Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Jesse fucking Shepherd. Some girl is curled around his bicep, and I can’t tell whether she’s using him to hold herself up or if she’s just trying to send a very clear signal that she’s interested.
He sends a smirk my way, but I roll my eyes, already annoyed. Embarrassment rolls through me when I think about how he left me that night, but I straighten my spine, unwilling to show any signs of weakness or insecurity. In fact, he did me a favor that night. The embarrassment I’m feeling now is only a fraction of how I’d feel if I let things go any further.
“We’re closing soon, Jess,” Jake informs him, but Jesse simply swaggers up and parks his ass in a booth, his friends following suit.
“We’re celebrating,” he explains with a hollow smile.
I look over to Jake who gives me a reluctant nod, letting me know to go ahead and serve them. I grab a couple of menus and head over to their table, trying to keep my face neutral. “What can I get started for you guys?” I ask after I take the sucker out of my mouth. I should’ve ditched it, but I can’t do it now without it being awkward. Not having anywhere else to put it, I place it back in my mouth and stare at my notepad, waiting for their orders.
“I want some fuckin’ fries!” one of the girl slurs. Then, the group of seven hurls their orders at me all at once. Everyone except Jesse. Finally, I look up from my order pad to meet his eyes.
“Allie Girl.” He smiles, but it’s not his usual, carefree smile that I remember. This one doesn’t quite reach his eyes. But then I remind myself that I don’t care.
“It’s Allison,” I correct. “What do you want?” I aim for unaffected and end up coming off snappy instead.
“This, for starters.” He plucks the sucker out of my mouth before popping it into his own. My eyes widen, and he leans back against the booth with a raised brow, daring me to react, so naturally, I do the exact opposite, even though his demeanor throws me off.
“How’s Halston?” a guy asks, and I realize it’s Sullivan—or Sully. He and Halston ended up hooking up that night, which served as the perfect diversion to distract her from questioning me about what happened with Jesse. I never went back to the party. I put on my headphones and fell asleep to the sound of Jimmy Eat World in my ears until Halston waltzed in at four A.M., looking freshly fucked and giddy as hell about it.
“She’s fine. I’ll get these orders in.” I turn without giving them a chance to respond.
“You know Jess?” Jake asks when I approach. I shake my head.
“Not really.” I’m definitely not explaining to my boss that I almost hooked up with him, especially since finding out that Lo is his sister. Halston filled me in, but I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. They both have the same thick, unruly, dark hair and hazel eyes, except Jesse’s are more green than brown. Not that I stared deep into his eyes or anything.
“Want me to take them?” Jake asks, flicking his chin toward Jesse’s table. I glance behind me to catch him staring straight at me, much to the dismay of the drunk yet beautiful girl draping herself across his lap.
“I got it,” I insist. I refuse to let Jesse know he’s gotten to me in any way. It was probably just another weekend for him. Why should it be any different for me?
“I’ll just get their drinks then,” Jake insists. I nod, excusing myself to the bathroom, away from Jesse’s probing stare. Once inside, I push the lock in and lean against the door. I catch my reflection, fighting the urge to fluff my hair on his account. My face is free of makeup, save for the red tint of cherry lip balm coating my lips. I tug at my white cotton uniform shirt that hugs my body tighter than I’m used to. I roll my eyes at myself, straighten my shoulders, and head back out into the lion’s den.
“What are you doing home on a week night?” I hear Jake ask. I pause in the hallway, not yet visible, waiting to hear his answer.
“He’s back for good,” Sullivan supplies, and their drunken group cheers excitedly.
What? The thought of him being here permanently sends a jolt of something through me. I don’t know if it’s dread or anticipation. I peek around the corner and Jesse has that fake smirk plastered to his face again.
“That’s why we’re celebrating,” the girl next to him informs Jake, rubbing at Jesse’s shoulder.
“Welcome home, man,” Jake says, giving him the man clap slash handshake thing, but Jesse’s eyes betray him. He’s not happy. Why am I the only one seeing this? Or maybe he’s just drunk. That’s probably it.