The Road To Heaven (Allendale Four 3)

My trailer was parked around back and I avoided Lea’s eyes when I walked in, dropping my bag and coffee on the counter.

“Heaven…”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

“I had no idea that was who RJ set us up with.”

“Of course you didn’t.” I skimmed the schedule. Thankfully RJ looks like a normal high school kid, and that meant Lea could handle it. “It was a fluke. A stupid fluke that I’d rather not speak of again.” Her mouth opened to respond but I quickly added, “Ever.”

“Okay,” she said, prepping her own work space. Lea was a small woman, her skin flawless—she was an amazing makeup artist but wore little herself. She didn’t need it. She flitted around the trailer with an amount of energy I couldn’t comprehend, but I liked her, and I knew she meant no harm.

And maybe I owed her a little bit more of an explanation.

“Seeing them again,” I said suddenly, “was just…unexpected. We made some firm rules when we broke up. We’ve stayed completely out of one another’s lives. No spying. No creeping. The only ones I have a vague sense on is Anderson and Hayden because of their recognition.”

“It’s hard not to notice, especially Hayden Pierce.”

I rolled my eyes. Who knew Hayden would let fame go to his head? “It’s been a challenge because we didn’t end our relationship with each other because we didn’t love each other anymore. We stopped seeing each other because there was no way it would work with everyone being split apart. Our relationship was a tight balance that worked. Until it couldn’t anymore.”

She glanced at me, our eyes meeting in the lit-up mirror. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“No one said life was fair.”

“Well if it makes you feel better, Jackson seemed kind of thrown off, too.”

I snorted. “No, that doesn’t make me feel better and yeah, I could tell.”

“You could? Behind that lazy grin and easy talk?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s Jax. Adorable and aloof. He knows how to work a room.” I frowned. “Did you talk to him after I left?”

Guilt ran over her face. “For a little bit. You and Oliver took off. We ended up hanging out for a little while.”

I wasn’t sure what expression landed on my face. I tried to keep it civil but before I could even react, Lea held her hands up and said, “Nothing happened. Swear. I think he just needed someone to talk to that understood. I got the feeling he’s a little lonely.”

I had no doubt he felt lonely—that they all did, with the exception of Hayden. With an edge, I added, “Lea, let me make one thing clear—I will murder you in your sleep if you start something up with one of these guys—got it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Sorry,” I said. “That sounded possessive and crazy.”

“No. We’re friends and co-workers and I get this is super hard for you.” She pulled jars and containers out of the cabinet. “And yeah, you do sound possessive, which means you’re not over them and it’s obvious from last night they still have feelings for you, and I am definitely not into guys that are into other women. Been there, done that, and it sucked.”

I spun my makeup chair around and dropped in it. “It’s such a fucking mess.”

“Well if you want my opinion—”

“I don’t.”

“But if you did…” She gave me a sweet smile. It was hard to be mad at her. Even that one time she left all my brushes in the sink and ruined them. “I think Jackson is a little lost and overwhelmed. I think you should talk to him. Maybe both of them, and see if you can work past some of this. It’s obvious you guys are struggling.”

I thought about seeing Oliver the night before, the way he looked in my doorway. Handsome, sure, but there was something else…a sense of loss and utter lack of being able to speak to me. That wasn’t how I wanted this to end between us all.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes!” She smiled right as the trailer door opened. Two guys that needed to be made into zombies rolled in, half-awake, with coffee in their hands.

“Don’t push,” I warned her.