Page 90 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

They were both looking at me with concern, and I felt really, really foolish. “No, I’m fine.” I smiled at Jillian. “Nice to meet you too.”

I stared at her. Damn, she looked way too young to have a fourteen-year-old kid. I thought back to that night and what I saw. She’d kissed him, but it had only been on the cheek. There had been affection between them, but I’d taken something innocent and ran it into the muck. If only I hadn’t acted like an insanely insecure girlfriend…. What a way to fuck up a first impression. That was something I’d never get back again.

“You know what,” Jillian said. “I’ll take Perry inside for a bit and find her something to make her feel better. You go be sociable.” She pointed to the group of people by the fire.

Stephen shook his head. “No, I’m staying with her.”

“No, we’ll be fine,” she said.

He looked at me and I nodded. Better to get this over with sooner rather than later. “All right,” he said, then walked off, shaking his head. I guess big sister won. At least I assumed she was older; otherwise, she would’ve had her son when she’d just hit puberty.

She gave me a warm smile. “Come on, Perry. I have to grab some more food anyway. We can chat in the meantime.”

“Okay.”

I followed her through the back patio doors and into the kitchen. The house was smaller than it looked on the outside, but it was really cute. Cozy.

“So, first off.” She opened the fridge. “What can I get you to drink? Hmm.” She tapped her lip. “I’m pretty sure we have some wine coolers downstairs if you like those. There’s soda up here, iced tea. I don’t have any juice, but we could always make you a mixed drink with—”

“Water,” I said, stopping her before she kept going. “Water’s just fine for now.” Jillian handed me a bottle. “Thank you.”

“Welcome.” She rummaged around and pulled out a bag of veggies.

“I’m really sorry,” I said. I was losing my mind thinking about what happened, knowing she knew but wasn’t acting like it. I had to get it all out while we had this time alone. “I didn’t know who you were that night.” Like that excused my actions, but at least it was a start.

Jillian leaned back on the counter and seemed to study me. Her eyes were just as blue as her brother’s. And just as kind.

“I know, Perry. I had a good idea who you were when I first saw you, but then after my shower”—she smiled—“I put the rest together. I understand.”

She was way too fucking nice. “You didn’t think I was crazy? God, I can’t believe I did that to you. I’ve never acted like that before.” Well, notthat, specifically.

“Sure I thought you were crazy, but jealousy can make a person do irrational things.”

“Oh no, it’s not like that. Stephen and I are just friends….”

“Yes, that’s what he tells me too.”

“…. and I was having a really shitty day, and I know it sounds idiotic, but I saw you and jumped to conclusions, and I was hoping he’d be alone because I really needed a friend that night and….”

I paused. The more I explained, the more I was pretty sure I was making it look like I was in need of psychological help. In my defense, I hadn’t even known he had a sister that night, but was that really a defense?

“At least the drink was clear,” she said, laughing.

I groaned, dropping my head. She was definitely the better person here. I wasn’t sure if I’d be that understanding to a complete stranger.

“Why didn’t you tell him what I did?” I asked.

She shrugged. “What would be the point in that? I already knew enough about you from Stephen to form an opinion, and I figured what happened was just a knee-jerk reaction from seeing him with someone else.” She set a plate of cookies by me and smiled. “Just don’t do it again. Deal?”

“Deal, but it’s not exactly what you think. Like I said, your brother and I are just friends.”

She nodded and walked to the sink. Stephen had talked to Jillian about me? What did he say? I wondered if she knew I had a boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend, but she wouldn’t know that yet because Stephen didn’t. I’d never told him that we’d broken up. But I also didn’t wantJillian thinking I was going nutso over seeing Stephen with another woman while I had a boyfriend. Fucking complicated.

“Really, Jillian. We’re just friends.”

She peered over her shoulder. “Okay.” She smiled. “Make sure to help yourself to a cookie.”

“Thanks.” I picked up a chocolate-covered shortbread thing and took a bite. I was munching on it when a guy entered the kitchen and grabbed keys off the counter.

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