31 - Jessica

Jessica

I thought I'd have just enough time to figure out an outfit for what felt like a big event. The Parkinsons are all revved up about it, I felt like I should've been more frantic from the days prior. In my defense, I'm suddenly being made aware that Chelsea Wayne's birthday is giving headlines all over the newspapers, given her auntie's engagement is a piece of big news. A lot of people want to be at her party because they want to stick their noses to the said engagement.

I was ready to conclude that it couldn't get any worse when I had a phone call from my landlord, telling me my apartment has succumbed to running water due to a broken pipe – which is totally unsurprising because the building is old and poorly maintained. And it wasn't also the first apartment I rented that suffered the same fate.

As I imagine my cheap furniture floating around in abandon, I quickly rang Kylie because she, on the other hand, might have something valuable floating around that needed saving.

Again, unsurprisingly, Christian answered her phone.

"Hey, do you know Kylie's apartment might be a shrunken treasure by now?"

"Uh, yeah. Landlord called around seven in the morning," he answers, still a little disoriented. "We just got back into town. Kylie's asleep. It's all taken care of though. She's already moved in with me."

I could sense his grin from the other line.

"Ah. Finally won her over, I see."

"Yeah. Finally," he sighed, the sound so content and happy.

I smiled.

"Oh, wait. Shit. Do you need help with your things?" He asked, voice raising to another octave as if waking up from a daydream.

"Nah. It's nothing important. Tell Kylie I said, 'hi.'"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay."

"Okay, bye."

I can only picture Kylie a little jetlagged but refreshed at the same time from their secret paradise getaway. My heart flutters at the thought of Kylie having Christian have things taken care of for her. I think it's kind of nice.

I bet it is.

"Hey. There you are. Everything okay?" Kathie stepped outside the patio and handed me a cup of coffee.

"It was just my landlord."

"Oh?"

She accepted the cup. "Yeah. My apartment is getting some of those waterfalls via busted pipe as we speak."

"What?" Her voice raised with worry.

"It's nothing. I've seen it coming miles away."

"And?"

I look at her. "It's going to be fine. I'll look for another. There's no way I'm staying at the same apartment. I've been to a lot of shitty buildings to know by the time they fixed the pipe, it will be totally unlivable."

"Yeah, I still can't get that smell out of my system." She shuddered.

I giggled. "I know, right? And it was like a thousand apartments ago."

"I'll talk to Nathan."

"No. I will. Don't worry about it."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Can you at least promise me that you will get a decent apartment this time?"

I stare into the open space.

"Jess." She elbows me on the waist.

"I think I will get a decent apartment this time. Sure, those cheapjack living spaces were my choices to get the rise of my mother, but I think I want to settle in comfortably. Now that I have a permanent job."

She gaped at me. "Who are you? What did you do to my best friend?"

I smiled. "I need a favor though."

"Sure. Anything."

"Can you help me out later today?"

Her brows creased delicately. "Help with what?"

"I'm not sure what to wear to the party anymore. I was planning to re-wear one of my dresses from my grandma's, but I think that'll be a little distasteful."

She squealed. "Sure! I'll call the girls."

"Wow. You needed to get out of the house?" I kidded.

"Well, it's nice to be outside," she played along.

"Jessica?" Matthew's voice came through the patio doors from inside the house.

Kathie gave me a teasing smile.

"Patio," I called out.

Moments later, his head poke out adorably. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

He turns to Kathie. "Hi, Kathie."

"Hi. I heard you're having a taste of alcoholism lately."

I shot her a warning look.

He laughed shyly. "Nah. Just a crappy tolerance, that's all."

"I'll see you later, Kathie. We gotta go."

She smiled and wigged her fingers my way. "You guys take care."

I walk past Matthew, still holding a grudge for that embarrassing incident with his parents earlier. "Just wait for me in the car. I'll just grab my purse."

I can sense his gaze on my back but I didn't turn around. I went straight to my room and grabbed my purse as I said I would. However, I jumped when I opened the door and found Matthew on the other side with a giant, dimpled smile.

Oh, no.

He doesn't get to be adorable after the embarrassment he put me through.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I thought I told you to wait in the car."

"You did," he replies, still smiling sweetly.

"So, why are you here?" I arched a brow.

"To apologize," he said.

"Shame. It's gonna take more than just an apology." I crinkled my nose.

He tilted his head in confusion. "Oh."

We stood quietly.

"Ice cream?" He blurted out, his face lighting up.

"That's not enough." I scowled like I just heard something offensive.

"Burgers and fries?"

I puckered my lips. "Getting warmer."

"Burritos?"

"Meh. Getting colder."

He chuckled. "How about I make you something?"

"What do you mean? Like home-baked?" I try not to sound excited, but I guess I did because his blue eyes twinkled.

"I can make you a French apple tart." He wagged his brows at me.

I clicked my tongue. "Fine. But you owe me five more home-baked goods."

"Sure."

I shake my head. "I'm choosing which home-baked goods you make. So, don't go flexing your baking muscles at me."

He laughs softly.

I brushed past him and he caught up to me.

"We're good then?"

I didn't respond.

"Hey, Jessica." He nudges me with his hip.

I swung a glare his way and nudge him back. "Not until I stuff my face with that French apple tart."

"It's completely guaranteed. I'm a man of my word." He gave me another jab.

I jabbed back. "Will you stop that?"

He nudges me again. "Stop what?"

I reciprocated.

Neither of us is stopping, so it was a series of back-and-forth nudges. Almost like we were high schoolers bantering in the school hallway.

A giggle escaped from my throat. "Oh, my freaking God. What are we doing?"

He laughs but didn't answer.

I look at him.

He looks so young and carefree – the complete opposite of the uptight Matthew I met forever ago. And for some reason, I felt light and young, too.

It could be because I am happy.

Or that he is happy.

I hope reading the chapter made you happy. Thank you for all your lovely feedback. I love you all so much!