She pushed herself up to lean against her headboard next to me and said, “I guess it’s not really embarrassing. I just can’t believe I had a dream about him. It wasn’t dirty or anything. We just hung out and talked after a gig I went to in Hawaii.”
“Hawaii?!”
Jade shrugged. “Dreams are funny, aren’t they?”
“Except you’ve been talking about your honeymoon to Hawaii for like… forever and a half. So that has to mean something.”
“No clue. But I gotta say, I slay in lei.”
I giggled. I loved her witty comebacks and self-assurance. Which made me hate myself for having any sort of reaction toward Damien Walker at all. “Well, I don’t think that’s bad. People have dreams about different people all the time. Doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“Yeah…” Her voice came out soft, and she gazed across the room, distracted.
“You like him. Like really like him.”
“How can I like him? I barely know him.”
But I could tell from the light blush covering her skin that she was trying to convince herself more than me. Drunk Jade didn’t have any problem opening up about her crush, but sober Jade did.
“That’s not true. You can like him a lot without knowing him. Figuring each other out is the fun part. It’s totally normal.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“There is still plenty to be attracted to. I mean, he’s super hot, a hell of a singer, and is really nice. To everyone but me that is, but that’s beside the point. He has this air about himthat just draws you in. I can understand why you’d be crushing on him. Damien seems like a decent guy.”
I stopped myself from continuing. It was like word vomit, and I didn’t know where it had come from. Jade didn’t need me to tell her any of that. She already knew it. The two of them had an established friendship.
Jade pulled her knees to her chest, as if she was protecting herself from something. “I wasn’t around when you and Elijah started dating because we didn’t attend the same college. Is that what happened to you two? Love at first sight?”
I snorted. “No. Actually. I’d been seeing another guy when I met Elijah. He and I were friends and bonded over our love of music. We’d stay up late just listening to our favorite songs. He used to play them on his guitar.” I rolled my eyes. “That was back when he considered it socially acceptable to play. He hasn’t played in years. But I digress. We’d been best friends first. It wasn’t until I’d broken up with the other guy that Elijah and I even saw each other that way.”
“That sounds like a sweet love story.”
“Or one of Shakespeare’s tragic plays.”
This time, Jade snorted. “Don’t be so dramatic. You guys are going to get married and have cute little babies running around that look just like you two. Smart tiny daredevils who will have the best aunt in the world. AKA—me.”
“I only assumed you were referring to yourself. No need to clarify who the world’s greatest aunt is. I only have one sister.”
I tried to laugh with her, but the idea of that life—married with kids to Elijah—caused my body to turn cold while simultaneously breaking out in a sweat. The thought terrified me, when it had once brought me so much joy.
I chewed on my bottom lip.
That could only mean one thing, and I wanted to bury my head back into the sands of denial.
I wasn’t ready for that reality yet.
Chapter Eight
Cadence
Istayed at Jade’s for as long as possible, but the pull of adulting became too great and eventually I headed out.
As I walked back into my house with armfuls of grocery bags, I wasn’t surprised to see the place was still quiet. There were no signs that Elijah had emerged from the office at any point while I’d been gone. It wasn’t uncommon for him to become hyper focused on a task and forget to eat, so chances were good that he’d skipped lunch.
Meanwhile, Jade and I had ordered DoorDash from Panera Bread and binge watched The Gilmore Girls all afternoon.
I began the tedious task of putting the groceries away when the door to the office opened. I forced my body to keep moving as I prepared for the incoming bomb.
