return.
I search the fridge and jot down a list of groceries we need. Before I head to the store, I stop by the bank to deposit my tips, which consist of a hell of a lot of singles. Most of my tips come in the form of chips, but there are purists who give cash. According to the bank teller, I’m either working at the casinos or I’m a stripper. I’m keeping her guessing.
A farmer’s market is going on in the bank lot, so I park across the street. As I exit my car, a man in crew sandals, beige shorts, and sunglasses exits a motel nearby with a woman I recognize from the casino. She’s the sweet waitress who was crushing on the cashier.
Head down, she walks out of the motel room without a backward glance at the man. There’s a swagger in the man’s step that’s missing from the woman’s rapid departure.
I stare until they’re gone, because the scene bothers me. The waitress looked seriously upset. Obviously, she and this guy are having some sort of liaison. What’s disturbing, aside from the fact that the woman didn’t look happy, is that I think the guy is one of the executives from the casino who trolls Gen’s lounge.
I shake my head. I have too much to worry about without piling on creepy Casino Real World drama.
The errands take less time than I anticipated and I return to the house early—just as Gen exits Jaeger’s truck.
My timing sucks.
Jaeger walks around the hood and nods. “Cali,” he says, a happy little smile curling his mouth. He walks with Gen toward the front door, but reaches over as he passes and grabs one of the large grocery bags from my arms. “Let me get that.” He relieves me of the second bag as well.
“Okaaay.” I should be grateful for the help, but Jaeger looks too pleased after his date with my best friend and I’m trying extremely hard not to be jealous.
It’s not working.
I follow them inside the cabin and Jaeger sets the groceries on the counter.
Gen and Jaeger look at me and then at each other, a secret message passing between them. Gen grins warmly up at Jaeger, and that’s all I need to see.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” I say and cross to the back door. I want to be anywhere but watching the two of them say their lovey good-byes.
“I’ll see you later, Gen,” I hear Jaeger say as I open the back door and step onto the patio.
Gen joins me seconds later. “Hey.” There’s a quiver in her voice that only comes out when she’s nervous. “What have you been up to?”
What have I been up to? I’m fucking dying, trying to keep busy because you’re with the guy I want to kiss and make out with and glue myself to!
I wave toward the bags of groceries warming on the kitchen counter. “Errands.”
Gen sits in the lounge beside me and pulls up her knees, feet flat on the plastic chaise.
“How about you. How was your date?”
She looks over nervously. “Fine. It wasn’t a date, though. We were just getting together. He wanted to show me something.”
I’m sure he did. She doesn’t elaborate and I’m feeling too stubborn to ask for more information.
“Cali, I was wondering—can I have that sketch you did today?”
What? That’s what she’s thinking about? We are seriously in two different worlds right now. In fact, there’s a deep chasm in our friendship that I’m responsible for. If I hadn’t dragged Gen to Lake Tahoe this summer, none of this would have happened. Eric and I probably would have broken up, but at least I wouldn’t be in a love triangle with my best friend .
“Why?” I ask, because the request seems odd under the circumstances. There’s no way Gen can’t feel the strain in our friendship. Or maybe, because I’m the one who caused the problem, I’m the only one who knows it exists. I never ’fessed up to my feelings for Jaeger. I’ve been too busy denying them.
She brushes nonexistent dirt off her shorts. “I don’t know. I just liked it.”
“Sure, Gen,” I say harshly, rising as I do. I’m taking out
I search the fridge and jot down a list of groceries we need. Before I head to the store, I stop by the bank to deposit my tips, which consist of a hell of a lot of singles. Most of my tips come in the form of chips, but there are purists who give cash. According to the bank teller, I’m either working at the casinos or I’m a stripper. I’m keeping her guessing.
A farmer’s market is going on in the bank lot, so I park across the street. As I exit my car, a man in crew sandals, beige shorts, and sunglasses exits a motel nearby with a woman I recognize from the casino. She’s the sweet waitress who was crushing on the cashier.
Head down, she walks out of the motel room without a backward glance at the man. There’s a swagger in the man’s step that’s missing from the woman’s rapid departure.
I stare until they’re gone, because the scene bothers me. The waitress looked seriously upset. Obviously, she and this guy are having some sort of liaison. What’s disturbing, aside from the fact that the woman didn’t look happy, is that I think the guy is one of the executives from the casino who trolls Gen’s lounge.
I shake my head. I have too much to worry about without piling on creepy Casino Real World drama.
The errands take less time than I anticipated and I return to the house early—just as Gen exits Jaeger’s truck.
My timing sucks.
Jaeger walks around the hood and nods. “Cali,” he says, a happy little smile curling his mouth. He walks with Gen toward the front door, but reaches over as he passes and grabs one of the large grocery bags from my arms. “Let me get that.” He relieves me of the second bag as well.
“Okaaay.” I should be grateful for the help, but Jaeger looks too pleased after his date with my best friend and I’m trying extremely hard not to be jealous.
It’s not working.
I follow them inside the cabin and Jaeger sets the groceries on the counter.
Gen and Jaeger look at me and then at each other, a secret message passing between them. Gen grins warmly up at Jaeger, and that’s all I need to see.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” I say and cross to the back door. I want to be anywhere but watching the two of them say their lovey good-byes.
“I’ll see you later, Gen,” I hear Jaeger say as I open the back door and step onto the patio.
Gen joins me seconds later. “Hey.” There’s a quiver in her voice that only comes out when she’s nervous. “What have you been up to?”
What have I been up to? I’m fucking dying, trying to keep busy because you’re with the guy I want to kiss and make out with and glue myself to!
I wave toward the bags of groceries warming on the kitchen counter. “Errands.”
Gen sits in the lounge beside me and pulls up her knees, feet flat on the plastic chaise.
“How about you. How was your date?”
She looks over nervously. “Fine. It wasn’t a date, though. We were just getting together. He wanted to show me something.”
I’m sure he did. She doesn’t elaborate and I’m feeling too stubborn to ask for more information.
“Cali, I was wondering—can I have that sketch you did today?”
What? That’s what she’s thinking about? We are seriously in two different worlds right now. In fact, there’s a deep chasm in our friendship that I’m responsible for. If I hadn’t dragged Gen to Lake Tahoe this summer, none of this would have happened. Eric and I probably would have broken up, but at least I wouldn’t be in a love triangle with my best friend .
“Why?” I ask, because the request seems odd under the circumstances. There’s no way Gen can’t feel the strain in our friendship. Or maybe, because I’m the one who caused the problem, I’m the only one who knows it exists. I never ’fessed up to my feelings for Jaeger. I’ve been too busy denying them.
She brushes nonexistent dirt off her shorts. “I don’t know. I just liked it.”
“Sure, Gen,” I say harshly, rising as I do. I’m taking out
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