“And I’m not so sure how single Jess actually is,” Emma said with a smile.
Jessica took a long drink from her beer to save herself from having to answer.
“That’s right!” Carly’s eyes lit. “Because you’ve been kissing Mark.”
“I know you guys have history together,” Gabby said. “So is this like a chemistry thing or a feelings thing?”
“It’s supposed to be aprivatething,” Jessica said, her cheeks burning.
“No privacy here,” Emma said, grinning. “But you can also trust that nothing you say will be repeated outside our group.”
“Does that include Ethan and Ryan?” Jessica gave Emma and Gabby questioning looks. “Because we’re talking about one of their best friends.”
“If you ask us to keep it between us girls, we will,” Gabby said.
Emma nodded in agreement.
“This sounds like more than just kissing,” Carly said, sipping from her beer with wide eyes.
“It is.” Jessica took another drink from her own beer. “He spent the night at my place last night.”
Mandy whooped, while a collective murmur of excitement ran around the table.
“That sounds like alotmore than kissing,” Emma said.
Jessica nodded. “This chemistry between us…well, I guess it was simmering for a while. Maybe we still had some unfinished business we needed to get out of our systems.”
“So it’s just sex?” Mandy asked.
“For now, it is, and that’s why I don’t want word of it getting out around town.”
“So you won’t be inviting him to your parents’ house for Thanksgiving?” Emma asked, her expression deadpan.
Jessica set her beer down on the table a little more forcefully than she’d intended to. “No way.” Although truthfully, Thanksgiving hadn’t even crossed her mind yet. Her family knew him, of course, and she did hate the thought of him spending holidays alone…crap.
“Your face right now!” Emma was laughing. “But don’t worry, we’ve already invited him to have Thanksgiving with us so you don’t have to worry about him being alone.”
“Oh good. I mean…not that I was worried, but I’m glad he’ll be with you guys.” A ridiculous burst of relief flooded through her.
“Maybe you could stop by for dessert,” Emma said, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “I do bake a mean pumpkin cheesecake.”
“Um.” Jessica sensed that she was in over her head with no way out. She gulped from her beer. “Yeah. Sure. I could stop by for dessert.”
“I’m so sorry we’re going to miss this,” Gabby said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Sam and I are staying in town to spend Thanksgiving with my parents,” Carly said.
“Come on over,” Emma said. “Ryan and I love any excuse to have extra people around the table at the holidays, and I bet you could bring something really yummy too.”
“Oh, I’m sure I could whip something up.” Carly winked.
“Your pecan pie tarts are my favorite,” Jessica chimed in, for a moment forgetting the potential awkwardness of Thanksgiving with Emma, Ryan, Carly, Sam, andMark.
“Duly noted,” Carly said, sipping from her beer.
“So if I might be nosy for a moment,” Emma said, raising her eyebrows. “What’s he like in bed? I mean, he’s so reserved. Does he ever let loose?”
“And is he a dirty talker?” Mandy asked.
