41 - Jessica

Jessica

I was hoping the girls wouldn't find out about the half-kiss incident, but who am I kidding? I knew everybody knew the moment Chassie opened the door for me last night. I decided to stay with Chassie and Nathan. They also offered to help me look for an apartment.

I'm starting to think it wasn't the best idea because my friends will never stop nagging me about the thing with Matthew.

I rolled to my side, grabbing the blanket over my head. I groaned at the thought of Matthew. I bolted upright and covered my face with my hands.

"Why didn't I just go for the hug?" I mumbled. "You stupid, stupid idiot."

There was a little shadow in the corner of my room. I blink a few times to make it out. Then, I yelped but held back a scream when I realized it was just Georgina.

"Georgie, you scared the freaking life out of me. What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you to wake up." Her dark brown eyes lit up.

"And watching me sleep?"

She beamed. "Mm-hmm."

Okayyy, not creepy at all. I swear to God if this kid isn't adorably good-looking, she's going to scare some people for real.

"Where's your mommy?"

She shrugged. "In the kitchen with Uncle Matthew."

"Oh," I paused for a moment, "wait, your Uncle Matthew is here?"

Oh, God.

She walked toward my bed and hopped in. "Yeah. I think he might be looking for you?"

My heart skipped a beat. "He is? Did he say that?"

She shakes her head. "But he's been looking around." She leaned in closer and whispered, "he asked me if you're still sleeping. I told him I'll check."

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I don't want to assume that he came here to see me, but it's probably too late because I've already stumbled off the bed and rushed to the bathroom to make myself look pretty.

Georgina followed me around, looking up with a confused look on her face. If she wasn't such a sweetheart, she'd asked, "What the hell is the rush?"

"Georgie, sweetie, which one would look cute on me?" I showed her a couple of Cami tops—a baby pink one and a light purple one.

She cocked her head to one side. "Purple."

I glanced one more look in the mirror and nodded in approval. Then, I wriggle my fingers toward Georgie. She took the invitation and held hands with me as we walked down the hallway.

"Do you want to do a little photoshoot later?" I asked.

She looks up with twinkles in her eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah. I brought my equipment with me." I smiled. I'm pretty sure Chassie is going to put them in an album again with some DIY crafts. I'll make this one a very huge batch—maybe it'll take her mind off me and Matthew.

I had to pause when we made it to the kitchen because I wasn't expecting Julie and Summer. Chassie glanced over her shoulder, then grinned when she met my eyes. "Good morning, Jess. How'd you sleep last night?"

"I slept perfectly fine, Chassie," I lied with a big fat smile.

"Matty's giving us a free cooking lesson." She gestured at the man behind the opened refrigerator door. When it closed, Matthew came into full view.

"Good morning, Jessica. You want some coffee?" Matthew gave me a dimpled smile that made my knees weak.

"Yes, please."

Matthew quickly made me coffee. I just realized he knew exactly how I take my coffee. And I also know how he takes his coffee.

He turned to Georgina for a second to give her a gentle pinch on the cheek. In that quick second, the girls managed to give me an 'aww' look.

I gave them an evil grin when I caught sight of Nathan and his brother by the pool. "Chassie, you didn't tell me Jett is coming over."

Summer's head turned over her shoulder so fast that I thought she was going to get whiplash. "Chassie, you told me Nathan's cousins are the ones coming over." She groaned. "This is the third time this week." She looked around frantically and then ran past me. Probably looking for a hiding spot.

"But they really were coming over," she reasoned. She then turned to me with her hands on her waist. "Oh, Jess, look what you just did."

I raised a finger. "What I just did was save her A-S-S. Otherwise, she's going to get ambushed."

"Wait, Nathan's cousins are here?" This came from Julie who rushed toward the sliding doors and didn't mind that she bumped her forehead on the glass when she leaned it.

I made a delighted squeal when I remembered the bet.

Chassie snorted. "Give it up, ladies. Julie can't have snag one of them."

"Nope. I know it in my soul she's going to get to have S-E-X with one of them." I walked around her and joined Julie on the sliding doors. I pressed my forehead against the glass and propped my free hand on one side of my face.

I know we looked like kids peering through the glass window of a candy store.

"Which ones are here?" Julie asked, squinting her eyes.

"I spotted four, so I think all of them." I laughed. "Wow, you really don't care for Alpha men, huh?"

"I'm so close I can practically taste my private vacation at Audrey's cabin."

I sighed. "Same here. You're going to take one of those beefcakes with you. I just know it."

I hear Chassie's footsteps behind us. "I didn't want to embarrass you, but didn't you know that they can also see you through these glass doors?"

We both took a step back from the sliding doors.

Chassie shakes her head. "Besides, Nathan's only invited them because he's helping you find a new apartment. Not so you could pick which one to," she looks over to Matthew and Georgina, "to have S-E-X with."

"Can we talk to one of them?" Julie asked, clearly ignoring Chassie's reprimands. "You're not playing fair."

Chassie clicked her tongue. "Fine. Georgie, let's go say 'hi' to your uncles." She gave me a wicked look before leaving me alone with Matthew.

Matthew and I stared at each other for a long minute.

"So, you're looking for a new apartment?"

I almost dropped my coffee when he broke the silence. "Yeah. I think it's about time that I get a decent one."

He chuckled. "That's good. You know, Spencer's taking me to look over some apartments this afternoon. You want to come with?"

"Really? I can come with?"

There was panic in his eyes. "If you want to."

"Of course, I want to." I walked toward him and set my coffee on the kitchen island. "Wait, Spencer? You mean Spencer Forester?"

He smiled. "Yes."

He must've read my thoughts because his smile widened. "I can put in a good word for Julie, if you want."

I giggled. "That would be awesome. You'll be doing us the greatest favor." I made a dramatic gesture with my hands to emphasize how huge the favor was. "You know about our little bet?" I asked because his little sister might have filled him in.

He shakes his head. "I just heard your conversation earlier and got the gist. I didn't mean to hear everything, but you know, I was here the whole time and you guys were talking very loudly."

I laughed partly because I found it funny and mostly because I found him so adorable. When my laughter trickled off, there was silence again.

The stretching silence allowed me to take in his pristine mane of hair, and his baby blue shirt that perfectly matched his eyes. There was a slight hint of his dimple and a little boyish smile.

I sighed. I suddenly have this overwhelming urge to grab him by the collar and kiss him senselessly.

I swallowed a gasp, horrified at my urges just now. Even more mortified that he might have read my mind.

"Jessica," he whispers.

"Hmm?" I stare at him. Like a total moron with a crush.

"About the thing yesterday," he continued.

I blink. "Oh." My cheeks flushed.

He fiddles with the back of his neck, then the sleeves of his shirt. "If it makes you feel awkward around me, I can pretend that it never happened."

"You will?" I ask.

He nods. "I just don't want you to feel awkward."

"Oh. Why?" I murmured thoughtlessly. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach. He might be offering to forget about it because it was no big deal to him. That he hadn't felt anything after that—unlike me.

"Well, because," he stopped fiddling and shoved his hands in his pockets instead, "I like hanging out with you. And I won't be able to do that if you'll avoid me."

My heart fluttered. There was a big idiotic grin that threatened to split my face into two. I held it back. "Okay, then."

I really want to do a happy dance right now.

Fine, maybe later.

With my awkwardness resolved, I happily picked up my coffee and took a few sips. I may have been ogling a bit. Hopefully, he assumes I'm just 'looking'.

"So, you're finally getting an apartment, huh?" I teased.

Matthew laughed. "Yeah, about time, right?"

I chuckled. Here I thought he was totally okay with his living arrangement. "What changed?"

Matthew stares at me for a long moment.

Then, shrugged.

Hello, lovelies. I hope you liked the chapter! Chapter 42 is available on my Inkitt account. If you want to read the next chapter, you can click the link on my profile.

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