She threw her head back and laughed. “Icky? What are we, five?”
“Don’t make fun! I just don’t know what it’s like to be with someone who isn’t Elijah. How to want someone else. And add in the potential to hurt you, too? Ick.”
“So, go see. Stop worrying about me.”
“What?”
“Go find out! Spend time with him. Explore the chemistry you two have and determine if it is something worth pursuing. You don’t have a reason not to.”
“Jade… I…”
“You and Elijah are no longer together, and I’m telling you to go. Those are the reasons you are saying no, and they don’t apply anymore! The only person holding you back isyou.”
I rubbed my fingers along the seam of my comforter. “I wouldn’t know how to start.”
The corners of Jade’s mouth curled deviously. “That’s the simple part. The hard part was getting you to agree.” She rolled onto her back, grabbed her phone off the nightstand, and pulled up a message thread. “I’ll have you know, Damien isn’t the only member of Rebel Rebellion that I talk to. And according to Colton, they are on their way to Los Angeles.” She moved her phone away from her face. “Doesn’t Liam live there?”
“Yeah, he does.”
“Perfect! Hop on a flight and visit your friend. A.K.A. —Go see your man!”
“Jade. I can’t just up and leave. There is so much to do here. Plus, what about you?”
“Why, yes, yes you can. I’ll be fine. I’ll hang out here and look for apartments, Roomie.” Her fingers flew across the glass display of her phone. “I told Colton he and I are now in cahoots to get you and Damien together.”
“Jade!”
“What? You didn’t consider that we’d need help to get insider info? Besides, Colton says Damien has been in a terrible mood, so he will try anything to pull the stick from his ass.”
I rolled onto my back. “Ugh! You’re impossible.”
“I know.” She smiled. “It’s another reason you love me so much.”
“So, you and Colton, huh? Is that where your heart truly lies?”
“Don’t change the topic.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me. I’m done with this conversation. Goodnight.” I heard Jade giggle as I squeezed my eyes shut again.
“We’ll revisit this in the morning. Night. Love you.” Her words were laced with smugness.
“Love you, too,” I grumbled, trying like hell to concentrate on relaxing my toes enough to fall asleep.
The next morning, Jade woke before I did.
Which meant…
When I walked into the kitchen, I was bombarded with flight times to LA, all the reasons I should ‘live my life’—which included a message from Colton explaining how they’d convinced Damien to stay in a hotel instead of sleeping on the bus tomorrow night—and a hot cup of coffee.
“So, what are you waiting for?” she asked.
And I honestly didn’t have an answer.
Chapter Twenty-One
Damien
Violet wasn’t doing well.
