Page 70 of Finding Jack
Ranée liked Paul.
How did I feel about that? On the one hand, it was a clear violation of girl code to date the guy she’d spent months convincing me to dump. On the other hand, I hadn’t dumped him because of her. I’d dumped him because it was time. Our relationship had run its natural course. That was all.
When it came right down to it, I wasn’t the jealous type. Never had been, really. It had been forever since I could even remember feeling jealous about a guy. Could I even remember being jealous about a guy?
Oh, wait. There was that one time a couple of weeks ago when I’d been jealous thinking about Jack going on dates with anyone else.
Which was stupid and irrational. He wasn’t mine, yet that flash of envy had nearly turned my stomach inside out when I hadn’t so much as held his hand. But somehow, examining the possibility of Ranée’s interest in Paul only struck me as funny even after I’d made out with him for a few months. I didn’t feel a hint of possessiveness.
It didn’t take a therapy session to figure that out.
The kettle gave a loud but cheerful beep, and I considered how I should approach the subject with Ranée. The grown-up thing to do would be to discuss it like a rational adult.
But I owed Ranée payback. So. Much. Payback.
Ranée didn’t seem to want to do the adult thing either because she stayed hidden in her room. You could hear the kettle anywhere in the apartment, so she knew it was ready.
“Ranée?” I called. “Are you going to make my tea?”
She answered with a muffled, “In a minute.”
At least three more passed without any Ranée. Oh, this was going to be fun. The most fun I’d had since…
Since everything had gone wrong with Jack.
I cleared my throat. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
It was another minute before she emerged from her room, dressed—no surprise—for the barn. Worn T-shirt. Ratty Vans. Guilty expression.
“So you were saying?” I prompted her, as she dug into a box of tea bags.
“I don’t remember. I’m sure it wasn’t important.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Going to the barn again?” She wasn’t getting out of this so easily.
“Yeah. Working with one of my favorite kids tonight.”
“Sounds good. Maybe that’s what I need to do. Volunteer, take my mind off things.”
“Totally. There’s always a ton of places looking for help.”
“No doubt. Will you see Paul at the barn tonight?”
“Probably. Give me a second, and I’ll google some volunteer options for you while the tea steeps. Let me go get my laptop.”
No way was she escaping into her room again. “I can handle the googling. Don’t worry about it. So tell me about Paul. You said he’s doing well?”
“I guess.”
“How often do you guys end up volunteering at the same time?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Guess.”
She shot me a sharp look before her gaze slid away. “I don’t know. Seems like we’re always there at the same time.”
“And you guys always talk when you’re there together?”
