Текст книги "Let Me In"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Chapter 5

Grant

The sun beats into the room, and I scrunch my eyes before tossing a pillow over my head. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t awake at the crack of dawn. Feeling around my bed with my arm, I make sure I didn’t bring anyone home last night. After Jessa finding me in that bathroom, I let everyone and anyone buy me shots. Let’s say the ‘brothers’ knew something was up and were more than willing to be active participants. Vaguely, I remember some red head grinding against me at some point in the evening but pushed her toward another buddy unable to want anyone but Jessa.

Shit, what the fuck has happened to me? I don’t want this, I don’t want a fucking relationship. Maybe if I just screwed her, I’d be okay and this fucking want would end. Hell no, I shake my head, knowing that’s not what I want with her. For the first in a long time, I want more. More than just a quick fuck in some bathroom or closet. I would do anything to have her naked allowing me to explore every inch of her body and then wake up and do it all over again.

I sit up and swing my legs over my bed, sitting for a minute, trying to let my head catch up to my body. Slowly standing, I will the alcohol to get out of my body fast. I reach into my mini fridge and grab a water bottle, downing half of it in one swig. I need to push her out, but every time I think I do, she burst through my wall like an eighteen wheeler.

Thank God, it’s Friday. However, the one problem with today is that I have to see Jessa and after my embarrassment last night, I can’t bear the thought of facing her. I open the doors to our lecture hall and I’m surprised to find her sitting next to my usual seat. She glances over and my heart thumps in my chest, wondering why she’s there. After the first day, I’ve kept my distance from her. I can only imagine she’s going to tell me she’s done with this whole game we’ve been playing. I know I’d be if I had seen her in the compromising position she saw me in last night.

“Hey,” I say, not taking my seat, so I can flee if I need to. There’s no way I can without hearing what she has to say first.

“Hey,” her soft voice replies. Her eyes peer to the seat and then back to me so I sit down. “So-“

“I’m sorry Jessa. Truce?” I blurt it out before she can say anything, wanting to get this over with. At this point, I’d be happy with just her friendship.

“Grant, you have nothing to be sorry for.” Her eyes dart between the floor and me. “I’m the one who’s sorry. It just…” she stops, and I know something is holding her back from us. I can’t fault her, I don’t know if I can handle this either. “There are things about me,” she voices a soft whisper.

I hold my hand up in the air, “It’s fine, really. I get it.” Her eyes fall and a breath releases from her body. It’s hard to know if she’s relieved at my understanding, or frustrated to my constant interruptions.

“That’s just it, Grant, you don’t.” Everything in her body turns defensive. “You’d never understand,” she continues and as much as I wish things were different, it tells me again, I know that I’m not the one for her.

“Jessa, just stop. You want to stay with Rob, stay with him but please let’s just stop this. Maybe we should just stay away from each other. The last thing I want is to interfere.” When actually, I’m so terrified to push her.

As much as I want to beg her to be mine, I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to her. “I know…it’s…complicated,” her words trail off, and having no other choice, I nod in agreement.

As though Dr. Lincoln knows exactly the spot Jessa and I are in, I hear her heels click down the steps of the lecture hall. “Okay, class. Today’s discussion is ‘Love in the Workplace’.” I let out an exasperated breath, unsure if I can handle a lecture regarding forbidden love when mine is sitting right next to me. My eyes shift her way and hers to mine. Even though, we just had a deep conversation and decided we will keep our distance from each other, we smirk at one another.

There’s that fucking connection again. No words necessary to know what the other one is thinking. Abruptly, I turn my attention to Dr. Lincoln, unable to share those moments with Jessa any longer. If I’m going to try to move ahead, I probably need to stop being near her, and I definitely won’t be able to touch her. Not even an arm brush between us. As much as I wish we could be friends, I don’t think it’s possible at this point.

Jessa

My mind races as I’m leaving the lecture hall. Pulling my gloves and hat on, I watch Grant’s large frame walk quickly in the other direction. How can your heart and mind be in two more different places? My heart screams for Grant every time we’re around each other, but my mind won’t let me take the step. Make that a giant leap.

The thing that scares me the most is that he doesn’t truly want it. I can feel his desire for me throughout my whole body when he’s near, but then he pulls back just as fast. Then again, the last thing I want is to stay with Rob just for the sake of having someone. I’m stronger than that and I know it.

Before Jason, I wouldn’t have thought twice about breaking things off with Rob and running toward Grant. Fuck Jason for making me doubt my self-worth. My therapist’s words ring in my head from my last session: ‘You have to live again, Jessa. Go, and be happy. You’ve done the work, now reap the reward.’ Dr. Hinkle was the one who convinced me to leave Boulder and start fresh somewhere else. And that’s exactly what I did last semester.

When I first met Rob, I was scared out of my mind, but I pushed forward like Dr. Hinkle said and let him in. Things were so great…at first. He took me home for Thanksgiving and it felt as though we were really going somewhere. That he could be the one and we’d fall in love and live happily ever after. Then he and his band agreed to play Grant’s fraternity party and our relationship started to shift. Dates stopped, the swooning disappeared, and suddenly, I’m being rushed through drive-thru windows to eat and propped up against anything but a bed to fuck.

What the hell is wrong with me? As though the storm clouds have unexpectedly parted in my mind, it dawns on me. Regardless of Grant, I need to get rid of Rob. He’s not the one, and if I feel this strongly for someone else while we’re together, he can’t really be the love of my life.

Sadie and I are sitting downstairs with the boys while they play, which has been a common occurrence since we moved in. Dex, Trey, and Brady sit in the recording area behind the glass, while she and I gossip about some reality television show she recently got me addicted to watching. Some wonderful guy gets to take a bunch of girls on once-in-a-lifetime dates, and the girls practically beg him to pick them, even if he made out with someone else the night before. At first I thought Sadie was crazy, but lately I’ve been setting my schedule around the damn show.

“Where’s Rob?” Brady calls out from the room and I shrug my shoulders. Other than a quick text message this afternoon, I’ve heard nothing from him. “He told me he would be here.”

“I’m here,” Rob shouts, coming down the stairs.. I brace myself because I have a feeling that a confrontation is coming. Rob’s been missing a few practices to do gigs with a couple of other band he’s trying to be a part of, and Trey hasn’t attempted to keep his dislike quiet on the subject. I’m assuming that’s what he’s about to tell them again, but then he turns to me. I notice his nervous expression, and I gather it’s more than missing one band practice.

“Where the hell have you been? We have a show in a few hours and Brady has a new song,” Trey says, standing in the doorway of the recording studio.

“I’m done guys, sorry,” he tells them, and I shoot up to my feet.

“What?” I ask as I walk over to him. All of us are now standing in front of him like a pack of angry wolves ready to pounce.

“I’m going on tour with The Beatskulls. They got invited to join Krypto and asked me to play guitar. I’ve kind of been messing around with them on a couple songs lately,” he admits. Reminding us again, Rob isn’t a student like the rest of us. He dropped out last year in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a rock star, whereas the other boys are only playing until they graduate.

“You’re what?” I ask softly and the others slowly move away, leaving me alone with him.

“Fucking bullshit,” Trey shouts and I hear Brady trying to calm him as they head into the glass-windowed room with Sadie.

“Sorry, Jessa, but I have to do this.” He comes up to me, taking my hands in his.

“I know,” I say and I’m not lying. I understand completely. I was ready to tell him tonight that it was over, but it still hurts that he told me he’s leaving along with everyone else instead of seeking me out individually. It shows me again just how much our relationship has changed.

“I’ll call as much as I can, but remember I’ll be busy.” He’s already making excuses for missed phone calls, but what he doesn’t realize is that I’m indifferent to the whole thing.

“Okay,” I tell him. He brings his lips to mine and kisses me, but it’s cold and distant. In his mind, he’s already left and I know at this moment that it’s over between Rob and me. He’ll move on to stardom and his life here will soon be forgotten. Instead of feeling sadness though, all I feel is an overwhelming amount of relief.

Rob says goodbye to everyone. Brady wishes him good luck and gives him a hug. Sadie stays in the room, waving. I’m not surprised, since there’s never been much love between them. Dex shakes his hand, but quietly turns back to his bass. Trey remains behind his drums, giving him a nod goodbye. Rob’s either unaware or indifferent to how he’s disappointing his bandmates.

I walk him upstairs and his bags are already resting by the front door. “I’ll call you tonight,” he says and leans in to give me a kiss. I should just tell him not to bother and that we both know this is over, but I remain quiet. I say goodbye, knowing there’s a good chance that I’ll never hear from him again, and he leaves after another meaningless kiss.

After I shut the door, I walk up to my room. I remove the picture of us taken at Halloween off my bulletin board and lay down on my bed. No tears escape my eyes and no sadness hits my heart. The soft knock on my door tells me it’s Sadie.

“Come on in,” I say, and she sheepishly peeks around the edge of the door. Her eyes widen noticing my lack of sadness.

“You’re not upset?” She walks over to the side of the bed, taking a seat. “I thought I would find you in tears.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Sadie. I’m not sad he’s gone.” I scoot to a sitting position and cross my legs.

“Well,” Sadie says, biting the inside of her cheek, “things haven’t really been stellar between you guys recently so I guess that makes sense.”

“I know, but you would still think that I’d shed a tear or two. And it wasn’t just me, it was him, too. He seemed so eager to leave me.” I rest my head in my hands, wondering how someone I thought I could love just deserted me and the only thing I feel is liberation.

“You know Rob. He’s always been more…” she hesitates.

“About himself,” I finish for her.

“Yeah,” she sighs. “Not that he doesn’t love you, Jessa. It’s just that music seems to take precedence in his life.” Sadie is always one to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.

“Just say it, Sadie,” I challenge, cocking my head to the side.

“What?” she asks innocently.

“Tell me…just tell me that he’s an asshole. I know you want to, so just do it.” I stand up and toss the picture on my dresser. I don’t understand why I’m feeling angry now. Am I mad at myself for not being upset over Rob leaving? Are my feelings for Grant the reason my relationship with Rob suffered and we got to this point?

Sadie walks over to me and rests her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Jessa. Don’t blame yourself for something that’s out of your control.” I turn around and see the concern that fills her eyes. She only wants the best for me and has stood by my side all this time, even though she hated Rob.

“I’m sorry,” I say and sink down on the bed again.

“You can’t control who your feelings are for,” she says, raising her eyebrows to signify, she knows how Grant consumes my thoughts.

“I’m so confused, Sadie. Grant wouldn’t want me anyways. The sickest part of this is that I should be in tears on my bed, grieving over the fact that my boyfriend just left. Instead, all I can think of is that maybe this is my chance with Grant.” A tear of remorse escapes my eyes. “Fuck, what kind of person am I?” I let my head fall into my hands as sobs start spilling out of me.

She crawls up on the bed and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “It’s okay to feel that way, Jessa. They’re your feelings, don’t deny them. I’m not saying it’s not complicated, but you should definitely break it off with Rob and see where things go with Grant.” She speaks softly in my ear, as though someone else is in the room.

“Ugh…that’s just it. I was going to.” I shake my head, upset that I put myself in this position, but also that Rob put me in it too. “I was going to break it off tonight, but then this news…it just threw me off, that’s all.”

“Why don’t you come to the show and get your mind off of things? You can deal with this tomorrow,” she says and I nod my head.

“Yeah, I guess I could go. But I’ll have to meet you there,” I tell her and we both stand up. She wraps her arms around me again in a tight hug.

“Don’t be too long. You know I hate being there by myself while they play.” she reminds me.

“You’re the lead singer’s girlfriend. The girls envy you and the guys want to fuck you.” I reply and we both laugh.

“Don’t say that to Brady. He would never let me go to one of his shows again,” she says with a smile before leaving the room.

Laughing to myself, I go into the bathroom to get ready.

Chapter 6

Grant

The ringing of my phone pulls my attention from the basketball game on the television. Hitting the mute button, I reach over, see that it’s Brady. I wonder why he’s calling me on a Saturday night; usually he’s performing at Aces.

“What’s up, Brady?” I answer the phone.

“Thank God you picked up,” he says, his voice panicked.

“What’s wrong? Something with…” I match his tone with worry.

“No, nothing like that. Can you come down to Aces and…bring your guitar?” he asks, his voice doubtful.

“No way! Why?”

“Please, Grant. Rob left the band to join some guys that got invited on a tour. We already booked here tonight. I don’t want to cancel. It’s not fair to the bar.” I hear his desperate tone, like always, I cave.

“Sure. But I have to warn you, I haven’t played in a while. Not to mention, I don’t know a lot of your songs,” I admit.

“You’re talented, Grant. You’ll catch the beat fast. Just get here as quickly as you can. We’re supposed to be on in ten.” He hangs up the phone but not before I hear some screaming in the background.

By the time I arrive at the bar, Sadie is massaging Brady’s shoulders on stage, while Trey and Dex sit next to them, patiently waiting for me. I don’t see Jessa anywhere. I can’t help but wonder how she’s taking the news, whether she’s at home crying or worse, following him on tour. Making my way over to the stage, I sidestep through the crowd who gives me a once-over, clearly confused by my presence.

“Awesome! Thanks, man.” Trey pushes off the stage and holds his hand out.

“You’re welcome. I just hope I play alright,” I say, shaking his hand. Trey and I couldn’t be more opposite. His tattooed and pierced body with a black tank top and baggy jeans is completely different than my usual khakis and polo. Tonight I wore jeans and a t-shirt to attempt to look less preppy. Regardless, Trey has always been welcoming and friendly to me.

“Oh, you’ll do just fine. Brady has nothing but good things to say about your playing,” he says, and I quirk my lip up and look over at Brady, who laughs. He would brag about my skills because he was my teacher, along with his dad.

“Believe me, he can play,” Brady clasps my shoulder, leading us up on stage.

“I don’t know, Brady. I’m rusty as hell,” I confess.

“You’ll be fine. I wrote most of the songs so you know them already. I’ll give you the heads up on chords,” he says, hooking up my guitar to the amplifier. I guess I don’t have a choice now. “And Grant?” I look up from tuning my strings. “Thank you. What’s that, a million paybacks I owe you?” he asks, his voice full of gratitude.

“You don’t owe me anything. Glad I could help,” I say and smile at him, he grins back. If someone would’ve told me six months ago that I’d share a stage with Brady Carsen, I would’ve laughed them out of the room. But I’m thankful to have him back in my life. It actually makes me feel like I have family again, since he’s always been like a brother to me.

Brady takes the microphone from the stand and winks down at Sadie, who remains in the round booth to the right. She’s alone, and I wonder if Jessa is usually by her side during The Invisibles’ gigs. Sadie smiles brightly up at Brady and then turns to me, giving me a thumbs up. Brady turns my way with a reassuring smirk, and then I hear Trey hit his drumsticks together to establish the beat behind me and my stomach drops.

I follow Dex’s chords until I find the correct mixtures. Brady backs up from the stage and whispers specific instructions to me. Before I realize it, I’ve found the groove. I know I’m not as good as Rob, but I’m pulling it off as best I can. After two songs, I remember how much I love playing music. How you can lose yourself and empty your mind from all the shit that consumes it on a daily basis?

The smile on my face probably looks cheesy as hell, but I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in a long time. Sweat pours off me and my grey t-shirt now appears black, but I can’t stop moving and jumping with the music. A twinge of disappointment hits me when Brady tells everyone it’s the last song.

I glance up from my guitar at the dark crowd below us and see her blonde head among all of the people. When she lands next to Sadie in the booth, Sadie immediately reaches over and hugs Jessa. I can’t tell if she’s been crying from up here, but I do notice the look of surprise when Sadie points to me up on the stage. Nodding my head her way, I quickly put my eyes back on the guitar, now eager to finish this last song and get down to her.

After the guys and I put away the equipment in Dex’s truck, they all change their shirts and I realize in my rush that I forgot one. I walk back inside the bar, astonished to find that Jessa already ordered a beer for me.

“Thanks,” I say, scooting in next to her.

“You’re sweaty,” she says, plucking at my shirt that’s currently stuck to my body. I’m surprised to see no trace of puffy or red eyes.

“I forgot a shirt to change into,” I apologize and scoot away.

“No need to do that, I’m used to it,” she jokes.

All the guys come over and everyone partakes in beers and shots, except for Brady, who has his usual water, and Sadie, who has a vodka tonic.

“Sorry, Jessa,” Dex says with clear sympathy.

“Well, it is what it is.” She seems completely casual about it, and I’m pissed that they’re going to try the long-distance thing. As though Rob would keep his hands to himself during three months of concerts and girls hanging all over him.

“He’s a fucking asshole,” Trey exclaims. “How could he leave us like that? A couple hours before the show and he says ‘see ya… ya’…asshole.” I don’t know Trey very well, but the anger coming from him seems foreign to his usual relaxed demeanor.

“It was a shitty thing to do,” Brady agrees and shrugs his shoulders.

“Shitty? It’s an asshole move. Please, tell me you are kicking him out,” Trey says, continuing his anti-Rob rant.

“I’m not going to leave him homeless,” Brady says.

“You should. What a fucking asshole.” Trey tips his head back, consuming his shot before leaving the table. My eyes follow him to a redhead at the bar giving him fuck-me eyes. He swoops her up and carries her into the dark hallway of the bar. I wish I had his balls. He takes what he wants and gives a shit about consequences.

“I guess we know where Trey stands on the issue,” Sadie jokes.

“Hey, let’s get out of here. I want to go over and see Jacks at the diner,” Brady says and stands up to help Sadie out. “Do you guys want to come?”

“No thanks, man. I see a brunette over there I wouldn’t mind having under me tonight. You guys have fun.” Dex walks away with a wave.

“What about you two?” Brady asks me and Jessa.

“I have to get out of this shirt first,” I say. “I’ll meet you there.” I scoot out of the round booth and to my surprise, Jessa follows.

“I’ll go with Grant. We’ll meet you there,” she tells them, and Sadie gives her a knowing smile.

“Sounds good.” Brady leads Sadie out of Aces and to the car, and I place my hand on the small of Jessa’s back, letting her go first.

We head out to the street and get in my beat-up truck. I’m embarrassed to have her in such a piece of shit, but what choice do I have?

“Sorry for the car,” I apologize, but she shrugs her shoulders like it doesn’t matter.

“If it has a radio and gets you where you need to go, that’s all that matters, right?” she says and starts fiddling with the radio.

“Are you really okay with him leaving?” I ask, not for myself but for her.

“I guess. I didn’t really have a choice. It’s not like he asked me or anything,” she reveals. “Not that I would have kept him from the opportunity.” She turns up the volume, signaling to me that she doesn’t want to talk about it. The rest of the car ride is quiet except for the radio.

I cringe when we get to my fraternity house. It’s obvious that an impromptu party has formed, probably because the bars are starting to close for the night. Cars line the streets and people are milling around the front. Jessa shifts uncomfortably in her seat when she notices it.

“Let’s go,” I tell her, getting out of the car. I grab her hand, weaving her through the groups of people. Numerous ‘Grant’, ‘What’s up, Grant?’ get called our way, but I just give a wave, not stopping to talk. When we finally arrive at my door, I ask her if she wants to come in, but she says she’ll wait outside.

“Okay, it won’t take long,” I say, walking into my room. I pull a t-shirt out of the drawer and then scramble into the bathroom to put more deodorant on before dressing in the cleanly laundered shirt. While I’m in there, I decide to quickly brush my teeth and run water through my hair before throwing a ball cap on backwards.

I’m about to open my bedroom door when I hear a prissy voice say, “You’re waiting on Grant?”

“Yes,” Jessa says, sounding unconcerned.

“Why would he bring you here?” she continues, and I know I should open the door and reveal myself, but I’m curious how Jessa will handle it.

“Maybe because I suck his dick.” Jessa’s voice is devoid of emotion, and I have to hold in my laughter.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” the girl’s voice asks. There’s only one reason someone asks to have something repeated during a confrontation, when they can’t think of a comeback.

“I know, sometimes all that hairspray just fogs the brain, right?” Jessa sarcastically responds. “Come a little closer then.” There’s a pause and I assume she’s waiting for the girl to walk toward her. “I said, ‘I suck his dick’,” Jessa repeats herself.

“You’re disgusting.” I hear the clicking of heels across the old wooden floors of the hallway.

“Oh yeah, one more thing princess,” Jessa starts talking again. “I swallow too,” she calls out to her.

I don’t hear the girl respond so I open the door. Jessa looks at me and I can’t hide my humored expression. She knows immediately that I overheard her.

“Don’t get any ideas, Bishop. I just had to get my point across,” she jokes.

“Aw man. Here I was going to pull you into my room and make you prove it. Just like every other girl, you’re just a tease. Saying you like to suck dick, when in reality you say that to get us to go down on you,” I tease her.

She leans toward me, so close that our lips are only millimeters apart and whispers, “Believe me, Grant, I’m far from a tease.” She turns around and walks down the hallway.

I casually adjust myself and stare at her sweet ass, while I follow her down the hall.

We get out of the house without any more confrontations. Not that there weren’t looks and appraisals from many of my ‘friends’, but at least no one opened their mouth. If they had, I’m not sure I would have had much self-control.

By the time we make it to the diner, Jacks is sitting down in a booth with Sadie and Brady. Jessa leads the way to them and I notice an older gentleman at the counter, eating a slice of pie and drinking coffee. I disregard him at first, but then I notice the dagger tattoo on his forearm and I abruptly stop. Standing in the middle of the diner, I glare at the back of his head. It’s him.

“You coming, man?” Brady calls out from the booth.

My feet feel like they are trapped in quicksand. All those feelings from five years ago wash over me and I sink further into the ground. I hear them calling my name, but I can’t move. Then the jackass turns around and stares at me. I’m sure I look different, older and bigger, but I see the recognition cross his face. He knows exactly who I am.

Pulling out his wallet, he leaves a few bills on the counter before walking around me and out the door. I don’t turn around to make sure he leaves, but I don’t walk over to the table either. I just stand there staring at the seat he was occupying. The man whose actions changed the course of my life.

“Grant,” Jessa’s soft voice says. When I look down, I see her hand on my forearm.

“Sorry.” I shake my head back and forth, trying to come back to reality.

“Did you know him?” she asks, her voice still tentative.

“No, I didn’t know him,” I say. It’s the truth. I didn’t know him before it happened, and I really only know one thing about him. He’s a selfish bastard.

“Come on. I’m sure you’re hungry after playing.” She puts her arm through mine and leads me to the table.

I don’t miss Brady’s look. I never knew if he heard the rumors around school, but based on the expression on his face, I’m guessing he did.

“You did an awesome job tonight, man,” Brady says, playfully hitting my shoulder. “I have a proposition for you,” he says.

“What’s that?” I ask, acting as though I am perusing the menu.

“Play with us for the rest of the year. We aren’t going to continue The Invisibles after graduation anyway.” Brady leans back in the booth, extending his arm around Sadie and she cuddles up into his side. They are the most annoyingly affectionate couple I know.

“I don’t know. I have so much on my plate,” I admit.

“You get Rob’s share. It’s not a ton of money, but it will probably bring in more than what Barbells pays you.” He nudges me a little more.

“I can’t leave Chuck. He’s invested too much in me,” I say, although, I have to admit it’s tempting.

“You were really good tonight. Did you enjoy yourself?” Jessa asks me.

“I did,” I confirm and close the menu in order to give this conversation my undivided attention.

“It seemed like it,” she says.

“Yeah, you looked hot up there,” Sadie chimes in, and I give her a doubtful look.

“Let’s not get carried away, baby,” Brady tells her, pulling her closer.

“No worries, I only have eyes for one Invisible.” She giggles and kisses his cheek.

“Technically, I’m not an Invisible,” I add.

“It’s up to you, Grant. You’re the best I know, and you already know most of the songs. I know that with a couple practices, you’ll be up to speed. Hell, you helped me write some of the parts,” Brady continues, trying to influence me.

“You should really consider it. I wish I would’ve taken pictures of you up there. It’s the happiest I’ve ever seen you,” Jessa says.

“You’ve only known me a couple months, Jessa.” I lean back, straightening my arms out and pushing against the back of the booth.

“She’s right, Grant, and I’ve known you a little longer,” Sadie adds.

“I’ve known you the longest, and even though we’ve had our differences, I haven’t seen that smile for years,” Brady says. “Come on, man. Just like old times.” He extends his hand out for me to shake on it.

I contemplate the decision. It’ll be tough to add another activity, but they’re right, I had way too much fun out there not to do it. “Alright, I’m in,” I agree and shake Brady’s hand.

“We’re going to have so much fun, man, just wait.” Brady’s ecstatic and it rubs off on me.

Jackie aka “Jacks” comes over to the table and takes our order. Brady orders for both him and Sadie. I order my cheeseburger and fries with a Coke. When it comes around to Jessa, she says, “I’ll have a chocolate sundae with whip cream and extra nuts.” We all bust out laughing.

“What? I like my desserts. I might steal a couple fries though,” she says and chuckles, looking my way. All I can think is that I’m happy to give her more than my fries.

We finish our meals and Brady asks me to come by tomorrow to practice. Since I don’t have to work at Barbells until Monday, I accept. The anxiousness flowing through me at the prospect of playing again both surprises and pleases me at the same time.

Brady and I split the bill and all four of us walk outside. “Do you want me to drive you home?” I whisper to Jessa.

“I would hate for you to go out of your way. I might as well go with them, since we’re going to the same place,” she says, pointing to Sadie and Brady ahead of us.

“Right.” I shove my hands in my pockets and follow them.

“Thanks for the meal. Sorry that I stole more than a couple fries,” she laughs. A couple is an understatement. First she poured vinegar all over them and then doused them with salt. On top of that, she polished off the rest of them. I could care less, but it scares me how natural it felt to put my plate between us and share with her.

“No problem.” I shrug my shoulders, trying to appear indifferent.

“Well, I guess I should get going,” she says as she slowly starts walking backward toward Brady’s car.

“See you, Jessa,” I say.

“Bye, Grant.” She grins at me and turns around to climb into the backseat of Brady’s Camaro.