Page 42 of Ablaze

Even when Jessie came along, it wasn’t like I dove head-first into bed with her. Hell, even now–months later–I barely have my head in the game.

She might scream my name, but it’s not her face I’m coming to.

Yeah, I’m definitely a fucking prick.

I sigh, turning off the tablet screen after submitting the report, and jump off my seat in the engine. I take a broom and dustpan off the wall and sweep up the small mess in the corner before taking unhurried steps to the station entrance.

Let’s see what she needs now. Fuck, this better not be about Luke again, though my gut says it is.

I pull my phone out and read the text that just came in from Mala. A chuckle rolls out of my lips.

Sprinkles: What rock group has four men but can’t sing?

Over the past few months, we’ve both been busier–her with her boyfriend, the man I refer to as Douchebag in my head, and me with Jessie. I suppose everyone has become more busy lately.

Both Mala and Rohan are now in serious relationships with their significant others, my brother Garrett is doing God knows what with God knows who, and Darian always has his balls in a vice because of Sonia. Thankfully, she isn’t completely heartless and allows him to meet up with me and Garrett for our poker nights.

Rohan actually just proposed to Samantha, and it won’t be long before he’s even busier, given she’s pregnant.

And Mala . . .

My smile recedes at the thought of her–of us–even when she’s usually the reason for it in the first place. Goddamn, I miss her.

She lives only a few miles away and we still message each other often, but . . . I still miss her.

Her laugh, her wit, how she always finds a way to take me down a notch. Her hair, her ice-cold toes, and those goddamn legs . . .

I still visit her at the café from time to time, but even that is different now since Jessie usually happens to be there at the times I can find to swing by.

It’s just been challenging to spend time together the way we used to, and I’m jonesing hard.

My fingers work fast as I type back my response to the game we’ve been playing lately. Every time one of us misses the other, or it’s been a while since we’ve spoken, we text the other with a riddle.

Me: The Jonas Brothers.

I wait for her response, and it comes in a moment later.

Sprinkles: There are only three Jonas Brothers.

Me: There could be ten, and it wouldn’t change my opinion.

I chuckle, imagining her shaking her head in exhaustion, as I walk to the kitchen.

Sprinkles: The correct answer is Mount Rushmore.

Me: My answer was better.

“Hey!”

I look up with a smile stretched on my face, still imagining Mala rolling her eyes, to see Jessie standing with her hands on her hips. My smile dwindles. “Hey, what’s up?”

She huffs. “You’ve been standin’ there on your phone for God knows how long while I’ve been here waitin’ for ya.”

I pocket my phone, resolving to text Mala later. Maybe we can meet up, go hiking or something?

I run a hand over my face, feeling exhausted. “What’s going on? I wasn’t expecting you.”

Jessie contorts her lips into a sultry smile before closing the distance between us. She swings her arms around my neck. “What? I can’t just visit my boyfriend at his place of work once in a while?”

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