Things were better now. Well, as long as I wasn’t dealing with my mom. Dad had lightened up some over the years. Annie, Sutton, and I had put our differences long behind us. I didn’t know what I would do without them now.
Once the pizza was here, Annie and I curled up on the couch and started a rewatch of Bridgerton. We watched it for the plot. Seriously. Not for the many shirtless Regency men.
“Okay, I have been left in suspense,” I told Annie. “Spill. What’s going on?”
She spun to face me. “Jordan asked me to move in with him.”
I screamed. “Oh my God! That’s so awesome! You said yes, right?”
“Well, I said that I had to check with you.”
“What? Of course you’re going to do it. You already practically live there.”
“Yeah, I know, but you’re my roommate. I wouldn’t want to abandon you without first figuring out our situation.”
“I appreciate it. Situation figured out.”
Annie laughed. “Well, I’m so excited. But what are you going to do? I don’t know anyone who is looking for a place. I’m sure you don’t want to pay rent all by yourself.”
Reality washed back over me. I’d been so happy for Annie that I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do. What was I going to do? I couldn’t afford this house alone. That was for sure. I made good money but not that good, especially after cutting back on the weddings.
Annie held her hands up. “Don’t stress!”
“Like that helps.”
“I don’t want you to have a panic attack. This is why I wanted to talk to you. We can figure it out together. I’m sure there is an easy solution. Even if it means I’m not moving.”
I laughed. “That’s not an option.”
“It is.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Okay. Maybe we could find another roommate. I don’t know anyone either. Maybe Piper and Blaire do?”
Annie snapped her fingers. “Good idea. You know Piper has that unused third bedroom.”
My eyes widened. “You think she’d want another roommate?”
“Wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?”
“Yeah, for sure. It’s an option.” I smiled at her. “Though I’ll miss these nights.”
“I’m going to crash with y’all all the time.”
“No, you’re not. Not with that hot piece of Wright in your bed.”
Annie burst into laughter. “Did you just say hot piece of Wright?”
I snort-laughed. “I did.”
“Speaking of the other hot piece of Wright ass.”
I buried my face into my hands. “Stop.”
“You and Julian? Tell me the truth. You were being all weird about it yesterday before you disappeared.”
“That was really nothing.”
“And?”
I sighed and lifted my gaze. “He’s coming with me to my brother’s graduation.”
Annie’s eyes whipped wide, and she gasped. “Oh my God, like a date?”
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s not like that. We kind of…agreed to fake date.”
Annie looked skeptical. “Explain.”
“So, I have to go to my brother’s graduation, which my parents are being dumb about. You know how they are.”
She nodded. “Sure.”
She wasn’t around them much, but she’d heard the arguments.
“Anyway, he has a charity function that he planned with Ashleigh for the vineyard. And, well, Ashleigh was at the winery yesterday.”
“What?” Annie gasped.
“Uh, yeah…and Julian and I hid in his office to escape her. But she found us anyway, and he kissed me.”
“He kissed you?!”
“It was fake,” I said, waving her away.
“No. Way! He’s into you.”
“Shush! Let me finish. It made Ashleigh angry, and he thinks having a date there will do the same thing again. But he’s not ready to date, and I’m not dating either. So, we’re going to go as each other’s dates to help one about out.”
Annie crossed her arms and looked at me with a sly smile. “Remember how Jordan and I were all we’re not into each other and we just like sex? Friends with benefits? Blah, blah. That was a lie to get together.”
“This is not like you and Jordan. The two of you couldn’t keep your clothes on the first day you met each other.”
“Whatever.” Annie dismissed the idea so easily. “I will put money on it.”
“We’re not betting on my love life.”
“So, it is a love life?” Annie’s eyes twinkled.
“Sometimes I hate you.”
She cackled. “I know. I’m rooting for y’all.”
“Thanks. But seriously, we’re just friends.”
“You owe me a Coke if you turn out to be more.”
I shook my head. “I’ll give you a whole twelve-pack. He’s not into me.”
Annie’s smile went full Cheshire. “Oh, I’m in.”
Part of me hoped that she was right, but the rest of me knew that hope only made the disappointment hurt worse.
8
Jennifer
Bertha’s trunk snapped shut with a thunk.
“That’ll do it,” I said with a smile as Julian looked on in dismay. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said quickly.
Bertha was my hooptie white Honda Civic. She had intermittent AC issues, no automatic locks or windows, and lacked cruise control. I’d had her since high school. We’d had our ups and downs, but I couldn’t give her up. We were a pair.