A car pulls up, and Janelle opens the passenger door and then slams it shut. Shouldering a tote bag, she marches up the steps and seems not to notice us until she’s opening the front door. She looks Jack up and down. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Just leaving.”
She glances between Jack and me. “What’s going on between you two?”
I sit up straight like a teacher has scolded me. “I’m just waiting for Brett. He’s inside with Tori.”
She gives me a skeptical look, shakes her head, and then goes inside.
I meet Jack’s gaze. “I think I’ll take you up on that night out.”
“Yep.”
21
Kylie
The Circle is a really fun place filled with bars, restaurants, and carnival games, all surrounding a lake in the center. People wait in line to strap themselves into a harness and zip-line across the water while kids jump on a mega trampoline that skyrockets them into the air. It’s family-oriented and a little cheesy, but I like it.
In the course of about two hours, we have hit three bars, and Jack won a huge stuffed animal that he offered to any of us girls who wanted it. We all knew to step back and let Bailey have that one.
I keep checking my phone, but there’s no messages from Brett, which really starts to irk me. He has to know by now that I left, but it looks like he doesn’t care. It would be fine if he wouldn’t have said all that stuff to me last night about his feelings for me. I’m starting to wonder if I didn’t fall into the same trap a thousand girls have fallen into before me.
Simone and Bailey are out on the dance floor putting on a show. I’m not quite in the mood to be a girl sandwich, so I stand at the table, nursing a beer, which is not helping my strained heart. Jack comes back from the bar with a bottle of water. It hasn’t gotten past me that he’s not had a single alcoholic drink tonight.
He glances down at my phone. “Nothing from Mr. Right?”
I shake my head and drag my gaze to meet his.
He pulls me into his chest, and I’ve got to admit, it feels good there. Jack is a really tall hunk of a guy. And he’s nice on top of that. It’s comforting to be in what feels like a safe space for a moment.
I pull back from him. “Do you ever just feel defeated?”
He nods. “Yep. I do.”
“Last night was really great. I mean after you left, and actually, before that, too. It was good when you were there but…” I stop before I make this any worse.
“I know what you mean,” he says.
“And then things change like this.” I snap my fingers. “Not to mention what happened with Janelle earlier. I was only supposed to be staying with Tori because she was back with Chris. I don’t even know what’s gonna happen when I go back there tonight. I’m hoping Bailey and Simone will let me crash on their couch.” I glance at the dance floor and realize they’re gone. “Where are they, by the way?”
Jack looks around. “I don’t know. They were on the dance floor a minute ago. Maybe they’re in the restroom.”
Easton, who has been hanging with us, steps up to the table. “They left.”
My chest fills with panic. I really was planning to ask them if I could crash on their couch. I can’t imagine going back to Tori’s right now with Janelle as pissed as she was.
“Are you sure? Maybe they’re in the bathroom,” I say out of desperation.
“No, they’re gone. In fact, I think Bailey said something about hoping Jack would fuck completely off.”
Jack pinches the bridge of his nose. “Shit.”
“What did you do to her?” Easton asks.
“I don’t know. She might have been pissed that I was hugging Kylie before.”
I wince. “Really? You think that would set her off that easily?” I ask Jack.
“I didn’t want to say anything, but I saw her look at us, and the expression on her face wasn’t good.”
“Crap,” I say, imagining the situation from her point of view. She doesn’t know me that well. For all she knew, that was my way of going for Jack the second things went sour with Brett. I look up at Jack. “I swear, I wasn’t—”
He waves me off. “I know you weren’t. I wasn’t either.”
Easton holds out his hand to Jack. “I’m out, too, man. See you Monday. Good to meet you, Kylie.”
I force a smile and a wave.
Jack bites his lip, looking around. “I wish I wasn’t such a fuckup all the time.”
“Actually, this one is all my fault.”
“I like Bailey, a lot. But we aren’t together. I haven’t even kissed her or anything.”
“So you know she’s into you?”
He gives me a look. “It’s kind of hard not to notice. I liked hanging with her last night and thought I’d try again tonight in another group, but it’s just not happening for me. I’m not trying to hurt her.”
I squeeze his forearm. “You’re allowed to hang with people to see if there’s a spark. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I still feel like an asshole.”
“You’re an asshole, and I’m homeless again. We’re not a good duo.”
“I know how this is gonna sound, but you’re more than welcome to stay at my place tonight.” He tosses up both hands. “A hundred percent platonically. I’ve got a spare bedroom. Clean sheets on the bed and everything. It’s all yours.”
I remember Janelle and how pissed she looked at me. I think of Brett and how he has still not sent me a text since he walked into that room with Tori and shut the door. The idea of going back to that street makes my stomach swirl. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t mind?”
He picks up his water bottle. “I’ll take us home.”
22
Kylie
When I wake up, I’m completely disoriented. I wonder if I’ve stepped into a Restoration Hardware showroom. With a jolt and a sickening in my gut, I remember I’m at Jack’s condo.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Jack or his condo. Both are lovely. But I slept here. Being temporarily homeless, I have very few options, but this can’t be good for whatever I have going on with Brett.
I find my purse in the bed with me and fish my phone out to see if he’s called, but it’s completely dead. I really should’ve found a charger last night, but I was too irritated and too fluffy to care if Brett texted or not. I definitely care now.
I go to the bathroom and check myself. I haven’t looked this rough in a while, with makeup dragging down my face and my hair frizzy and tangled. My looks match the way I feel perfectly.
I clean myself up and then open the door to the bedroom to find Jack sitting at his kitchen table with a mug of something and a tablet.
He looks up at me. “Hey. I was about to come and check for proof of life.”
I put my hand to my forehead. “My phone died. What time is it?”
“Ten fifteen.”
I slide into a chair at the table with him. “I’m so sorry. I feel like such an idiot. I can’t believe you’ve had to sit here all morning while I slept the day away.”
“I’ve just been up a couple of hours. I’ve actually been getting caught up on some work.”
“Do you ever stop working?”
“It’s not like I have anything else to do,” he says with a smile, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t drink coffee, but I can make you a green tea?” he asks.
“You’re one of those healthy people, huh?” I ask, but it wasn’t so long ago that I was one, too.
This makes him chuckle. “I guess you could call me that. I have fruit, too, if you’d like some.”
This is where I need to refuse the offer and get out of his hair, but in my financial state, I will take any food that’s offered to me right now. “That would be great. Do you have a charger I can borrow?”
“Sure,” he says and brings me one.
I put my phone on the charger and then meet Jack at the table, where he gives me a bowl of pineapp
le, strawberry, blueberries, and mango. He sets down a container of yogurt and a box of granola, and I feel like my old self—the good parts of my old self, that is.
“How are you not married yet?” I ask him.
He sits down at the table. “You and my mom share the same concern.”
“I’m serious. You’re an eligible bachelor. This place is impeccably decorated, you’re healthy, you’ve got a great job, and look at you.”
He lifts one eyebrow.
“Oh, please. You know you’re gorgeous.”
“Are you interested?”
I glance up at him and then look down at my bowl. “I’m way more intrigued by this breakfast right now.”
“That’s what I thought.” He goes back to his tablet, and I feel like we’re an old married couple who has lost interest in sex.
We sit together in comfortable silence while I eat way too much, and he types into his tablet with furrowed brows. After I finish, I take my dishes to the sink and then pick up my phone, which has charged enough for me to check it. My heart swells when I see Brett’s name in a text.
I’m sorry about yesterday. I’d like to talk to you. Are you up?
“Shit,” I say under my breath.
Jack looks up at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just finally heard from him.”
“And?”
“He’s apologizing for last night.”
“That’s good, right?”
I toss up my hand. “What about me? I slept here last night.”
“Yeah, slept being the operative word.”
“He won’t understand that,” I say.
“Fuck him if he doesn’t.”
“Oh, so you would be cool with it if you were him in this situation?”
“I’ve been him in this situation, and it didn’t go so well, come to think of it.”
I toss up my hands.
“Just don’t tell him,” he says.
“I don’t want to start off this thing with him on a lie.”
“You know you did nothing wrong. If you make some confession to him, you’re just going to seem guilty. It’s all innocent. There’s nothing to see here. If it were me, I’d leave it at that.” He puts his tablet down. “Have you thought about where you’re going to live?”
I rub my temple. “I’m hoping on a wing and a prayer that Janelle and her boyfriend will get back together.”
He stands up. “If they don’t, you know you’re welcome to stay here.”
I hate to even entertain this thought, but I think I’m just that desperate. “Are you serious?”
“It wouldn’t bother me.”
“What if you wanted to bring a girl back here?”
He walks over to the bar in the kitchen, picking up his wallet and keys. “That’s not my thing.”
“Girls aren’t your thing?”
“Sleeping around. I guess I'm a serial monogamist that way.”
“What if you start dating someone?”
“That’s not going to happen either.”
“It could.”
“Not right now. I guess I’m still hung up on someone I can’t have.”
From what I keep hearing, it sounds to me like he’s talking about Tori. My heart stings for him. Love is so fragile and powerful at the same time.
We head out and Jack drives me to Tori’s unit. As we pull up, my heart pounds when I see Brett sitting on his front porch.
“He’s been waiting for you,” Jack says.
Brett simply glares at the car and then walks inside. I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to figure out how this weekend has taken such a disastrous turn.
“Do you need me to wait?” Jack asks.
I let out a sigh. “No, I have my car.”
“You know where I live.”
I consider him. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“To be honest, you kind of seem like a little sister to me. I hope that doesn’t offend you.”
I manage a smile, because I really appreciate him right now. “Most definitely not.”
I head up the steps and knock on the door. Tori opens it and greets me with a frigid gaze. Janelle sits on the couch, wiping her eyes. She gathers her knees to her chest and won’t look at me. I remember Tori saying my staying there would be a different story if Janelle were back home. There’s no question of what my next move needs to be.
“I’ll just grab my bag,” I say.
Tori simply opens the door farther and walks away from me, finding her place next to Janelle on the couch.
I sit in my car in the parking lot of the public beach access, charging my phone. I text Bailey.
Hey, what’s up? You left kind of early last night.
No response. I can’t believe I’ve somehow managed to lose Brett, Tori, and Bailey in one fell swoop of a night. With the distance I’ve put between myself and my old life, I truly feel like I have no one.
I flip through Instagram, looking at pictures of my former circle of friends—the couples Joshua and I spent most all of our social time with. Life has gone on for them—at least the three remaining couples. I don’t see Jillian and Bryce there, or Joshua, for that matter. I wonder if he and Jillian are still screwing or if the thrill of it all is gone since their secret is out in the open now. It’s crazy to say, but part of me feels a little sorry for Jillian. This friend group was her life. She’s probably somewhere tearing up at this picture of her friends having fun without her.
I toss my phone in the passenger seat and stare into the horizon, unable to believe I’m in this beautiful place but in such a dark corner on the inside. As conflicted as I am about it, I drive to Jack’s place. I text him from the parking lot, and he buzzes me in. When he opens the door for me, I say, “Are you absolutely a hundred percent sure about this?”
“Do you have any other choice?” he says.
I think about that for a long moment and then follow him inside.
23
Brett
My plan to forget about Kylie is a bust. I went to my mom’s on Tuesday night, and when I showed up again on Wednesday night, she practically kicked me out, saying she was too tired to make conversation with me. She basically told me not to come back till Sunday.
I can’t believe Jack fucking Massey dropped Kylie off last Sunday morning. My mind has been cluttered with images of what could have happened with them Saturday night. It’s almost hard to buy that she would give herself to him after being with me the night before. But I can’t deny the expression of sheer guilt on her face when she saw me. He even looked almost contrite.
Tori leans against the doorframe of my office. “You gonna be working late?”
I check the clock on the wall. “I’ve got a four o’clock.”
“Not anymore. Parents just picked him up.”
“Seriously?”
“Don’t look so disappointed. Just means we can get something to eat before we go out later.”
“I’m not going out tonight.”
“Yeah you are. I’m tired of your mopey ass this week.”
I walk around, picking up my room. “I would think you’d be as pissed as I am.”
“Why, because Kylie’s staying with Jack?”
I eye her. “You know that for a fact?”
“Confirmed it earlier today. I had lunch at the bar with Logan.”
“How does Logan know?”
“He’s a bartender. He listens for a living.”
I toss a tub of putty into the crate a little too hard.
Tori rolls her eyes. “Jack swears nothing’s happening.” She puts air quotes around the words. “This is according to Easton, who was at the bar having a beer last night, chatting Logan up.”
“This place is as gossipy as a barber shop.”
“Come on. That bowl of tortilla soup I had at noon has faded.”
“I think I’ll stay here and get caught up on some continuing education.”
“That’s not much of a Friday night,”
comes Robert’s voice from the doorway.
“Hey, man,” I say. “What are you doing here?”
“You two are just the people I’ve come here to see. I was hoping I could talk you both into coming over for dinner tonight. I know you probably have plans later but I’m talking early. Like six o’clock?”
Tori shrugs. “Okay.”
“I’ve met someone,” Robert says with a smile.
This takes me completely off guard. “Seriously?”
“Her name is Catherine. She teaches high school English.”
“How did you meet her?” Tori asks.
He lowers his chin. “Online. Don’t judge.”
“You do know that’s how people meet these days, right?” Tori says.
“I know. It’s just that it’s my first time meeting someone this way. But I think it’s working out okay.”
“That’s great,” I say, realizing I need to say something. I’ve just never known Robert to settle into a relationship.
“Can you make it?” Robert asks.
“Yeah, of course,” I say.
“What can we bring?” Tori asks.
“Just bring yourselves. See you in”—he looks at his watch—“a couple of hours?”
“Yep,” Tori says, then Robert’s out. After he’s down the hall, Tori and I look at each other, and she shrugs. “At least somebody’s getting laid.”
Tori and I stop and get a bottle of wine, though neither of us drinks it or knows really what to get. We’ve been to dinner at Robert’s house a few times, but we never seem to remember to find out what kind of wine to get. Tori says we don’t want to know, because it would be more than we could afford.
When we pull up in the driveway, my stomach turns as I see goddamn Jack Massey’s car sitting there. “I should’ve fucking known.”
“Come on, teacher’s pet. Share the glory.”
I meet her gaze. “Are you okay with this?”
“Like I have a choice. The boss has invited us to his house. Do you think I’m gonna act like a child and say I can’t be in the same room with a guy I dated for less than a month?”
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