McKenzie Cousins Box Set 4

“Think I’m coming down with a cold.”

“Don’t be upset that Dylan wants to spend time with me when he gets back. I’m more his type than you are.”

The bitch!

“I don’t mean to be harsh, but everyone knows you have a crush on him, so I thought it best if I told you myself instead of you finding out through the gossip.” Tracy shrugged. “I’m sorry Jenna, but I’m meant to be with Dylan.”

Lisa looked embarrassed while Courtney ate up every word Tracy said. I refused to believe them. But how she knew about his trip niggled at me. My mind wouldn’t move on from that.

He had to have told her.

Was he messaging her after he’d made love to me? Did he even message her?

Urgh!

“When did he message you?” I snapped, much to their surprise.

I wasn’t an angry person, but I was getting there right now.

“Christmas Eve was his last message. He told me he wouldn’t have connection, so we’d talk when he got back on the twenty-ninth.”

“Hmm.”

Courtney huffed out a loud breath. “I think we should talk about something else because this sounds like it’s about to get ugly.”

I glared at Courtney who backed off. “Tell me the truth Tracy, because it sounds like a load of bullshit.”

They gasped and Tracy looked as though I’d punched her in the stomach. “You’re saying I’m lying?”

“Yes.” I leaned forward until I was inches from her face.

She closed the distance and snarled. “I’ll show you.” Her phone landed on the table. “I have the messages saved.” She sniggered. “Then I expect an apology.”

Tracy’s fingers flew over the keys of her phone before she shoved it in my face. I hesitated before I took it from her. My eyes refused to focus as I recognized Dylan’s number. Inhaling deeply, I forced myself to read his words and felt my heart break as I did. He wrote about passing his time with a boring Irish girl who was visiting her family. He wrote that she wasn’t anything special.

“Jenna, you’re crying. Why?” Lisa asked quietly.

I raised my face and cast my glance between the three of them. “I have to go.”

Pushing away from the table, I glanced at Tracy and saw the smug look on her face. She wanted to upset me.

Some friend!

The moment I left the café, I ran smack into Jason. So not the time to have to face him. I’d been avoiding him since I’d gotten back…even avoided his texts the past couple of days; the last thing I needed was him insisting on consoling me.

There had once been a time when I’d have let him, however; with his feelings toward me going more toward the need for a relationship, it was no longer wise.

“Jenna, let me help you,” he begged, trying to grab hold of my shoulders as I backed away.

I cried into a tissue I’d found in my pocket and met his worried frown. “I can’t talk to you about what’s wrong, okay? I wish I could, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

His frown deepened. “Why would you hurt me?” He shook his head. “Jenna, we’ve been friends for years.” He took my shoulders in his hands and held on to me. “I’m worried about you.”

“I’m stressed with the assignment, and Christmas didn’t go as planned and…and…I’m tired—you know, jet lag and all. It’s a mixture of everything. I just need to go home and sleep.” I backed away as he followed.

Jason rolled his eyes and tugged me straight into his arms. My own, completely in reaction, flew around his waist to catch myself, and I decided to stay where I was. He felt warm and it was nice being held by someone familiar.

His heavy sigh resonated against me, and I froze when he asked, “Did you tell me the truth?”