I poured some shampoo in my hand and rubbed it through my hair, scrunching up my nose when I realized some of the debris from earlier had clung to my wild curls.
“Honestly,” Dawn said a few feet away from me. She must have taken a seat on the bench outside of my stall. “I think she wants all of his attention. She’s tired of sharing him, and she wants to be the center of someone’s attention again.”
I rinsed my shampoo out. I really wanted to make this a quick shower since I was so hungry. “So, let me get this straight,” I said my voice dripping with sarcasm. “She knows Lincoln is my connected, but she’s still actively pursuing him. Even if we don’t click or never will click, she of all people understands how connections work.”
“I think she’s also jealous of you now, too,” Dawn confided quietly. “She loved Jaxson as a teen. She had a crush on Remy. She fantasized about Troy. Then she has had this huge fan girl crush on Lincoln since he played in his first starring role in These Two Hearts, and now you’re connected to him, too. Don’t get me wrong; I think you’re one lucky bitch, and I wish I could trade places with you, but it isn’t reality. My path is different than yours. I could never make them happy like you do.”
I rubbed some conditioner through my hair with a heavy sigh. I could see how Jemmy may feel. She grew up with my guys. It could have been so easy to harbor less than sisterly feelings towards them, because, technically, they weren’t related by blood.
“She needs help,” I finally said as I moved onto washing my body. “She has some deep-seated insecurities that are justifiable, but she needs help before she loses complete control. She’s going to ruin her relationship with Gavin, me, and the guys. And Gavin deserves more. If I didn’t know about connections, and I would have met him before I met my guys, I could have easily fallen in love with him.” I admitted truthfully.
Dawn made a noise of assent. “I agree. He’s a hottie and one of the sweetest guys I ever met. What man holds onto his V-card until he’s twenty-one?”
“The good ones,” I stated with a laugh.
Dawn and I sat on one of the prep tables against the walls, eating some fresh cut french fries and BLTs as we watched some reality television on Dawn’s tablet. We were keeping Drake and a couple of his kitchen staff company. Hazel, Megan, Cora, and Beth had already put the children to bed and were currently bunking down with them.
Almost everyone had already turned in except our core group. We already let them know that when they were hungry, we would have BLTs and french fries ready within moments. I had helped cut up the potatoes, and they were in fry baskets prepared to be dropped. Dawn had sliced the lettuce and tomatoes and placed them in containers in the reach-in fridge. Drake had cooked the bacon, and it was under the heat lamps.
Will had insisted we get some rest before he himself went to bed. Will and Paul had a rotating shift of people watching and securing the base. For now, we waited while we regrouped, trying to come up with our next plan of action. The enemy was currently camped out right outside of the facility, ten yards from the entrance, with tents set up and campfires burning. They were still trying to figure out how to infiltrate our base but were unsuccessful thus far
“That bacon smells amazing,” Noah groaned as he walked into the swinging doors.
I jumped down sliding into Drake’s too large sandals. My flip-flops hadn’t been packed, and I didn’t want to slip back into my boots. I couldn’t wear socks in the kitchen either.
“Sit down,” I insisted as I walked over to the toaster and bread. “White, wheat, rye, or sourdough?” I asked.
“You need to eat too,” Noah feebly protested. “Sourdough.”
I laughed. “I’ve had time to rest. You guys haven’t rested yet.”
Dawn hopped down from her spot. “I’ll drop the fries.”
The sound of Jemmy’s laughter, followed by Adams’ and then a lower, huskier laugh, came from outside the kitchen.
I glanced over at Noah with a raised brow.
“It’s times like this I miss our ability to silently talk,” he stated with a grimace.
The doors swung open, and Lincoln walked in with Adams and Jemmy flanking him.
“What’s for dinner or should I say breakfast,” Jemmy called enthusiastically.
“BLTs and fries,” Drake stated as he looked between Jemmy and me worriedly.
“Don’t you have anything healthier, like a salad?” Adams asked disdainfully before she looked over at Lincoln, licking her lips suggestively. “With a body like that, I’m sure you refrain from all that fatty, greasy food, too.”
I intentionally shoved a fry in my mouth. “The kitchen closed hours ago. Sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables were available until an hour ago, we let everyone know that” I reminded her. “We have white, wheat, rye, or sourdough if you want an LT, without the B.”
Dawn barely stifled her laughter. “Hold the mayo, too… it may be too fatty.”
“It’s pretty convenient that you can cook whenever and whatever you want,” Adams said in a slightly condescending tone.
“When it’s our food and my kitchen then, yes,” Drake stated calmly.
Adams took a seat away from Noah, Dawn, and me. “I’m good then,” she shrugged. She pulled out her phone, and I tried not to even pay attention to her. She never hung out with Jemmy or me. She was so transparent in her pursuit of Lincoln.
I almost wanted to laugh thinking how mad she was going to be when she found out he may be part of my ‘guy’ friend group, at least until my connection was made. If my linking was made.