Page 26 of Now or Never

Chelsea laughed. “That I am,” she said, looking at Jasper in the distance. “I don’t know if he really got what I was saying, though, but it doesn’t matter. What was between us was dead and done.”

Adam breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately convinced himself that it was for a friend avoiding a toxic relationship with an asshole, and not because he’d just received confirmation that the pretty girl he was dying to see naked was unattached.

“Anyway . . .” she said, shaking off the conversation. “I’ve got work to do. Thanks again for everything.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

She smiled before turning to walk away, and he forced his eyes off her ass, reminding himself that she was the reigning queen of tier one and completely off limits to the likes of him.

But it didn’t stop him from smiling for the rest of the day, knowing that at least Jasper was out of contention, too.

seven

Chelsea stretched her legs across the couch, trying hard not to wake Ben. His head was on a pillow on her lap, and his little legs were stretched across the couch on top of ice packs she’d given him after a nasty fall from his bike.

The bruises were already impressive, but at least there hadn’t been much blood.

“I still can’t believe you,” Jae said, placing a cup of tea on the coffee table within reach of her. “You’re actually going to work for Jasper?”

Chelsea reached for her tea and took a sip. “Vincent Shadd.”

“Ugh, I know,” Jae said, sinking into the worn office chair they were using as living room furniture. “Still.”

“Do you want me to ask if you can come along? Vincent will probably say yes.”

Jae’s whole face sagged. “I can’t. I barely sleep as it is. Editing reality TV is absolute dogshit. I’m going through hundreds of hours of film each week and it’s still not enough for my dicky boss.”

“Sorry, Jae.”

Jae shrugged. “At least I don’t have to answer toJasper,” she said, sticking her tongue out and making a puking sound.

Chelsea smirked. “I can handle Jasper. Vincent is worth it. I’m just happy that lollipop wasn’t still in my hair when Jasper came up.”

Jae laughed. “Did Adam see it?”

Chelsea shook her head. “No, but I don’t care what I look like around him. We’re friends.” She glanced down at Ben to make sure he was still sleeping. “There was a super-hot dad at the school that saw me with it, though.”

“Ooh,” Jae said, leaning forward. “Do tell.”

Chelsea laughed. “Tall, nice smile, grey in his beard, no ring, daughter in Ben’s class who was also having a meltdown on the first day.”

Jae snickered. “Andyouwere actually into him?”

Chelsea considered this, then nodded. She wasn’t salivating over him as she had been with Adam, but he seemed kind and patient as they silently commiserated with each other. “Yeah, I actually was. He doesn’t appear to be a deserter like Jasper. Or a fuck-boy like Adam.”

Jae sipped her tea while staring over the rim of the cup at Chelsea. “You sure you won’t get hurt?”

Chelsea shook her head. “Jasper’s nothing more than a nuisance. I have to take the bad with the good.”

Jae nodded. “And Adam?”

Chelsea paused with her teacup midair and widened her eyes.

“He’s good looking,” Jae said, mounting her case. “You said so yourself. You also said he’s charming and funny. And the vasectomy thing is a plus.”

“How?” Chelsea asked, setting the cup down without taking another sip. What the hell did his vasectomy have to do with her?

“Well, you’re afraid of casual sex because you might get pregnant. But if he can’t get you pregnant, then there’s no risk.”

---