A Toast To A Love That Never Was Chapter 12
The few men shrugged, not daring to say anything about it.
How were they supposed to explain? Were they supposed to tell the only person who might be able to talk sense into Dustin that his disgraceful state tonight was all because of another woman?
Luckily, Jane didn’t dwell on it. Dustin’s drunken state left Jane filled with worry. She stepped forward and gently tried to rouse him. “Dustin? How are you feeling?”
A woman’s voice rang out next to his ear. Dustin cracked his eyes open in a blur, but couldn’t make out her face. All he knew was that she felt strangely familiar.
So, when she came closer, Dustin didn’t resist and let her pull him upright.
“He’s had far too much. I’ll take him home.” Jane naturally claimed the responsibility of bringing him back. Harry and the others nodded quickly, all too eager to rid themselves of the trouble.
As the two figures disappeared from the private room, Caleb Warren finally spoke up. “What do you think is going on with Dustin?”
Harry shook his head with a heavy sigh. “Who knows?”
If the one Dustin loved was Jane, then his gratitude for what Melanie did when he was paralyzed might have kept him conflicted. After all, Melanie being gone should have made him happy.
But if the one he liked was Melanie, then why had he always claimed to see her only as a sister?
Why had he chosen to favor Jane time and time again?
No one understood what Dustin was thinking, not even Dustin himself.
By the time Dustin woke up, it was already the next day.
Blinding sunlight was streaming through the window, causing his headache from the hangover to sweep over him. He frowned, massaging his temples as he glanced at the bedside. Sure enough, there sat a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
Something sparked in his mind, and joy surged through him. He leapt out of bed and headed straight for the kitchen.
The sound of clinking porcelain filled the air. He pushed the door open and blurted out, “Mel?”
The figure inside froze for an instant, but quickly regained her composure.
Jane turned around as though nothing had happened. “Dustin? You’re awake. I left some soup by your bed. Did you drink it? Forget it–that one must be cold by now. I’ll get you a fresh bowl.”
She ladled out another bowl, smiling as she handed it to Dustin, who stared at it in silence for a moment before taking it.
“How is it?” Jane asked. Her eyes shone expectantly when he took the bowl.
The warm broth slid down his throat, easing his headache somewhat. Yet, something about the taste felt off. It wasn’t the same as the soup Melanie used to make for him after he drank too much.
The thought of Melanie silenced him again. It took a while before he finally nodded. “It’s good.”
After he said that, silence fell once again in the room. Just as Jane was about to say something, he suddenly asked, “Your parents should be back in the country now, right?”
The abrupt question caught her off guard, but Jane still nodded. “They came back three days ago.
The next second, Jane heard Dustin say, “I let you stay here because you said your family wasn’t around. Since they’re back, you should move home today. I’ll have someone drive you later.”
With that, he turned and walked away, not bothering to see her reaction.
“Dustin!” Jane cried out.
She had no intention of letting him leave so easily. Seeing that Dustin wasn’t even looking back, she hurried forward and grabbed his hand. “Dustin, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to drive me out?”
She wore a panicked expression as she tightened her grip unconsciously around his wrist.
Dustin’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly at the pressure. He pulled his hand free and said impatiently, “You never should have come in the first place.”
The way he said that was so cold and ruthless that both of them froze right after. The next second,
Dustin saw Jane’s eyes turn red.
“I’m sorry. There’s no need to send me off. I’ll leave right now!”
