Chapter 7 - Nora
I arrived home exhausted. I threw my purse onto my side table and kicked off my shoes. I flicked my light on and screamed. Jade was sitting on my couch with her legs thrown up. I felt my heart race and placed my hand over my heart as I leaned over, clutching the doorknob tightly.
“What the fuck, Jade!”
Jade gave me a simple smirk as she looked away from her phone, which was propped up on her leg. “Welcome home. I’ve only been waiting for like fifteen minutes.”
I pulled myself up, taking a few deep breaths in. “That key is for emergencies in my house. Not to loiter.”
“I’m not loitering, and this is an emergency. I just caught wind that a certain someone is dating a certain someone else, and I happen to not know about either of them being together.” She laid me with a look and I felt my stomach drop.
I groaned as I walked into the living room and sat down on my love seat across from the couch. I ran my hands over my face as I sighed. “Oh, that…I can explain. It’s not what you think.”
She scowled, pulled herself up, and leaned forward. “That’s all you have to say? Oh that? Like you, boinking my brother isn’t something I should know.”
I cringed at her words. “We aren’t boinking.”
Jade snorted. “Oh, please! I’ve seen the way you two have acted. I thought it had been weird the past few months, but I see why now. You two have been fucking and hiding it from me.” She clicked her tongue. “Why wouldn’t you just tell me rather than keep it a secret?”
I sighed again as I pinched my eyes. “Jade, we aren’t boinking, we aren’t fucking. We aren’t sleeping together. We’re not even together.”
She leaned back clearly, not convinced. She raised an eyebrow at me.
“Oh, come on, the entire pack is talking about it. It would have been nice to hear it from you first, rather than Jill from the gym. Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was? Everyone seemed to know you two were together, but me. I looked like an idiot. How could you keep this from me? I thought you were my best friend.”
I sighed. “Jade, we aren’t together.”
She scoffed. “Why do you keep saying that?”
“Because it’s fake.” I threw my hands up. “Like I said. It’s not what it looks like.”
Jade stopped, her mouth froze as she processed my words. “I don’t understand. What do you mean it’s fake?”
I pulled myself up, needing a drink if I was about to have this conversation with her. “Your brother kind of announced it first…and roped me into it.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“Your brother came up with the idea of us dating to get your father off his back. He announced it and then kind of twisted my arm to agree.”
“What?” Jade yelled, springing off the couch. “Are you saying he forced you into this? I’m going to literally murder my brother!”
I slipped into the kitchen, flicking the light on. I walked right over to my wine fridge and pulled a bottle out.
“Don’t walk away! I need details, Nora! What the hell do you mean?”
I grabbed two glasses and opened the bottle, pouring each of us a glass. I took a long sip of mine. “Jade, I took care of it. Take a breath.”
“I’m your best friend. I should know this stuff. If my brother is being a pig, I need to know that.”
I walked back into the living room and handed her the glass. I reseated myself on the love seat and crossed my legs, yanking a blanket over myself. “I mean, your brother is a bit of an ass, but he’s not a pig. And I agreed. This will get Ryan to leave me alone.”
Jade’s eyes narrowed on me. “I need details. When did this happen? How did this happen?”
“Your father has been pressuring him to settle down more these past few weeks. Even brought a woman to the farmers’ market to set them up. And Ryan has been hounding me to go out with him for weeks. At the farmers’ market, he pretty much announced that we were going out to solve the problem.”
Jade frowned. “I’m going to murder him in his sleep.” She grabbed her phone, and I could see she was scrolling, searching for his number.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to have Brandon ream him a new one.”
“Nora, no. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine!” She looked back at me, angry now. “He’s using you. I don’t care if he’s my brother. You don’t get to be treated like that.”
“And I’m using him. We are both using each other.”
I watched hurt cross her face. “And what if you end up hurt? You can’t walk away from something like that without your feelings being affected.”
I wanted to tell her I had already been. Kaleb had put my heart through a shredder months ago. But now? Now, I was fine. I could handle this situation with a cool head without emotions. At least, that’s what I was telling myself.
After our argument, I knew Kaleb had a point. If we wanted people to believe this, we were going to have to act like we were in love. As much as I hated the idea, I could suffer through it.
I laughed. “I’m going to be fine. I can handle your brother just fine.”
Jade’s shoulder dropped. “What if you want to date someone? How long do you guys plan to do this? What about what your future looks like?”
I tried to remain calm and unmoved. “We haven’t exactly ironed out the details about it all yet, but long enough to get what we both need before we part ways.”
Jade shook her head. “You’re making it sound like it’s going to be that easy, but it’s not.”
She might be right, but I didn’t want to think about that. I wanted it to be simple. “I’m a big girl, Jade. I have it all under control.”
Jade took a sip of her wine. “You’re sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Jade smiled. “Well, you never know. This could lead to you guys becoming something real.”
I forced a laugh, trying to hide the truth. If she knew that I had asked her brother out and he rejected me, she might honestly kill him.
“So, do tell me how it all went down at the gym.”
Jade laughed. “Oh, I heard Jill telling some other girls in the locker room. They were whispering about how you and Kaleb were together. I thought for sure they were smoking something because I would have known first before anyone else, but apparently not.”
I took a sip of my wine to avoid her glare.
“They were going into detail about how you guys have been secretive over the past month because you guys have probably been fucking in hiding. I swear, the stuff I heard I will never unhear.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the gossip. I had avoided Kaleb since the party, and everyone thought we were sleeping together. It was working in our favor at least.
“Got to love gossip.”
Jade nodded. “Just so you know, I give you my blessing if you do decide to boink with him.”
I choked on my wine and stared at her with wide eyes. “Jade!”
“What? I mean, you’re taking this very business-like, and if that’s the case, why not enjoy it a little? If you want to have a little fun, I’m not going to say anything.”
“You were just ready to murder him a moment ago, and now you’re telling me to have sex with him.”
“I’m not saying you have to, but if it happens, I’m not going to be angry.”
I watched her take another sip, and I chuckled. “You know if I had a brother, I would not be okay with you sleeping with him.”
Jade smirked. “And that is why I’m the cooler friend in this relationship.”
We both laughed, and I felt myself relax. I was relieved she was understanding about this, even if she didn’t know the entire truth.
“What are your plans for dinner?” Jade set her wine glass down. “I am child-free, and Brandon is taking Ilsa out for daddy and daughter night, so I plan to have a meal with more liquor.”
I smirked, remembering the many times we sat together and watched TV in the dark, all the hours we spent talking about life and trusting each other because we had no one else. It all changed so much when she married Brandon, but she was still the same person she was before.
We ended up going out to eat at a small joint that served good appetizers. Its business had a long bar and a few booth tables. We slipped into a booth, and Jade ordered food and drinks right away.
I leaned against the booth’s leather and sighed, taking in the smell of grease and liquor. The place was packed with people talking loudly, but I was happy we had a small area to ourselves.
“Here are your martinis.” The waiter dropped the drinks off, and Jade took a sip of hers. “Thanks, Frank.”
“Your food will be out in a few minutes.”
I took a sip of my drink and glanced around the space. My eyes froze when I spotted Kaleb at the bar with Westley. They were both eating and having a beer.
I stared at them, taking in Kaleb’s arms that were bulging each time he took a swig of his drink. I took in his smile as he laughed with Westley. I hated how I still yearned for him when I knew better. I wish I had gotten over my crush.
I shook my head and looked at Jade. “How is the training coming along? Are you getting better with your magic?”
Jade nodded. “I am, but it’s complicated. I still have so much to learn. The others have been extremely helpful. I’m learning to control my fire, and in a couple of weeks, we’re going to start on spells.”
“And how has the hunting been going for the guys?”
Jade frowned, “It’s been hard. I know that it’s frustrating, Brandon. They know they are out there, but they can’t find them. I’ve not been able to really feel them, so it’s just confusing for all of us.”
I glanced across the space back at Kaleb.
I noticed a woman was standing near them now.
She was wearing a tight black skirt that clung to her hips tightly, but only covered her ass just enough.
She had on a plunging V-neck and showed her breasts off.
I chewed on my cheek, seeing that she dressed that way to show off and catch a man’s attention.
She was talking to Kaleb, who was nodding as he spoke with her. I felt my stomach stir when I saw the way she stood. She was bent over slightly, giving Kaleb a clear view down her dress.
“So, besides your fake relationship, what is new?”
Jade and I talked. I told her about the shelter, and she told me about Ilsa. Our food was dropped off, and we slowly ate. I continued to look at Kaleb every few moments. I hated that I did it, but I couldn’t stop myself.
The woman moved closer every few moments. She was practically leaning on him at this point. Kaleb kept giving her a soft smile, not pushing her off of him. I chewed on my fry and looked back at Jade.
Jade grunted, irritated. “Who do you keep looking at?”
Shit.
She looked over her shoulder and searched the space, but I saw a smirk form on her face. She turned back to me. “You’re staring at my brother, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“You have always been a terrible liar.”
I rolled my eyes as I watched the gal rake her hand over Kaleb’s chest. His hand reached up, stopping her, and then his eyes found me. I felt my heart stop beating, and my face grew hot. I swallowed, needing air.
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
Jade laughed as I pulled myself out of the booth and headed for the bathrooms down the small hallway. Inside, I splashed some water on my face, trying to calm myself down.
I don’t care what he does. If he wanted to let women touch him, then fine. It didn’t matter to me.
But it also wouldn’t look right if we were dating and someone was touching him. We needed to discuss this. If we wanted this to work, he couldn’t just allow other women to do what they wanted.
After I gave myself a moment to clear my head, I stepped back outside into the hallway, and Kaleb was leaning against the wall waiting.
He tilted his head as he raised an eyebrow at me.
“You know, you were supposed to come save me back there. Instead, you just let me suffer. She had her hands all over me.”
I swallowed, seeing the teasing in his eyes. I stared at his lips and felt my heart skip a beat. “My bad.”
He moved closer. “My bad? That’s all I get? I saved you when Ryan was hitting on you. Don’t I deserve the same?”
I shrugged. “What, half-naked women aren’t your thing?”
Kaleb was practically hovering over me. I could smell his cologne and swallowed. His eyes looked at me softly as he chuckled. “Not like that.”
I glanced down at his lips and suddenly felt myself wanting them. Before I even knew it, Kaleb pulled a hand up, cupping the back of my head, and kissed me. It was like a kiss in the movies where you thought you were never going to have the chance again, so you took it.
He kissed me like his life depended on it, and I found myself wanting all of it. We tumbled back against the wall, and I knew people could see us. We were just a foot away from leaving the hallway, but I didn’t care.
He pinned me against the wall, his fingers tight against my skin as he tilted my head up, deepening the kiss. His tongue slid against mine, and I felt my breath being taken away.