Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Ever
I had changed outfits three times.
Three.
And somehow, I was right back where I started, standing in the middle of my bedroom in jeans and a tank top, staring at my reflection like it was going to give me answers.
It didn’t.
It just stared back at me, equally confused.
“What are you doing?” I asked myself. The mirror version of me didn’t respond. Rude.
I turned slightly, looking at the side view, then back to the front, tugging at the hem of my tank like that was going to suddenly make everything click into place.
It didn’t.
I dropped my hands and let out a breath, turning away from the mirror and pacing across my room.
The house was quiet. The kind of quiet that made your thoughts louder whether you wanted them to be or not. And mine? Yeah, they were loud.
Jesse.
Jude.
The party.
All of it tangled together in a mess I couldn’t sort out no matter how many times I tried.
I stopped at the window and looked out over the backyard, the pond catching the afternoon sun.
Jesse was going to be here any minute, and I was ready to sink into a black hole.
For years, I had wanted Jude’s attention but never got it. Now I had Jesse’s attention, which I should be over the moon about, but instead, Jude was giving me what I always wanted.
The roar of a motorcycle echoed in the distance, and I looked at the clock.
Jesse was right on time. I grabbed my wallet and phone and headed to the front door.
If only Jude had been on time when I wanted him years ago.