525 Cherry Blossom Ln. (Cherry Falls Romance)

I walk to the door, beer in hand and find my flip flops. I practically rip my door open and stop dead in my tracks when I see Jodie there.

“What do you want?” I snarl. She doesn’t answer, she just keeps standing there, staring at me. “Well? Do you want to tell me to stop harassing you in person? Don’t worry, baby. I got the message loud and clear. I won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“I don’t like cats,” she says, her face scrunched up like she’s confused.

“Okay,” I respond, because now she’s just confused the fuck out of me.

“And I just turned twenty-six. I’m not in my thirties.”

“I believe I knew that Jodie. Is there a reason you’re telling me this after warning me to stop harassing you?”

“I’m totally old enough to have sex with whoever I want. I could have all the sex and do it with a different guy every night and that would be my choice,” she announces.

“You’re not doing that,” I warn her, not even liking the idea of it in her head.

“Well no, because that would be gross and unsanitary. What happens if you get pregnant if you sleep with that many guys?”

“I’m sorry?” I ask, wondering what was in that beer that I opened—then, realize I haven’t really taken a drink yet.

“Well, I mean, I don’t know because I don’t have a dog. I always wanted one, but my mother is allergic.”

“O…kay.”

“I don’t live with my parents either. I live in their garage, but it’s like an apartment and separate and yes, I know that sounds lame.”

“Jodie—”

“But I’ve heard that dogs can mate with more than one at the same time and the puppies can all have separate fathers—or doggy daddies I guess.”

“Uh… Jodie…”

“Can that happen in humans? I know they say it can’t, but who really knows, you know?”

“I’m not sure I do know.”

“Like, if I sleep with you and then all your surfer buddies and I have triplets. Will you be the dad and then another guy be a dad and then still, another one? Like, is that possible?”

“You’re not sleeping with my friends, Jodie girl.”

“Well, I know I’m not. My point was that I could, but I’m not. It doesn’t sound like fun. Although Bella says it is. Do you know she actually slept with two guys at the same time? She made that sound fun, though—”

“Maybe you should stop talking to Bella.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot you’re probably one of the two guys she slept with at the same time.”

“I’m not, and seriously, Jodie, I think you need to stop talking to Bella so much.”

“Man, have I thought of doing that very thing. I don’t even know why I like her. I do, but I shouldn’t. It’s weird, right?”

“I’m starting to think this whole conversation is weird, baby. You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“It’s weird that I like a woman who slept with the man that I slept with and want to sleep with again…”

“You want to sleep with me again?” I ask, because out of everything in this conversation that sounds the most promising.

“Maybe you’re right,” she mumbles. “Maybe I do need more balance. Maybe the fact that you live wild and free like Bella says is what attracted me to you in the first place.”

“Jodie, why are you here?”

“You kind of broke my heart, Lincoln Locke.”

“Fuck,” I hiss.

“I wasn’t holding onto my virginity for any reason. I just never found anyone else that made me feel breathless, maybe beautiful, and cared for. At least, not until you.”

“Jesus, Jodie. You are beautiful and I do care for you, but—”

“But not like I did you. I get it. It was one night, and I had stars in my eyes and instead of waking up to you telling me that you felt the same way, I woke up to one of your kangaroos stripping and talking about how great in bed you were.”

I shouldn’t laugh, because I can see the pain on her face, but I can’t hide the smile.

“Bunnies, baby.”

“Whatever, they jump from bed to bed, so kangaroos are probably a better description.”

I shake my head, but I let it go.

“I was an idiot, Jodie. In my defense, I wasn’t ready for you. I knew I wanted more of you, but I had no idea that with just a taste of you, everything I’d always found to be true would change,” I confess.

“Why are you sending me flowers and things now, Linc? Why are you trying to reawaken all of the feelings I have for you that I’m trying to kill?”

“Because, I don’t want to let you go, Jodie. Maybe I’m not good enough for you, but I think I could be good for you.”

“That’s silly; you are good enough for any woman.”

“It didn’t sound like it. It sounded like you were ashamed to have me around your parents, Jodie girl.”