"What? I'm being practical. Clearly, one time wasn't enough to get out of each other's systems. Maybe two times will do it. Or three. Or ..."
"Stop." I grab her hand, looking at her seriously. "I need you to help me stay away from him."
Her smile fades. "Jo ..."
"Please. I'm serious. If you see me going near him. If you see us alone together. Stop me. Physically drag me away if you have to. I can't be trusted around him."
She studies my face and can see how desperate I am. "You really think you can't control yourself?"
"I know I can't. I literally launched myself at him today, Lettie. Like a horny teenager. I have zero self-control when it comes to him."
She sighs. "Okay. I'll help. But, Jo, this is going to be really hard. You work with him every day."
"I know. That's why I need you, especially on the road. You need to be my roomie."
"Fine. That would be fun. What about when you're at work and I'm not there?"
"I'll ... I don't know. Avoid him. Stay busy. Pretend he doesn't exist."
"That's a terrible plan."
"It's the only plan I have."
"How long do you think it's going to take for you to get over him?" she asks.
"I don't know. But I'm sure he will be distracted by puck bunnies on the road. He will forget about me easily."
"Emmett isn't a puck bunny kind of guy," she informs me.
"Well, I'm sure he will meet someone. Or I will. Maybe I'll join the dating apps. Distract myself on dates."
Lettie doesn't look convinced. "You hate the dating apps."
"I know. But I'm trying here."
"Fine." She sighs, pulling me into another hug. "I've got you. We'll figure this out together."
"Thank you."
"But for the record, I still think you should hit it one more time."
"Lettie!"
"Just saying."
19
JOELLE
My alarm goes off at six A.M., but I'm already awake. Have been for an hour. It's my first day and the jitters have kicked in. I need to move. Burn off this nervous energy before I get to work. I roll out of bed and pull on my running leggings, sports bra, and long-sleeve top as it’s cold out there, lace up my trainers, and grab my headphones. The apartment is quiet, Collette's still asleep.
I slip out, my eyes landing on Emmett's door before heading downstairs and hitting the pavement. The city is alive even though most people are just waking up. Crisp, cool morning air fills my lungs as I run. The seasons have changed, fall is starting to hit the city. One block. Two. Three. My mind races faster than my feet. Yesterday. His apartment. His couch. His hands. I run harder. My body remembers everything. The way he touched me. The way I fell apart for him. I push myself. Faster. Harder. Until my lungs burn and my legs ache and I can't think about anything except breathing. By the time I get back to the apartment, I'm drenched in sweat. Gasping for air, but calmer.
Collette's in the kitchen, still in her pajamas, and I can smell the coffee brewing. "Are you okay?" she asks, looking at me.
"Needed to run." I gasp.
"Glad you didn't ask me." She chuckles. "Nervous?"
