Page 75 of The Fire Walker
“Thanks, Zo.” I looked across the room toward the front door, and I already missed Jessie. “Look, Zo, I gottago.”
“Hot date?” she askedsuggestively.
“Yeah. She’s gone into the cafe to see her boss. I said I would meet herthere.”
“Then what the fuck are you talking to me for? Go. And put some clothes on for fuck’ssake.”
“Love you,Zo.”
“Love you more,doofus.”
Hanging up, I sank back against the wall and sighed. God, Zoe pissed me off sometimes, but the day she decided to meddle in my shit was the day I loved hermore.
Having a quick shower, I pulled my clothes back on from the day before, making a mental note to go down and get my bag from the car. As I went to walk out to go down to the cafe, I noticed her mail piled on the table by the front door. Scooping up the bills, I debated whether or not I should just go pay the bloody things. When I said I didn’t care about the money, I really didn’t care. As long as I could pay my own bills and feed myself, then I didn’t need the rest. I’d paid my parents’ bills when they weren’t looking, and I would do the same with Jessie’s bills. What was the point of being well off if you couldn’t use it to help the people you cared about? None in mybook.
I read the back of the electricity bill and saw that I could pay with a credit card at a post office, so I got on her laptop and looked up the closest one. A block back the other way. I would go there first. Feeling rather pleased with myself, I jammed the bills into my back pocket and locked the front door behind me, then thumped down the stairs and out onto thestreet.
Looking at the rental car, I decided to sort that out tomorrow. It was still in one piece with the parking permit sitting on the dash. It had only been an hour, and I was aching to see Jessie. That thing I’d felt back in LA was back with a vengeance, sinking its claws into my heart, and I was happy to let it. All that time I’d spent fighting and hurting was useless. Some things you’re just powerless to stop. Falling in love with Jessie Ware wasinevitable.
After the post office, I followed her directions, and it wasn’t long before I was pushing through the front door of Couch, the cafe where she worked. I had no idea what the place looked like because the moment I walked in, my eyes found hers and neverleft.
“Dee,” she called, her voice hitting me like a ton ofbricks.
Pulling her into my arms, I pressed my lips to hers. “Missedyou.”
“Already?” she asked, her eyessparkling.
“The moment youleft.”
“You never said he was a soppy romantic, J,” a male voicesaid.
Looking up, I realized we had an audience. By the look of him, I figured this was her boss, Ed. Thick rimmed glasses, shaved head, impeccablydressed.
“I’m the boss,” he said. “Ed.”
“Hey, mate, Dee,” Ireplied.
“Oh, J, his accent isdelicious.”
Running a hand through my hair, Ilaughed.
“I forgot to tell you he’s a massive flirt.” Jessie winked up atme.
She introduced me around to the other staff members. All of them seemed friendly and genuinelyinterested.
“I’m sticking around for a few hours if that’s cool,” Jessie said, turning to face me. “They’re a bit short today, so I said I wouldhelp.”
“That’s okay,” I replied. Maybe it was a good thing to spend a little time apart this afternoon. Otherwise, I would just take her back to her place and…well, youknow.
Smiling, she slid her hands over my hips and into the back pockets of my jeans. Her hands instantly found the letters I’d shoved in there, and I shrugged. Pulling them out, she glared at me when she saw they were her bills. “I told you not to,” she scolded, looking at the receipt stapled to thefront.
“Never tell me what I can’t do because I’ll just go out and do it.” My lip quirked when she slapped me on thechest.
“Where can I get one?” her boss called out over the counter, making everyonelaugh.
Cupping her cheek, I leaned in for a kiss, sucking her bottom lip into my mouth. I wasn’t usually one for public displays of affection, but Jessie had this thing about her that I couldn’t keep my hands offher.
Letting out a contented sigh, she placed a hand on my chest and pushed me back. “You’re way too tempting,” she whispered so only I couldhear.
