0°Celsius: To thaw a frozen heart
Chapter 22

He’ll be just fine.

Those four syllables had become Jen’s personal catchphrase. Ever since Cash had left, she’d been twisted up in knots, worried out of her mind and constantly questioning her decision to make things permanent with him. How did other women do it, damn it? Cash had only been gone for three days, but it felt like an eternity, and she was going crazy not knowing if he was okay.

Ironically, the woman next to her was in the same boat, yet Annabelle seemed downright chipper as she sat behind the wheel of Cash’s SUV and sang along to the White Stripes song blaring out of the speakers. Annabelle was playing chauffeur for the day because Jen was too much of a basket case to make the drive to Los Angeles alone. Her interview with Today’s World was in an hour, and she desperately wished Cash were here so he could ease her nerves with his distracting kisses.

But at least Annabelle had agreed to accompany her. Well, not so much agreed as ordered. After two days of Annabelle popping in every other minute to “hang out,” Jen had finally gotten her to confess that Cash and Carson had told her to stick to Jen like glue. Even with Brendan gone, the two overprotective men in her life still thought she needed a babysitter.

“Why are you so happy?” Jen demanded. “Aren’t you worried about Ryan?”

Annabelle lowered the volume. “Nope.”

“Really?”

“Worrying doesn’t achieve a thing. Ryan can take care of himself, and I trust that he’ll do everything in his power to come home to me.”

She envied the woman’s confidence. She might feel more confident herself if she knew where Cash was or what he was even doing, but SEAL operations were kept under wraps, and she knew nothing except that this was a “minor” op, low-threat, and not likely to be lengthy. Knowing that didn’t make her feel the slightest bit better, but this was their first separation in what would most likely be many, and she was determined to pass this first test with flying colors.

“Cash will be fine,” Annabelle said as they drove through West Hollywood. “He and the others are trained for this.”

“I know, but I’m still worried.”

“You should worry about impressing that photo editor instead.”

“Trust me, I’m doing that too.” She bit her lip. “What if he hates my portfolio?”

“He won’t. He’s already seen all the photographs in it, remember? This interview is just a formality, Jen. You’ve got the job in the bag.”

“I hope so.”

The Today’s World building came into view, and Annabelle drove into the underground parking lot.

“How do I look?” Jen asked after Annabelle parked in a space near the elevators.

“Gorgeous, as usual.”

She smoothed out the front of her pale-blue silk blouse, tucked neatly into her knee-length black pencil skirt. She’d swept her hair up in a neat bun and opted for minimal makeup. She had no clue whether this was a formal interview or a laidback meeting. She just hoped she looked professional enough.

She took a breath and looked at Annabelle. “Are you going to wait here?”

Nodding, the brunette fished her phone from the cup holder. “Yeah, I have some emails to send.” Annabelle’s smile was full of encouragement. “Kick some ass in there, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

An hour later, Jen slid back into the car and tossed the leather portfolio in the backseat.

“How did it go?” Annabelle demanded when she didn’t utter a word.

Letting out a shaky breath, she met Annabelle’s impatient gaze. “I got the job.”

“You did?”

“I did.”

The next thing she knew, Annabelle lunged across the center console and nearly suffocated her in a tight hug. “I knew you would! Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” she said weakly.

Annabelle released her and started the car, still grinning like crazy. “So what’s your first assignment?”

“They’re starting me off with puff pieces. The magazine’s running an interview with Senator Markowski for the next issue and they want me to take his picture. He wants it done at his house in Lake Tahoe, so I’m flying out there next week.”

As they emerged from the parking garage, sunlight assaulted Jen’s eyes. She rummaged in her purse for her sunglasses and slipped them on. A part of her was still feeling dumbfounded. She’d gotten a job. A photography job. So why didn’t it feel real to her?

Heading for the interstate, Annabelle glanced over with a deep frown. “Why don’t you look happy? You just got the job of your dreams.”

“I know. I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “After Rick hired me, my first instinct was to call Cash, and then I got all bummed out when I remembered I couldn’t.”

Annabelle looked sympathetic. “Look, I know it sucks. The first time Ryan was gone, I was a nervous wreck too. But it gets easier.”

She pictured Carson and Holly, and thought, No, it doesn’t. But she bit back the words. Besides, maybe every couple was unique. Savannah and Matt, for example—Savannah was so independent she almost seemed to enjoy the time off from her boyfriend.

Maybe she and Cash wouldn’t drift apart during his absences. Maybe the time apart would bring them even closer.

Either way, Annabelle was right. Worrying about things beyond her control was counterproductive.

“Did you still want to stop by your apartment before we head home?” Annabelle exited the off-ramp and sped toward San Diego’s city center.

“If you don’t mind. I really need that spare power adapter.” Her charger had died on her last night, but she hadn’t felt like driving all the way to her place to pick up the extra one she kept there.

“When are you moving out of Cash’s?”

Jen shrugged. “A couple of days, probably.”

“Why bother? I’m sure Hot Stuff will love it if you moved in with him.” There was a playful twinkle in Annabelle’s eyes.

“Yeah, but I doubt Matt will. Besides, I don’t think I’m ready for that. We’ve only been together a month.”

“And living together,” Annabelle pointed out.

“Yeah, but that was out of necessity.” And now that her crazy ex was out of the picture, it was time to return to her own place. She loved Cash, but it was too early for them to officially live together, especially since she had a brand-new career to focus on.

Annabelle parked the car in front of Jen’s building. “Want me to come up with you?”

“Nah, I’ll only be a minute.”

Grabbing her purse, she dashed into the building. Her kitten heels clicked on the lobby floor as she walked to the elevator. She rode it up to the fifth floor, fishing her keys from her purse as she strode down the frayed carpet in the hallway.

The moment she entered her apartment, she experienced a sense of disorientation. Everything looked exactly the same—tiny living room, blue carpeting, mismatched furniture, sticky notes all over the place—yet it felt like a lifetime since she’d been here rather than a mere three weeks.

She went to the bedroom and got the laptop charger from the bottom drawer of her desk. She coiled the cord and tucked the adapter into her purse, then strode back to the living room just as a knock sounded on the door.

She frowned for a moment, before realizing Annabelle had probably come up to use the bathroom or something.

“Sorry, I locked the door,” she called as she unlocked the deadbolt. “It’s become a habit ever since—” Her breath caught in a startled gasp when she laid eyes on her ex. “Brendan?”