Her red-lacquered lips stay curved into a frown as she runs her fingers through her tousled curls.
I’m trying my best not to be envious of her silky tresses. This Maddie doesn’t own any hot tools, and I’m too broke to remedy that. I’ve tried other heatless ways to tame my frizzy mane, but it’s been no use. Part of this curse is apparently infinite bad hair days.
At least beanies are warm, so there’s that.
“Can I help you?” I ask after a few more seconds of awkward staring.
It’s weird seeing Jenny like this. I have some memories of her, so I’m not shocked, but having a memory and going through something yourself are two very different experiences. And Jenny standing here stuffed in a white fur coat with lash and hair extensions and a contoured face is bizarre.
My heart patters with a sense of longing. Ellie wasn’t too creative with our backstory. It’s the same, just reversed, probably trying to give me a taste of my own medicine.
I’d roll my eyes, but it’s working because thinking of Jenny feeling this heartbroken just looking at someone who used to be her best friend fills the pit of my stomach with remorse.
When I was the baddie, I only thought about the sacrifice I needed to make to get what I wanted, but I never thought about how it madeherfeel.
It’s like mourning the dead and seeing the corpse every day. Like a part of my soul was ripped out without my permission, I can see it, but I can never have it back.
It sucks.
“So what’s the deal with you and Aarons?” she asks.
“Um—“
Funny story, I’m in love with him, and I need him to fall in love with me, too, so I can have ten minutes of my life back in an alternate reality, which is the real world… I think. My grasp on what is real and what’s not is a little fuzzy.
No, I can’t say that.
“I’m tutoring him?” I say, rubbing down the counter.
“Like at your apartment? Because Cali saw you two going there earlier this week, and she said his hand was on your back.”
Good thing Cali didn’t see where it was once we were inside.
My cheeks flush with heat, recalling his palm pressing on my clit as he drove two fingers into my entrance and stretched it wide, an ungodly feeling pooling between my thighs in response like he was casting a spell and claiming my soul with every pump.
Hell, I can’t wait for this fucking soulmate bond to stop being a thing.
Jenny drums her manicured fingers on the top of the pine counter. Her claws clack impatiently with every pass. Right. She asked me a question.
“I accidentally walked into him, spilled hot chocolate on his shirt, and offered to get it off. That’s it.” I swallow, clearing my throat and my head.
“Uh-huh, that’s a cute excuse.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Whatever, look. I just wanted to come here and tell you—because I still care about you—not to get too attached to him because I know how clingy you can get with people. Seth and I are getting back together soon, and I don’t want to see you get hurt in the aftermath. Okay? God, you’re still so cute.” She leans over and scrunches her nose, booping mine with her finger.
“Thanks for the heads up.” I drop my gaze to the rag in my hand. I don’t read too much into part of Jenny’s words. They’re something I would say to get under someone’s skin. But the part that terrifies me is the reality that Jenny is my competition. Jenny, with her perfect hair, flawless face, and wardrobe—there’s no way I stand a chance against someone like her.
And if I don’t get Seth to fall in love with me, then I’m just as screwed in the real world as I am here.
Well, fuck.
Chapter eleven
Bad Santa
Maddie
