He looks away as if thinking, and then slowly shakes his head.“I wanted her opinion about something I’m working on.It’s not… No, Cali, I’m not hooking up with Gen.I can’t believe you thought that after—” His hand lifts to me and then drops.“I would never do that.I’m not like that.”
I believe him, but I can’t say I know him well.“Whatareyou like?”
He’s quiet for a moment, replacing the top of the hibachi.“I’m not going to lie.For a time I hooked up a lot, but that was a while ago.There were things going on—things I was trying to deal with.Obviously, I didn’t deal with them well, but I got over it and I’m not like that anymore.It wasn’t the real me.”He stares into my eyes.“But even then, I would never have hooked up with one girl and then turned around and pursued her best friend.”He rubs his jaw.“I also didn’t, ahhh—date—more than one girl at a time.Too complicated.”
So he didn’t screw more than one girl on the same day, but there probably wasn’t much lag time in between.I can deal with that.He was younger then.I don’t expect less from a twenty-year-old guy who was hot enough to have anyone he wanted.As long as he’s not like that anymore.
I’m not a virgin, but I’m loyal, and despite what Jaeger might think of me after I let Drake drive me home, I don’t sleep around.Make out, for sure, but not sex.That I reserve for relationships.It’s my one prim and proper rule, if you can call it that.
Gen opens the screen door.“There you are.Hey, Jaeger.I didn’t know you were coming over.”She looks at the lounge chair I’m sitting on and the bent legs.“You eat too much tonight, Cali?”
“Shut up!”I toss a pine cone at her head, but she’s farther away than Jaeger and my aim is not exactly accurate.Gen doesn’t bother deflecting because the pine cone lands wide.Okay, it lands in the next county.
Jaeger shakes his head and stands, holding the warm hibachi by the handles, the paper bag stuffed under his arm.“We’re going to need to work on that.”
“I thought you said I’m never to throw anything ever again.”
“And did you listen?”
He has me there.
Jaeger walks to the back gate.“Later, Gen.Cali, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?
“Eleven a.m.,” he calls from the driveway.
I trust what Jaeger said about him and Gen, so if he isn’t hooking up with her, what is going on?There’s something Gen isn’t telling me.
ChapterSeventeen
The next morning, Gen spills about a thousand Cheerios onto the kitchen floor and
growls.“Friggin’ hell.”
A few roll out of the kitchen, and I kick them back inside.“Better clean that up.”
She squints across the counter, her eyes half-lidded, a lock of hair sticking straight up on one side.“Why are you up?You’re jobless.Shouldn’t you be sleeping until two or three, or job-hunting?”
I deserved that.“Touché.Jaeger told me to be ready at eleven, remember?”
She grumbles a response.Something about noisy roommates and waking too early.
Oopsie, I might have made a little noise in my eagerness to get ready for my date.
The coffee maker pours a stream of deliciousness into the pot.It’s almost done, but… screw it.Gen’s grumpiness is in top form and requires evasive action.
I pull out the carafe—it’s one of those auto-stop ones—and pour her a cup.“Here.”
She takes a sip, dustpan in hand.“Ahhh, gracias.”
My cell phone rings.I grab my purse from the counter and toss everything out until I locate my phone at the very bottom.
“Hey, sis.”
“Tyler?”This is weird.He must be back in Boulder, but I don’t usually hear from him for a few weeks after a visit.“What are you up to?”
“Still out and about,” he says.
