Page 33 of Jesse's Girl

“Honestly, Marcus, have a little fucking faith that I can stop myself from falling on the nearest dick.”

“Ugh, gross,” he groans. “Listen, it’s just that… y’know… He lives in Australia.”

“Like I don’t know that? Your point?”

“I mean, you and long distance… didn’t go great last time.”

“Holy shit. Are you serious right now?” I can’t believe he’s bringing Pascal into this. “Long distance wasn’t even the prob—” I hold up my hands, stopping myself. “You know what? Never mind. This conversation isn’t happening. You’re gonna make me barf. I will barf. And I will aim for you when I do it.”

“Jesus, would you chill out? I’m just trying to look out for you.”

My brows shoot up. “Uh, thanks but no thanks, bro.”

I follow the quick shift in Marcus’ gaze and turn to see the kitchen door swing open.

“Sorry to interrupt!” Mom says as she hurries to the fridge. “Just need to pull the tiramisu out.” It’s a flimsy excuse to eavesdrop on us and we know it. “Mrs. Nicolosi dropped it off earlier as a thank you for helping with that church fundraiser last week.”

“Nah, it’s okay, Mom,” I say quickly. “We’re done talking.” I head back to the dining room without letting Marcus say anything more.

Jesse lifts his head when I come in, tracking me cautiously as I stalk across the room. The thick, awkward silence only gets worse when Marcus and Mom follow me in, filing back to their seats.

“Everything okay?” Jesse asks no one in particular.

“Fine!” Mom chirps, laying the dish on the table alongside a handful of cutlery. “We’ve got tiramisu for dessert!”

Settling into my seat, I tune out Mom’s babbling about desserts and the fundraiser, all too aware of Jesse at my side. When I turn to meet his gaze, he gives me a small smile. I bite the inside of my cheek and fix my eyes on my plate, stabbing my fork into a bit of pot roast.

“Jesse,” Renee starts, casting a glance at Mom and Dad, who are momentarily distracted by shuffling some of the dinner plates to the kitchen. “I was thinking, like, if you’re gonna be around for the rest of the summer? Maybe I could set you up with some of my friends?”

He looks immediately uneasy.

“Nothing serious! Just for some fun!” she adds quickly. “You said you hadn’t really got out much back in Australia, right? So you should live a little while you’re here! Make up for lost time?”

“I dunno,” he hedges. “Is there a point, though, since I’m taking off at the end of August?”

“Uh, yeah. The point is to have fun!” Renee presses. “The dating scene is all casual these days, anyway. But the apps are a nightmare. Let me set you up instead.”

He still seems unsure.

Renee goes on. “Plus, you’ve had such a scare with your mom; you deserve to relax. I have a couple of friends who’d be up for a casual thing. You’d love them—promise.”

“She has a point,” Marcus offers, briefly glancing my way. “It might be fun. We could even double-date.”

“Who’s going on a double-date?” Mom chimes in, returning to her seat.

“Uh, we were just talking about Jesse meeting some of Renee’s friends,” Marcus explains, notably omitting the part about it all being casual.

“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Mom chirps. “And you’re a catch! Any girl would be lucky to go on a date with you.”

Jesse chuckles and looks down at his food. “Thanks, Maria.”

“Mom, stop pressuring him. He can make his own deci—” I start.

“I wasn’t pressuring him!” Mom counters.

“Sure, I’ll do it,” Jesse says beside me. I whip my head around to face him.

He shrugs as if to say why not.

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