Page 41 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“He’s hot, isn’t he?”
Still staring at Kara so Jenni can’t see how my cheeks flame, I say, “Oh yeah. He has the carefree, messy hair thing going on, and a permanent scowl, but Jenni, when he smiles? Holy shit, I almost fainted.”
“The Scuttles say he doesn’t hear tone. That true?”
I hate that answering this feels like a betrayal, but he said this is what he wants—trial by fire—so I squash the uncomfortable swirling in my belly.
“It’s true, but he’s learning. He loves his sister. They’re…learning to understand each other.”
“Ha. Good luck with that. I remember when Abbi was thirteen. There’s no reasoning with those kinds of hormones.”
“They—”
“Oh. Em. Gee.”
My shoulders tense as she drags out the phrase.
“You like them. Like, youlikethem like them. Both of them.”
Kara meets my gaze in the mirror and offers a shy wave that I return. Every time we have a moment like that, my inner child reaches up and gives me a high five.
“I, ah, I have a connection with them, and I think I can be someone, like a support person for her. Someone I never had.”
“Oh, sweetie.”
Jenni’s sad tone deflates my mood. She knows more about my past than even Rowan. The woman makes sneakily strong margaritas, but I don’t let that toxicity out if I can help it.
She places her hand on mine, and I shift away from Kara’s stare so I don’t accidentally give too much away with my expression.
“You don’t even mind that he’s kind of a stalker?”
Rolling my eyes, I laugh. What else am I going to do? “He’s not a stalker. He’s just…someone I want to get to know better.”
“Whoa.” Jenni sits back on her stool and fluffs her feathered bangs out of her face. Today she’s wearing aFresh Prince of Bel AirT-shirt that’s cinched at the waist with a hot pink belt and matching pink leggings.
Every morning, I start my day with an affirmation inspired by her: I don’t give two fucks what anyone says about me. It’s shockingly soul-affirming.
“You.” She points one long hot pink nail my way. “Youwant to get to knowhimbetter? This I’ve got to see.”
I swat her hand away playfully. Getting to know people isn’t my normal MO, so I can understand her reaction.
Thane and I are a 99.7% match.There’s also that little fact that I will tell no one, but it’s hanging out in the back of my mind whispering,what if…
“We have a lot in common, that’s all.”
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
Jenni holds her pointer fingers a foot apart, then brings them closer as though on a scale.
“How big do you think he is?”
“Oh my God, Jenni. Stop that right now,” I hiss. “His sister, his baby sister, is twenty feet away.”
“So big then. Got it. This is something I can get behind. I’ve been telling you for months that you need to get laid.”
“Can girls get laid? I thought that’s something boys say?” Kara asks from her seat. The internal cringe that infiltrates my body is red-hot.
