Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Octavia laughs as if I’m joking. I’m not. I’ve only been home a little over a month, and I swear I’ve been set up by my aunts at least a hundred times. Some dates I didn’t even realize were dates until my aunts made a fuss about us being seated at the same table.
An emotion I haven’t felt for some time smacks into me when Octavia says, “Before you go, I have one last birthday well-wisher for you.”
I’m anticipating for it to be one of the construction workers who have been rebuilding the house Octavia and Caleb are transforming for disadvantaged youth. They’re super friendly when we FaceTime, so you can picture my shock when it is a voice I immediately recognize. “Hey, Jessie.” Caleb sounds more flustered than cheerful like he wasn’t expecting the phone to be handed to him.
I lick my lips to ease their sudden dryness before replying, “Hey, Caleb.”
The chandelier in my family living room bounces off my teeth when he says, “Happy birthday. Tiv told me it is today.”
He cups the speaker of Octavia’s phone a second too late. I hear Octavia’s confession before he can muzzle it. “He knew it was your birthday. He’s been reminding me all week.”
I smile when she whines about Caleb stealing her phone before I shift my focus back to Caleb’s heavy pants whistling down the line. “Are you running?”
“No.” I giggle when he adds, “Just winded from Octavia punching me in the stomach.”
Our conversation feels so natural when I reply, “Maybe you shouldn’t stir her, then she wouldn’t have a reason to hit you.”
I picture his smile when there’s a delay in his reply. “Good point… but where’s the fun in that?”
Needing to shift the focus off my desperation to see his smile in person, I ask, “How is she doing?” I talk to Octavia almost every day, but not once the past month has she mentioned Jack. If I didn’t know her as well as I do, I’d say she was over him, but since her heartbreak is still seen in her eyes, I know that isn’t the case.
“Ah…” His pause has me on tenterhooks. “She’s okay.” He sounds like he’s been hit for the second time when he asks, “Are you?”
Even though he can’t see me, I nod. The process hasn’t been pretty, but since my mind doesn’t constantly veer toward pacifying his neuroses, I’ve been able to work on mine.
“But I have to go. My aunt needs me.”
I wonder how often he listens in on my conversations with Octavia when he asks, “Another date?”
“Yeah.” I could lie, but I’ve done enough of that the past three years. It is time to put that to bed. “Tell Octavia I said thank you for the cupcakes. Although my ass won’t be happy when it can’t fit into my jeans.”
Caleb’s laugh makes hanging up ten times harder, but I manage—somewhat.
“Jessmina?”
I twirl in a circle, stumbling when my eyes land on a person I haven’t seen in years, and not once was she smiling like she is now. “Serenity?”
There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize her. She was one of my closest friends during high school. I’m just so shocked to see her out and about, I am acting as if I don’t have a brain.
“Hi.” She wraps me up in a hug before murmuring in my ear, “Don’t tell me Heidi’s dislike of hugs has finally rubbed off on you?”
“No, not at all.” I return her embrace with the heartiness she deserves before inching back to peer at her beautiful face. “I just haven’t seen you in so long, I thought I was daydreaming.”
She smiles before waving over a man in a tailored suit with a hundred-dollar haircut and a familiar smile. “You can thank this guy for that. We are getting married in December. You must come. It is only a small affair, but everyone of importance will be there.”
Serenity is still gushing over the details of her upcoming bachelorette party and nuptials when I lock eyes with her groom-to-be. “Hello, Fitz.”
He pulls Serenity in close to his side before returning my smile. “Hey, Jessie. How have you been?”
Serenity appears shocked, but since her bewilderment centers more around us knowing each other than Fitz’s use of a nickname no one uses, I act ignorant. “Good.” I fight the rest of my reply for almost thirty seconds before it wins. “Crazy weird, but still good.” I wave my hand to the wholesale food market I just left as if they’re waiting for me inside before announcing, “Caleb and Octavia moved back to Jersey.”
He bobs his head in understanding. “I did hear that. I was shocked.” When surprise registers on my features, Fitz shakes his head. “And here I was thinking Caleb was the only one blind to the spark between you two.”