“Agreed. Crazy bitch. But really, you should talk to her. Get that all taken care of. You know? She’s obviously hurting, and as much as I don’t like her, I have to assume a broken heart hurts, and also I don’t want her thinking she has a chance with you.”
“She doesn’t, and it shouldn’t be broken. I never ever gave her any kind of hope of something happening between us.”
“Jude. Don’t lie to me. I’ve heard it from half the damn campus that you promised to get with them first if you ever started dating.”
I laugh. “It was an empty promise.”
“That people took seriously. When you want someone so bad, you don’t hear things right. You hear what you want to believe, and they took your words to heart.”
I never thought of it that way. I never really cared, though. It was just fun back then. Now that I’m in love and hang on every word she says, I can see what she means. I kinda sorta feel like a jerk for leading on so many people. Clearing my throat, I say, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Again, it happens often,” she says and I scoff, my face breaking into a bigger grin. “I gotta go, babe. See you at four? I gotta go by my dorm to get my outfit for the dance.”
“Is it hot?”
“You know it. I’m gonna be your little Mexican cutie.”
I chuckle. “A pale, blue-eyed, redheaded Mexican? I think not.”
“Hey, it could happen. See you soon.”
“Bye, babe,” I say and then hang up. Lying back on the blanket, my arm rests across my stomach as I take in a deep breath and let it out. I feel a hundred times better and my dad is a distant thought, all because of one phone call from my girl. Closing my eyes, I decide to sleep for a little longer but then my phone dings again.
Picking it up, I see it’s a text from Claire.
Claire: btw…I love you.
My heart feels as if it is blowing up in my chest, and I can’t help but love the feeling. It’s so breathtaking and special. Only she can make me feel like that too.
I write back quickly.
Me: Btw…I love u more than you’ll ever know. Thanks for being there.
Claire: I’ll always be here for you.
Good. That’s really fucking good.
Chapter 30
Jude
“So, I have to admit something.”
Claire looks back at me and grins. “What? Gosh, you look silly in that sombrero.”
I send her a devilish grin as I run my fingers along the huge-ass sombrero hat I’m wearing. It goes great with my poncho and khaki shorts. “This sombrero is what makes me look silly? Not the big black mustache?” I ask, twirling the ends of my pasted-on mustache.
She laughs as she rolls her eyes. “You’re right. That is what’s making you look silly.”
I pinch her butt as she walks by me, and she smacks my hand away as she goes to my mirror to put lipstick on. She’s wearing tight red shorts with a frilly, black, Mexican-inspired top. Her hair is back in curls, held up by a big black rose.
In other words, she looks fucking hot.
Looking at me in the mirror, she says, “What did you have to admit? Hey, stop staring at my ass.”
I chuckle as she pulls her shorts down some, trying to hide her assets, but there is no hiding that spectacular ass. “Hey, that’s my ass to look at, thank you.”
She sticks her tongue out before turning to look at me. “Whatever. Admit what you gotta admit.”