Page 58 of Four Simple Rules
“Thanks for showing me your art room, Tulip. Maybe next time you can take some pictures.”
“That can be arranged,” I murmur, reaching over to take his hand. “But now, let’s go home before we get arrested.”
Talk about living on the wild side.
Jesse
I miss you…
Isnort, covering my mouth.
Blake
It’s been like ten minutes…
Jesse
Rhett isn’t as fun as you. I can’t…
Blake
Please don’t finish that sentence…
Jesse
I’ll just show you whenever you get back here…
My heart pitter-patters with excitement, and heat creeps up my neck. Jesse and I have connected on so many levels these past two weeks. It’s like our ten years apart never happened. We’ve walked right back into our friendship. Sprinkle in the amazing sex, and it’s a match made in heaven.
Then the looming deadline of my offer hangs over my head, tightening my shoulders. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of ups and downs. Reuniting and fixing my relationship with my father and Jesse have been a huge up. The relief I felt when my father confessed his apology changed everything. Of course, my down was the news I had gotten fired. The up was getting an offer. The down, it’s across the states, away from everyone I’m trying to rebuild a relationship with. The best up? Jesse loves me, and I love him.
“You will never guess who I saw on my way over here,” Olivia huffs, sitting in the chair across from me. She shakes her head, setting her purse beside her. “Don’t answer. It was Posey! That evil skank. I swear…”
“Hello to you, too,” I say, putting my phone away before Jesse can drag me further into his little web of sex.
“Yeah. Hi,” she says, waving a hand. “So... how are you? How’s the Jesse saga? Or should I say sex going?” She raises her brow when my face heats. A grin explodes on her face. “Ah, yeah. I need to know all the deets right now. We’re besties. You shouldn’t keep secrets from me.”
“Like you and Rhett? Don’t think I didn’t see you two sneaking off at the reunion,” I coo, earning a dirty look.
“I’ve told you all about him,” she sniffs, sipping the coffee I ordered for her. Right down to the specifications she likes. “I told you what we’ve been doing and stuff.” And stuff. Right. She does not want to divulge what she and her former bully have been up to.
“Uh, huh,” I singsong, drinking my coffee.
She’s saved from having to open her mouth when the waitress stops by and takes our order.
“So, what’s the deal with you and Jesse? And don’t say nothing, missy. I saw the way he looked at you at the reunion. Not to mention, you showed up with him! And the kiss I peeped.” She slams her hands down on the table dramatically, drawing eyes our way.
“Shh,” I grumble, looking around the restaurant. “We’ve been…”
“Hooking up? Going to pound town? Doing the horizontal, no-pants dance? Spill the beans, bestie. Or I’ll be forced to extract this information from you in less than pleasant ways,” she demands, eyeing me when I wince.
I could run and hide. But she’d find me. She’s always had this excellent intuition. Also, she’s kind of psycho. So, I should probably spill everything before she peels my fingernails up and laughs at my pain. What are best friends for anyway?
“Okay,” I sigh, telling her everything that’s happened. My past. My present. And even what the future might have in store for me.
Olivia blinks wildly with a frown. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about your dad? You…" Pain twists her face. “You were going through so much, and I…”
“You were, too. We all just had crappy childhoods.” I shrug. “It’s in the past, and we’re fixing it. And Jesse…”
