Page 69 of Little Gray Dress

“So, you’re with him for the money?”

“No. No, I didn’t even know he had money. This isn’t his money, though, it’s his parents’.”

“Technicality. So, if not the money, then what?” She removes the glasses altogether and sits up in her chair. “What’s so special about Jack?” The way she says his name makes me cringe a little. I know brothers and sisters are often pretty mean to each other, but I could never say Evan’s name implying I was better than him.

“He’s amazing, he’s a gentleman, he’s gorgeous, he’s kind, he’s…”

“Ugh… I get it. You think you’re in love with him. They all do.” She rolls her eyes at me and lies down again. If eye-rolling was a sport I have a feeling Hannah would be the champion. “You’re just one of many of the women he’s brought here to meet us. He always thinks he’s found the one and then a few weeks later they’re gone.”

“Gone?”

“Not dead, but you know, dumped.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip so hard I can taste the blood. “That sucks.”

“Not really.”

“So, you don’t like any of Jack’s girlfriends?”

“I wouldn’t say any… but few. Jack is… Well, he’s too easy to fall in love.”

“He falls in love a lot?” Crap. Not good for me at all.

“Well… I don’t know if ‘love’ is the right word, but he’s been with some girls if you know what I mean.” She sighs and lifts her bikini bottom to check her tan line. “I guess if you make it out here more than once we’ll know that he’s more serious about you than the others.”

I don’t really have anything to say to that. How can a conversation like this follow the one I just had with Jack?

“Quit the crap, Hannah. You’re not scaring this one off.” Jack suddenly reappears on the patio, obviously having been listening from somewhere he couldn’t be seen. “Either you’re nice to this one, or you’ll never meet another. Stop acting like you’re Queen Bee of Nothing.”

“JACK!” She screams at him, like a dramatic younger sister would, and throws her sunglasses across the patio before disappearing into the house.

“Ignore her. She tries to act important a lot.”

“Do you really bring a lot of girls here?”

“No. I think you’re the second. Like I said… She’s a bit much, especially for the truth. The less you listen to her the better off you’ll be.” He reassures me with a kiss on the lips and lies down in the chair Hannah had been using. “She’s a bully, Ems. I meant what I said earlier. I love you.”

“You love me?” He didn’t say exactly that earlier, he said he was falling in love with me. This is a whole new level.

“I do.”

“I love you too. I even bought something for you especially for this trip, before I knew your family would be here.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, but it’s not exactly, uh, family-friendly if you know what I mean.” His eyes get as big as saucers and his smile is contagious. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to show it to you later.”

The look on his face tells me I’ll probably be able to show it to him many times over. Just as long as we don’t get caught by his parents.

Chapter Seventeen

Present Day

Portland, Oregon

The Friend Zone

“You have to find him,” Hannah pleads with me as Evan carries her bags out to their car. They were supposed to be at the airport an hour ago, but it’s been a rather sleepless night. After Jack stormed out last night no one has heard from him since, and he’s not answering any calls or texts.

---