Page 3 of Rhodes
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to have a hot firefighter in here?” Jamie-Lynn says from the doorway making us both startle in surprise. She’s staring down on her phone screen, her fingers typing out a text.
“Jamie-Lynn,” I say trying to get her attention.
She looks up and her eyes widen in surprise when she sees Ethan standing there. It’s clear that she didn’t realize that he was still here.
“Well, hello.” She smiles and tilts her head flirtatiously.
Really?
“Hi there.”
Jamie-Lynn looks expectantly at me.
“Oh right,” I turn to Ethan. “Ethan, this is my friend Jamie-Lynn. Jamie-Lynn this is Ethan.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ethan shakes Jamie-Lynn’s hand. “I’m an old friend of Hazel’s.”
Jamie-Lynn gives me a look that tells me that I’m never going to hear the end of this once we are alone.
“Well I was just coming in to let Hazel know some of us are going out for happy hour. Why don’t you come out with us? You can tell me more about Hazel that she hasn’t shared with her best friend.”
I glare at Jamie-Lynn and then turn to Ethan. He’s watching me with an expression on his face that I can’t read. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to invite him as well or if he’s looking at me to help him get out of the offer.
“I don’t think sitting around with a bunch of teachers talking about students and drinking half-priced cosmos is Ethan’s idea of fun.”
Jamie-Lynn opens her mouth to argue with me, but Ethan cuts her off.
“I think that sounds like a great way to spend my evening.”
Jamie-Lynn and I both turn to stare at him—she’s got a smile as wide as the Blue Ridge Mountains on her face, while I probably look like I just sucked on a lemon.
“Great, we’re all heading over to the Ice House if you want a ride.”
He points over to my desk with his firefighter gear piled high on it. “I’ve got to get that back to the station, but I can meet you guys later if that’s okay””
“That’s perfect.” Jamie-Lynn flashes him a grin.
A surge of jealousy scorches through me and I’m surprised by the sudden possessiveness I feel for someone that I haven’t spoken to in almost fifteen years.
Sure, back in the day, Ethan had his pick of the girls in our class and I was jealous then, but after all this time, I shouldn’t be feeling the same way. Even if the muscles beneath his t-shirt are so defined that I can see the ridges of his abs from across the room.
“Alright then.” Ethan claps his hands together. “I’m going to head out, but I will see two later.”
“Can’t wait!” Jamie-Lynn waves after him as he gathers his gear and walks out of the room.
“Do I need to pour a bucket of water on you?” I ask, unable to hide the annoyance in my voice.
Jamie-Lynn rolls her eyes. “Why don’t you just go ahead and unknot your panties. I’m doing you a favor.”
“How do you figure?”
“I walked in here and you could cut the sexual tension between you too like a knife. I knew you weren’t going to ask him out, so I did it for you.”
“That tension you felt wasn’t sexual. That was Ethan from high school.” When it’s clear from her expression that she still doesn’t know what I’m talking about I continue. “He was my best friend growing up, who just decided one day that he didn’t want to be friends with me anymore and dropped me like it was no big deal.”
Recognition flashes in Jamie-Lynn’s eyes and she glances at the door.
“That was him?”
