anything.”
“Well, I’m telling you . . . he looks at you different now. Not pervy or anything, but there’s a definite hunger there.”
“How long’s this been going on for?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know . . . couple months? I honestly thought you knew and were just ignoring it, that’s why I never said anything. You do like to put your head in the sand.”
Shaking my head, I look at my hands, having no idea what to do with this information.
“Okay, so if you didn’t sleep with him, what do you mean by shit happening with him? What’s going on?”
“I’ve . . . I don’t know. Lately, I’ve been thinking about him differently. Ever since Cade left, Jason’s been here a lot. A couple times a week, checking in and helping with whatever he can.”
“That’s sweet.”
I nod. “It is. You know about the burst-pipe stuff. And then he helped me get my car fixed the other day when it wouldn’t start. Then skipped classes to stay and have a PJ day with Haley and me.”
With each piece I tell, her eyebrows inch higher on her forehead until they’re lost under her bangs. “Okay, so . . .”
I blow out a deep breath. “So, I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking about him as something more than my brother’s best friend. And I don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
“Well, that could be the cobwebs talking, too. The thinking-about-him bit, not the bad-idea bit.”
“God, will you stop with the cobwebs already?”
“I’m just sayin’. He wouldn’t be a bad one to get your groove back with. And what about the butterflies? Are there any when he’s around?” She asks the question, waiting for an answer, but from the look on her face it’s clear she already knows what it is.
And even though I don’t have to, I reply honestly, “So many it’s overwhelming.”
“Well, there ya go, girl. Go get you some of that.”
“Just like that?”
“What do you mean, ‘just like that’? It doesn’t have to be a whole production, Tess. Sometimes sex can just be sex.”
“Okay, first of all, you know that’s not true. Not for me. Not anymore. Not ever, really. And second, ‘just sex’ with my brother’s best friend? Do you honestly think that’d be a good idea?”
“Look, I know Cade would probably lose his shit, but who cares? He needs to finally cut the damn cord. You’re a grown woman with a kid , for fuck’s sake. I think you’re old enough to make your own decisions, including decisions about who you’d like keeping you company in your bed.”
She’s right. Of course she is. If I wanted to, I could call Jason up right now, invite him over, and get on with it. Except where would that leave me in the end? The last time I did that, threw caution to the wind and got involved with a bad boy simply because he made my stomach flutter, it led to a road I have no plans of traveling in the near future.
“He’s not what I need, Paige.”
“And what do you need?”
“Someone responsible. Steady. Someone who’s older and knows what he wants, which happens to include a relationship with a woman who comes with a built-in family.”
“So someone like your boring-ass match dude.”
“I just . . . I feel like I need to give it another chance. Maybe I had an off night?”
“Or maybe you’re completely delusional and talking yourself into it because you’re scared as hell of actually feeling something for someone who doesn’t fit into your perfect little mold. It doesn’t have to be a giant production, Tess. You’re allowed to have a little fun, even if it doesn’t lead to a white picket fence.” At my scowl, she raises her hands. “You do what you gotta do. Go on another date where you talk about the stock market and the price of gas. But when you come to your senses, let me know.”
ELEVEN
jason
If I thought I was fucked before, spending the day with Haley and Tessa, everyone piled on the couch all day watching movies, only made it ten times worse. And
“Well, I’m telling you . . . he looks at you different now. Not pervy or anything, but there’s a definite hunger there.”
“How long’s this been going on for?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know . . . couple months? I honestly thought you knew and were just ignoring it, that’s why I never said anything. You do like to put your head in the sand.”
Shaking my head, I look at my hands, having no idea what to do with this information.
“Okay, so if you didn’t sleep with him, what do you mean by shit happening with him? What’s going on?”
“I’ve . . . I don’t know. Lately, I’ve been thinking about him differently. Ever since Cade left, Jason’s been here a lot. A couple times a week, checking in and helping with whatever he can.”
“That’s sweet.”
I nod. “It is. You know about the burst-pipe stuff. And then he helped me get my car fixed the other day when it wouldn’t start. Then skipped classes to stay and have a PJ day with Haley and me.”
With each piece I tell, her eyebrows inch higher on her forehead until they’re lost under her bangs. “Okay, so . . .”
I blow out a deep breath. “So, I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking about him as something more than my brother’s best friend. And I don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
“Well, that could be the cobwebs talking, too. The thinking-about-him bit, not the bad-idea bit.”
“God, will you stop with the cobwebs already?”
“I’m just sayin’. He wouldn’t be a bad one to get your groove back with. And what about the butterflies? Are there any when he’s around?” She asks the question, waiting for an answer, but from the look on her face it’s clear she already knows what it is.
And even though I don’t have to, I reply honestly, “So many it’s overwhelming.”
“Well, there ya go, girl. Go get you some of that.”
“Just like that?”
“What do you mean, ‘just like that’? It doesn’t have to be a whole production, Tess. Sometimes sex can just be sex.”
“Okay, first of all, you know that’s not true. Not for me. Not anymore. Not ever, really. And second, ‘just sex’ with my brother’s best friend? Do you honestly think that’d be a good idea?”
“Look, I know Cade would probably lose his shit, but who cares? He needs to finally cut the damn cord. You’re a grown woman with a kid , for fuck’s sake. I think you’re old enough to make your own decisions, including decisions about who you’d like keeping you company in your bed.”
She’s right. Of course she is. If I wanted to, I could call Jason up right now, invite him over, and get on with it. Except where would that leave me in the end? The last time I did that, threw caution to the wind and got involved with a bad boy simply because he made my stomach flutter, it led to a road I have no plans of traveling in the near future.
“He’s not what I need, Paige.”
“And what do you need?”
“Someone responsible. Steady. Someone who’s older and knows what he wants, which happens to include a relationship with a woman who comes with a built-in family.”
“So someone like your boring-ass match dude.”
“I just . . . I feel like I need to give it another chance. Maybe I had an off night?”
“Or maybe you’re completely delusional and talking yourself into it because you’re scared as hell of actually feeling something for someone who doesn’t fit into your perfect little mold. It doesn’t have to be a giant production, Tess. You’re allowed to have a little fun, even if it doesn’t lead to a white picket fence.” At my scowl, she raises her hands. “You do what you gotta do. Go on another date where you talk about the stock market and the price of gas. But when you come to your senses, let me know.”
ELEVEN
jason
If I thought I was fucked before, spending the day with Haley and Tessa, everyone piled on the couch all day watching movies, only made it ten times worse. And
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