroom. She, too, had left Apartment 201 and now was the proud owner of a cozy, one bedroom house with a perfect view of the beach. "Who invented hammers?" she suddenly asked.
"Okay…that was random."
"No! I'm completely serious! Whoever did deserves to be shot. That's, like, the zillionth time I hit myself today!"
The two men looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Terri, Terri, Terri…you mean little Miss ER Nurse can't handle a simple hammer?"
"Oh, I can handle a lot of things, believe me. But, seriously, tell me I don't act like a girly – girl. I'm not that high maintenance…am I?" she asked, glancing worriedly at her friends.
"Ter, relax," Jack assured her. "You're one of the least high maintenance people I know."
She seemed satisfied with his response, and things went back to normal for a while. They stepped back to admire their handiwork. "I like it! I really like it!"
"You should," he grumbled. "Considering we wasted the whole morning of a perfectly good Saturday to do this for you and then we almost break our backs trying to haul all your junk in here."
"Junk! My life was is those boxes! My life is not junk!"
"Could've fooled me. And half of it was clothes and cosmetics!"
"It was not half! It's more like…a fourth. But still…so what? Quality is more important than quantity."
"All the more reason why you should get rid of this stuff."
Setting her lips in a thin line, Terri glared at him. "I don't remember asking for your opinion. Anyway, at least it's better than constantly trying to sell cars that never work!"
"Hey! Most of them work!"
"They do not! The only difference is they die after you get them home rather then in the parking lot!"
In one swift swoop, Larry caught Terri lightly around the waist. "Don't mock what you can not understand, my love." He kissed her cheek softly. "Besides, if you're my girlfriend, you can't trash me anymore."
"Where's the fun in that?" she asked, cocking her head slightly and smiling.
"Good point," he finally conceded. "No fun at all."
"You know what?" Jack interjected. "I'm just going to go. Have fun, you two." He had absolutely no problem with his two friends dating, and the fact that they were obviously in love was depressing in itself. Plus, they were still in that couldn't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other stage, which only reminded him of Janet and how much he screwed up with her. How much he longed to be with her, to hold her and kiss her and make her laugh and smile every day for the rest of his life. "See you guys later."
"No! Hold on!" Still giggling hysterically, she managed to untangle herself from her boyfriend's grasp to face her friend. "We're sorry…I've got something to tell you anyway." But Larry's lips were on her neck, and she couldn't help but to moan softly. Shaking her head, she turned to Jack. "Janet called last week."
If anything was ever to get his attention, that sentence did the trick. "What? When? What did she say? Why didn't you tell me?"
Larry snorted. "Eager much?"
Elbowing him in the ribs, Terri held up one hand, laughing. "One thing at a time, all right? My mind doesn't work that fast. Now, first of all, she called last Tuesday. Nothing much…just small talk. She's been really busy lately. And excuse me if I didn't rush out to tell you right away, but, frankly, I've got better things to do then keep tabs on you every second of every day. I don't really know your lifestyle anymore. Anyhow, I'm telling you now, aren't I?"
"Oh, yeah. I can really see how she can't take time out of her day to make a ten second phone call. It's been four months, Terri, in case you haven't noticed."
Terri sighed. She knew he wasn't really mad at her, or at Janet. That was just his way. It was easier for him to get angry then to think about what he had lost. Or about what he was afraid of losing. She knew he was afraid, that, as the days went by, so did chances of a recollection. She knew that he was worried if their forced friendship could even hope to survive. "Yell at her, not me. Go home and call."
He didn't have to be told twice. In fact, he was out the door before she could even shout out her next word. "Thanks! Bye!"
When Jack got back home – he was now the lone resident in his old house – he immediately went to the phone and dialed Janet's new number. After ringing multiple times, a little voice came onto the line. "Hello?"
"Hi there. My name's Jack, and I am a friend of your mom's. Is she there?" things were different. Janet was a mommie now.
"Uh-uh."
"Can I talk to her?" he asked after waiting patiently for a few moments without getting a response.
"One minute." He heard a chair scraping the floor, and the pitter-patter of tiny feet got softer and softer. "Mommy! Some guy's on the phone!"
Finally, Janet's familiar voice could be heard in the background. "Brianna, sweetie, we've been through this. Don't call him 'some guy', okay? It's not polite." She sighed and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Cute kid."
"Oh…hey. Yeah…sorry about that. In her defense, she's only five. And she's getting better. I've been trying to teach her not just to randomly hang up anymore."
"Glad to know you've still got social skills."
She laughed. "Did you just call for the hell of it, or what? I mean, not that I don't want to talk to you, but…."
"Wanted to see how you were, love. How's it feel to be a mom?"
"I'm really a mom," she whispered softly to herself. "Sometimes I still can't believe it."
"That makes two of us."
"Gee, thanks. Your confidence is overwhelming."
"Haven't lost your glowing sarcasm, I see." They chatted idly for a few moments, and it seemed like they were almost friends again. No complications, no hidden feelings…no love. He didn't even think about bringing up the letter or the kiss; if she wanted to talk about it, she'd bring it up. But he wasn't about to wreck it when their relationship was going better than it had been since she left. Reiterating his previous question, he asked, "So how does it feel to be a mom?"
"Some days are better than others. They don't hate me or anything, but good God, Jack, I never knew three people could have so much energy."
"Why on earth would they hate you?"
"Because I'm not their real mom," Janet answered promptly. "I'd say that's a pretty good excuse for hating me."
"Have they ever given any indication of hating you, or are you just borrowing trouble? Because, you know, you tend to do that."
"Not really. Well, at least not to my face. Brianna's just great, though. She's at that age that she knows something's different, but not exactly what. She's just the best. I just love her to pieces. Then there's Jamie…he's 9. He's sort of at that pre-teenage rebellion stage, and he hates that I'm another person who can tell him to go to bed early and not play R-rated video games. But he and I sat down and had a long talk – actually, I talked and he pretended to listen – and he's getting better. At least he's meeting me halfway now. Lindsey's the oldest. She's 12, and she's just thrilled to death that there's finally an 'older girl' to be her shopping buddy and guide her through all of her feminine problems."
Jack made a face, even though he knew Janet couldn't see him. "Enough said."
She laughed. He loved that he was able to make her laugh. "Sorry…I bet you've had enough of tampons and eyeliner to last a lifetime."
"Never. I'd let it be everywhere if you were still here. I could never get enough of you."
"So sweet," she whispered, absently twisting the phone cord around her wrist.
"I always mean what I say. So, you've told me about you and the kids. How's Phillip?" The silence spoke volumes to him. "Sweetheart, what did that bastard do to you?"
"Nothing. He's fine. We're fine. Everything's great."
"You don't sound so sure."
She shook her head. "Just drop it. Please."
"I can't."
"When did you get to be so obstinate?"
"I learned from the best."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. You're absolutely hysterical."
"Seriously, though, honey. Are you having second thoughts?"
"Considering I'm married and knee-deep in Barbies and Superman action figures, it's most likely a little late for that."
"I know you better than anyone. That's how I know you make jokes when you want to avoid things. Talk to me."
Her voice was so soft that Jack had to strain to hear, and even so, it was barely audible. "S-sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if we rushed. Actually, I know I did. It's like we jumped into the pool without bothering to check how deep the water was. I love him, I know I do, but sometimes I wonder if that's enough…never mind. You're my friend, not my psychiatrist. You didn't cal to hear all my pathetic problems."
"What now?"
"I don't really know…we're just kind of letting it ride right now. It's like, we know there's stuff to work out, but neither of us have the time or energy to fix it. Maybe it'll fix itself. I don't want to discuss it." She frantically picked her brain for a neutral topic. Come on! What do you like to talk about? Sighing, she gave up and tentatively stepped toward her failure. "Jack…I read it."
"Oh. Damn it. Listen, that's something I never meant for you to see. The only reason I even wrote it was to get it all on paper. Hopefully that would make it go away. No offense to you, I mean. Janet, hon, you're great. You're more than great. You're my best friend, and I want to keep it that way. "
"All right."
"No, I'm being honest. Janet, you're the one woman in my life that's always been there for me. I don't want to screw that up."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Honey, it's really not a big thing. It's probably just a little crush, or maybe I just got jealous of Phillip. But it's fine now."
"Of course. I don't want to lose you. We're fine. Honest."
Janet let out the breath she hadn't even been aware she was holding. "Fabulous. I wouldn't want this to mess us up."
"Exactly. Same here. Did you tell him?"
"You mean Phillip?"
"No, I meant the crazy neighbor down the street who mows the lawn in his underwear."
She giggled. "Believe it or not, we actually have one of those. Brianna and Jamie call him Ugly Naked Guy. But, yes…I did tell him."
"And?"
"Fine. He took it fine. Why wouldn't he? He knows I love him. I mean, it's not like I'm actually interested in starting anything with you."
"Seriously…answer faster, would you?"
"That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"I know…listen, I'll talk to you later. Call me when you're not so busy."
"Jack," she cried, surprised to find that tears were springing to her eyes. "Don't do this!" She sighed, muttering angrily as she heard the incessant hum of the dial tone in her ear. "Fine. Be that way. Be an immature baby. See if I care." As soon as the words left her mouth though, she knew they weren't true. Jack didn't want to ruin their friendship because what they had was too amazing to risk it on hormones and lust. Why did that thought mean more than Phillip telling her that he loved her? It wasn't anything against her. Jack wouldn't ever be anything but a great friend. So why do I feel so lousy?
Days turned into weeks, and the weeks stretched out into months. Two long, hard months where Jack and Janet didn't speak at all. Thankfully, though, the kids gave her lots of opportunities to keep her mind off her deteriorating relationships. She was seriously thinking of adding teaching reading to her list of major accomplishments. Nowadays, getting through a meal without somebody running off in tears was cause for celebration. Sighing exasperatedly, she flicked off the oven, poured the popcorn in the tub and handed Lindsey small bowls for her siblings. "Supermom," she muttered to herself as the phone rang. Tucking the handle under her chin, she managed a quick hello.
"Have any room in your life for an ex-best friend?" She didn't respond right away, so he tried a different tactic. "There's no way you can see this, but I'm holding up a flag to celebrate the heritage of our friendship. That is, if we still have one."
Finally, he was rewarded with the sound of her tinkling laughter. "Hey, you. I kept meaning to call – I hated how we ended things – but I've been kind of sidetracked."
"I hear you. How've you been?"
Janet groaned. "Don't ask."
"Wasn't gonna…well actually I just did."
"My life sucks."
"Bad day?"
"Gee, you think!"
"Talk to me, babe. Tell me what's wrong."
"Everything."
"Well, that could take awhile, and I'm the one paying for this call. Narrow it down a bit."
"Me, for one thing. None of my old clothes fit anymore, which is depressing enough in itself. My marriage is basically dead. And these three are driving me crazy!" There were suddenly screams in the background, followed by yelling, crying, and the angry stomp of a little girl being grounded. Coming back onto the line, she asked him, "Jack, do you want kids someday?"
"Um…sure?" He laughed. "I've got a feeling that this is one of those questions I'm going to get wrong no matter what, so why don't you just tell me where you're going with this?"
"Take mine."
"What gives? What was that about?"
Janet sighed miserably. "Nothing much. Just your average knock-down-screaming fest. Something about popcorn and one of them got more than the other. Oh, now they're both pissed because Lindsey got her own bag. She's the oldest, you guys! Knock it off! Hey!" she admonished, Jack, who was trying not to laugh. "This is so not any kind of funny!"
"Of course not," he assured her. "In fact, it's the complete opposite of funny…"
"Fine…just go ahead and laugh. My life's simply hysterical, I know."
"Hey…" he replied gently. "What's wrong?"
"You can't guess?" she scoffed. "I gave you a list and everything. Three very specific areas."
"Two," he corrected softly. "Because no matter what you say, you'll always be beautiful."
"You always know what to say," she whimpered, then shaking her head. "But it doesn't matter. Not that it helps any. I could be Miss America and it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference."
"Ah…are you and he…trouble in paradise?"
She laughed, a hard bitter chuckle. "Paradise went away a long time ago, Jack."
"What did he do?"
"Nothing! That's the point! He hasn't so much as touched me…since the night before we came out here."
Jack held up his hand. "Please don't elaborate. Sweetie, you're a wonderful girl…but please don't give me weird mental images."
"Is it my fault that's the way your mind works?" she teased.
"It could be!" he retorted.
She continued on as if he hadn't spoken. "So it's just been peaceful coexistence, you know? I mean, really. We're five people living in the same house, and it's like, 'oh by the way, we're family.' He was particularly nice that one week, though, but that was just because he knew that I knew. He was worried I'd tell. See, there was this one night where Phillip had to go out to some business dinner. I didn't care that there were two girls in the car with him. Okay, two drop-dead gorgeous girls. But I trusted him. Mistake number one. Anyway, I had just finished putting the little ones to bed when…oh God, I -." She bit down hard on her lower lip to keep the tears from falling; nevertheless, Jack heard soft sniffles on the other end of the line.
"I'm sorry, darling. I shouldn't have pushed it so much. Never mind."
"No, I…it's quite all right. I need to do this. It…it was about 10:00 when he finally came back. I went out to meet him, and…I smelled the perfume. And I knew. I just knew. Those girls weren't wearing that fragrance, and you know how I barely wear perfume. Besides, he told me later how he faked a headache and dropped those girls off early so he could go be with Kelly."
"Who's Kelly?"
"Hell if I know. Some bimbo secretary at his office."
"Why does he need a secretary? I mean, I'm all for increasing productivity, and no offense or anything, but, he can't be that busy."
"I KNOW!" she screeched, and Jack could've sworn that she sounded exactly like Monica, that neurotic crazy chick on Friends. "So he 'works' with this former Mss Hawaiian Tropic girl who, in all honesty, knows less about art than I do, but has breasts that can be used as floatation devices. All this went on for a long while, because, as naïve and stupid that I was, I always believed all the lies he fed me. Then came the night I found out, and it blew up in our faces. Let me tell you, we had been fighting about the smallest and silliest things lately, but this was the biggest by far. But for the next week or so, it was like when we first met. He was so great to me. Maybe he thought I'd run and blab to the country club, I don't know. But whatever. Anyway, we knew the nice-walking-on-eggshells thing couldn't go on for all eternity. He actually told me it was my fault. That he loved me and that everything he'd ever done with Kelly was a mistake. A one-time thing. One time…that conveniently happened every other night they were together. Yeah, right. He actually had the nerve to say that it was my fault our marriage was down the tubes. That I was ruining it because I couldn't forgive and forget. Like he couldn't tell he was the one who screwed me over, screwing around with that tramp." Breaking off suddenly, she just realized that she had just told him everything. "I guess you were just looking for a yes or no, right?"
"I'm really sorry," he mumbled, knowing that the words were woefully inadequate.
"Where have I heard that before? Everybody says they're sorry, but nobody really means it," she groaned. "Oh, Jack, I'm sorry. I know this isn't your fault."
"How are you holding up?"
"Amazingly, I'm fine with it. 18 weeks later, but I'm fine. You want to know what the worst part is?"
"There's more?"
"Sadly. But just so you know, I'm on the verge of a major cry. Even after all that's happened, all I keep thinking about that one week is how wonderful it was. I mean, we both knew it was an act, that he was just trying to save his own ass, but…by all means, I was happy. Believing that he really loved me and that he was excited about the baby, and we could finally be the family I'd always hoped we would be. I was HAPPY. You're not supposed to only feel that once." She closed her eyes then, and sure enough, she started to whimper. "Told you I would," she sniffled. "Look. I've got to go find some Kleenex. It's movie night. Why don't you come visit me sometime?"
"You sure about that?"
"I'm sure that I'd love to see you. I'm sure that I'd love for you to make me smile right about now. Come on down in a couple of months. I'll need all the baby-sitters I can get."
"Oh, so is that all you love me for?" he asked, feigning hurt.
She laughed. "You know it's not. I really miss you. All of you."
"I miss you too, hon. Hey, here's some news on the home front? Guess who has a girlfriend?"
"Larry? That's no shocker…he's got a new girlfriend every day."
"That's not the shock. The real kicker is who the lucky girl is."
She sighed. "Somehow I wouldn't call being able to date Larry Dallas lucky. But I'll bite. Who?"
"Our own nurse friend Terri."
Her eyes were wide with shock. "But…she knows better! She knows what he's like!"
"Go figure girls."
"Why on earth would she willingly set herself up for something like that?"
"Maybe she just finds him incredibly attractive."
Janet snorted. "Larry?"
"Hey! He's got good points!
"Name one."
"His socks always match…he's always on time…he knows how to tell time."
Janet laughed. "You're weird, you know that? But you make me laugh, so I have to love you."
"Of course you do. So…when can I come see you?"
"After the baby's born," she promised him.
"I'll be taking you up on that," Jack replied. "You…you be sure and take good care of yourself, sweetheart."
"Always," she whispered softly. "Bye." Then she hung up the phone, unsure of what exactly had taken place. It was only Jack, yet her heart was racing as of she had just run a marathon. Please let this be the hormones and Ny-Quil affecting my brain. It has to be! I don't have a crush on Jack. That would mean the end of the world as we know it, and I, for one, can't deal with that kind of pressure.
Why did I ever support the idea of big families? Janet wondered hopelessly for the hundredth time. Three years later, and the breakfast ritual hadn't gotten any easier. If possible, it had gotten more complicated. I must have been insane.
"Mommie!" a little voice broke her from her reverie. A few seconds later, the small girl came into view, her soft curls bouncing and blue eyes sparkling. Her teddy bear dragged on the ground. "Hungry time!"
"Cheerios or Fruit Loops?"
"'O's!" As soon as the bowl was set in front of her, Stacy immediately stuck her tiny fist in and pulled out a dripping handful. Raising it to her mouth, only half made it in.
Janet sighed, taking a dishrag and wiping her daughter's face and hands. "Spoon, Stace."
Stacy smiled a toothy grin as she picked up the spoon, plunked it into the bowl, and then lifted some cereal into her mouth. Success! Janet couldn't help smiling back. No matter for all the complaining, and all the hassles, Stacy remained priority number one. She loved her dearly, and never regretted her, not even for a second.
"One sec, hon," she said as the doorbell rang.
In response, however, Stacy lifted her arms. "Up!" she commanded.
Janet laughed. "You've got me wrapped around you're little finger, don't you, love? Don't you?" She ticked her, and Stacy giggled, before Janet opened the door. Her mouth dropped open, before quickly forming a smile, when she saw who was on the other side. "Jack…" she whispered, walking into his open arms. Neither of them said a word for a few moments. She simply let him hold her, for no other reason than it felt nice to be loved. It felt really good. For some inexplicable reason, Jack always knew what she needed. He was always there to make her happy again.
"You okay?" he murmured softly so that Stacy wouldn't hear.
"Yeah…just that Phillip died a couple of days ago."
"Oh, hon."
"Yeah…I'm okay, though." She forced a smile. "Hey, little one, why don't you go finish breakfast? Mommy wants to talk to her friend for a while, okay?" Stacy scampered off, causing Janet to smile. "My one love."
"She's adorable," Jack commented. "And her mom's not so bad either."
She blushed. Jack's compliments always made her blush, for some reason. But she loved that he went out of his way to make her feel special. "Flattery will get you everywhere, buddy."
"I'll remember that."
"You better." Then she grinned. "Hey, will you watch her for a few seconds while I take a shower? It's no big deal…just make sure her breakfast doesn't end up on the floor."
"Fantastic," he deadpanned, but then smiled. "Sure."
Spontaneously, she enveloped her former roommate in a hug. "I really have no clue why you're here, but I'm so glad you are. Things aren't nearly as crazy without you."
"Or as fun," he retorted, causing her to playfully stick out her tongue at him.
"Just take care of my baby, all right?"
"Hey!" he said excitedly. Finishing her breakfast, Stacy had toddled into the living room, and was now standing by Jack expectantly. He picked her up and twirled her around a few times, and she squealed happily. "Janet! She likes me!"
"How could she not!" Janet teased. "Mommy will be back in a few minutes, okay? Mommy always comes back." About five minutes after getting in – three years of prepubescent girls and unruly kids had taught her the art of fast showers – Janet stepped onto the fuzzy bathmat. For the first time in years, as she stood in front of her dresser and walk-in closet, she had a problem. She had absolutely no idea what to wear. Janet had heard Lindsey on the phone with friends Carrie and Mikalah a million times, describing what the three had quickly dubbed as a 'clothing crisis.' And now she was right in the middle of one, a full-fledged C.C. She could practically hear direction in her ear. Go for a natural sexy, Mom. You want him to know that you want to impress him, but not so much that you look like you're trying.
"Janet!" Jack's voice halted the battle over clothes. "Stacy seems to want a popsicle. That okay?"
"Sure!" she yelled back.
"Can you tell me where they are?"
"Freezer!" she called. "Oh, never mind. I'm coming!" She threw up her hands as she critically glanced at the periwinkle blue v-neck sweater and the tight jeans she'd accidentally-on-purpose put on. Oh well. Slipping on some lip-gloss and fuzzy slippers, she ran downstairs.
Jack couldn't help but to stare as her hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft ripples. Does she wake up like this? How could I have missed it for the past seven years? How could I not notice how beautiful she was? Why had he wasted so much energy on other women when the one he wanted was right here, right now?
"…so I thought I might want to go kill myself tomorrow. Nice change of pace, you know."
"What!"
Janet laughed. "That's what you get for not paying attention to me."
He had to laugh. Taking her hand as they sat down together on the couch, he asked her the question that had been plaguing him for the past several months. "How's it been? Any better?"
She sighed. This was just what she wanted to avoid, the past. She didn't want anybody's pity, especially Jack's. But he reached for her hand, and she could see the undeniable love and concern and support in his beautiful blue eyes, so she continued. "About a couple of weeks after Stacy was born, Phillip came back. But he brought divorce papers with him, and said he was suing for custody of all four of them. I couldn't let that scum scam the courts into making me give up my baby, Jack. I just couldn't. So it all came out in the trial, and suffice to say, it got pretty darn ugly sometimes. I tried to keep them out of it as much as I could. So…he got the divorce he wanted; I got the kids I wanted."
"I would say good for you, but…"
Janet smiled sadly. "It's okay. Really. I made my peace a long time ago. I'm never going to forgive what he did to me, but I'm tired of using and focusing all my energy on being mad. It's not worth it anymore. One night…one night a couple of days after the trial was over, there was a storm. Brianna came in and wanted to sleep with me; lightning scares her. So she got in and curled up right beside me, and before she fell asleep, she told me she loved me. And, you know, that's it. That's it, right then and there. These kids are the most important things in my life, and that's what I'm living for."
"You never told me – "
"It's not something I like to talk about. And…and I'm trying so damn hard to be strong, but Stacy's so much a part of him…and the other three do something to remind me every day…and it's just not working." She didn't even care anymore than tears were streaming down her face. "I can't do this anymore, Jack! I can't!"
Immediately, he pulled her into his arms as she buried her face in his chest. "Hey, hey, hey," he murmured, running his hands through her hair. "Sweetheart, you don't have to be strong for anyone. Especially me. Sshh…sweetie, I'm right here. You're not alone, okay? You'll never be alone again, I promise." He sighed and tried to comfort her as best he could. Truth be told, he had never, ever seen Janet break down. Sure, she had cried a couple of times, but never like this. She had always been the strongest woman he knew, and seeing her so fragile and helpless terrified him.
After a few moments, she lifted her head slightly to meet his gaze, and everything else seemed to melt away. In an instant, his thumb was wiping away her stray tears, and Janet sighed. For reasons unknown to her, she was content to stay in his arms forever. Jack smiled, that crooked grin that always made her heart melt. He knew that what he was going to say would change their relationship forever, but he didn't care. He was tired of pretending. Tired of pretending that he didn't care, that she didn't matter, that he didn't love her, when in reality, he couldn't stop stop loving her. "Can I kiss you?"
Janet blinked. She really hadn't been expecting that. Thousands of scenarios had run through her mind, but that certainly wasn't one of them. How on earth could she tell him no, though, when she wanted him so badly? Janet had no idea what was wrong with her. Where these ideas about Jack were coming from. Maybe it was hormones left over from her pregnancy, though she doubted it. Maybe it was just the fact that he was right there, in front of her, and all of the old feelings and emotions concerning him were coming back. Or maybe...she was falling in love. Maybe she already had. Whatever "it" was, every neuron in her body was telling her to say..."Yes."
So he did.
When his lips met hers, she just about melted in his arms. The kiss was so sweet, sweeter than the one years ago...it was like perfection. She closed her eyes, savoring the absolute rightness of the moment. Jack was gently laying her down on the couch, and her arms went up around his neck. "Planning on taking advantage of me?" she teased, but her voice was trembling.
"Advantage? No way," Jack responded, kissing her again.
Janet sighed happily, opening her mouth to deepen the kiss. She never imagined kissing her best friend would feel like this. She never even knew it could be like this. True, Phillip had made her feel good, but NO ONE, not even her ex- husband, had made her feel the way that Jack was making her feel right now... so amazingly good, like every inch of her body was on fire. She finally understood why everyone always compared it to rockets and firecrackers. This is what she had been missing all along. This is what having a boyfriend and being in love was supposed to feel like. BOYFRIEND? LOVE! Hold on, girl. She pulled away, breathlessly
"That was totally wrong...right?" he asked her softly.
She jumped off the couch. Being in such close proximity to him was making it difficult to think. "I'll...be right back."
"I'm sorry. I know that doesn't mean anything to you...but I honestly am."
"I know." She forced a smile. "It's not you, okay? It's...It's me," she stammered, backing out of he room. When she was safely out of Jack's line of vision, she sank against the wall, tears once again threatening to spill over. What had she done? She had just kissed Jack Tripper - her best friend in the world - and she wanted nothing more than to dash back in there and let him kiss her again. But why? Janet had counted on and desperately needed Jack to be the one constant in her life. The one person she could count on, the one person she could trust. Oh, she knew she could trust him. He wouldn't hurt her if his life depended on it. Now, though...everything was different. She had done the unimaginable. She had gone and fallen hopelessly in love with Jack Tripper. NOW what was she going to do!
Buckle down, girl, she commanded herself. You can do this. You have to do this.
It was better to keep things strictly platonic. Having her wisdom teeth pulled the year before had been painful enough.
Open-heart surgery could kill her.
