Playing Hooky (Teach Me Tonight) by Lily Rede, Jane Gaudet

said Bree blandly, and Jack watched
as Molly kept her expression carefully blank.
    “I’ve
been trying to stay out of his way so he can get some work done,” she said.
    Bree’s
face fell.
    And
so did Jack’s stomach.
    Just
like that, it was over. She wasn’t going to force him to acknowledge a
relationship in front of her family, and he wasn’t about to step up and
announce it either. He caught one look of absolute devastation in her eyes
before she turned back to loop her arm around her petite mother and guide her
toward the resort.
    “Let’s
get you checked in. You’re going to love the day spa, Mom.”
    They
trailed down the beach, followed by a horde of Callahans, who stopped to shake
hands, clap Jack on the back, or throw themselves at him in effusive hugs along
the way. Finally, he was left alone with Bree.
    “I
was really hoping...” she began, “Oh well. It’ll be nice to spend some time
with you, Jack. I haven’t had a real vacation in forever.”
    She
kissed his cheek and followed the others.
    Jack
watched Molly disappear, feeling hollow and cold, like someone had abruptly
turned off the sun.
    It
was going to end next week anyway ,
he reminded himself.
    “Shit,”
he said.
     
    LUNCH
WAS TORTURE, AND Molly moved food around her plate as her family laughed and
talked over each other. Jack sat at the end of the table, not looking at her.
    It
wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her family – after nearly a week to
recharge, she’d started wondering how they were all doing. And now that they
had all shelled out a pretty penny to come halfway around the world to join
her, the least she could do was enjoy their company.
    But
she couldn’t.
    All
she could think about was the future stretching out in front of her.
    Without
Jack.
    This
sucks, she
thought miserably.
    Her
father nudged her.
    “You
know, Molly, if you wanted time by yourself, you only had to say so.”
    His
blue eyes, so much like hers, were filled with understanding.
    “Sometimes
you guys are a little much, that’s all. And it was the end of the year, and I
was so frazzled...but I’m glad you’re here. Really. You’re going to love this
place.”
    Dad
relaxed and patted her arm.
    “I
just want you to be happy, sweetie.”
    Down
at the other end of the table, Jack and Bree were arguing.
    “…And
I didn’t come here to play, Bree. This is my work!”
    “The
least you could do is spend a little time with us, Jack. I’m not asking for
much. What did I do that was so terrible?”
    “I
think we both know you’ve done quite enough.”
    The
table fell silent as Jack stormed away, leaving the Callahans shocked.
    Molly
watched him go, her heart aching. This was what it was going to be like from
now on – Jack avoiding them whenever possible, retreating into his lonely work,
and Molly wondering what might have been if she were brave enough to stand up
and take what she wanted, no matter what the consequences.
    She
was standing before she even realized it, and her mother looked up at her in
surprise.
    “Okay,
family. It’s time to get a few things straight. I love you and it’s great to
see you, but if you’re going to share my vacation we have to have some rules. Some
boundaries. No waking me up for early morning runs, no conga lines on the dance
floor, and most of all, no aggravating my boyfriend when he’s got work to do.”
     
    JACK
GRABBED THE ROPE looped around the tablet in the pond and pulled ,
relieved when the massive chunk of stone moved an inch. He should probably wait
for help, but the physical labor helped him focus on something other than Molly
Callahan.
    It
had taken every ounce of willpower not to claim her as his own in front of her
family, especially when her sisters had started pushing her to flirt with one
of the resort’s swim instructors, a muscled meathead whose eyes lingered far
too long on areas of Molly’s exquisite body that belonged solely to him.
    Or
did.
    He
was hurt that she hadn’t acknowledged