32. June
JUNE
Why? Why does math hate me so much? I stare at my laptop screen and the big, fat seventy-two-percent score staring back at me from my last test. It isn’t a terrible score, but it definitely isn’t going to get me an A.
I should’ve just bit the bullet and looked while I was at work.
Instead, I spent my entire shift on pins and needles, determined to wait until I got home before being disappointed.
And now, here I am. At home. And disappointed.
It doesn’t help that I haven’t heard from a certain someone for a solid five days.
Not that I’m entirely surprised. I figured he’d keep his distance to prove whatever happened between us was physical and only physical.
Joke’s on him. I am well aware of where he stands.
Besides, it’s not like I didn’t know that when I broke up with Bryan for the guy.
Maybe one day he’ll stop being so afraid of commitment or actually letting someone in but, until then, Ford and I are nothing but two people who hang out in the same social circles and may or may not have made each other come.
Oh, jeez.
“We’re home!” someone calls from the front door. It’s Violet. I’d recognize her voice anywhere. Closing my laptop, I shove it under my pillow. I don’t know why. It’s not like I have something to hide or that Violet even cares about my grades, but I can’t help it. I hate math.
“I’m in here!” I yell, praying she can’t hear the defeat in my tone. “And who’s we?”
A pair of footsteps echoes down the short hall before Violet appears in the doorway. “Hey.”
“Hey, Vi—”
Lexie appears behind her, acting like a surprise guest on a reality TV show as she peeks through the bedroom doorway. “Why hello, gorgeous!”
I jump to my feet. “Lexie!” I haven’t seen Lexie since last weekend.
Even her texts have been sporadic at best. Honestly, I have a feeling her brother scans her messages, which is why I haven’t pushed it, but seeing her in the flesh?
It’s as good as Christmas. Rushing toward her, I pull Lexie into a hug. “How are you? I’ve missed you.”
“Yeah, I’ve been busy,” Lexie returns. “How was work?”
“Good,” I answer while refusing to acknowledge the proverbial elephant tucked under my pillow. “The usual. How long are you here for?”
“Not long. We just stopped by so we could kidnap you.”
My brows raise. “Kidnap me?”
“Yup, so hurry up and change into something sexy and sassy. If I’m late for my shift, my boss will kill me.”
Okay, it’s official. I’m missing something. Or…multiple somethings. “What are you talking about?” I ask.
With a smile, Lexie announces, “You and Violet are coming to work with me.”
I frown. “Work? As in, The Body Shop? As in, Drift territory?”
I was all for the kidnapping part until she mentioned work.
It’s not that I don’t approve of Lexie’s job, but between her crappy brother and Jagger’s direct order to Violet about staying away from The Drift without supervision, I’m a little hesitant to rush over and hang out at a strip club.
Add in the fact that Violet and I work relatively normal hours compared to Lexie’s nightshift schedule, and I feel like we’re more like passing ships than actual friends.
Now, she wants us to come hang out while she’s working?
“I know Lexie has been working a lot lately,” Violet grumbles. Clearly, she’s as displeased as I am with our flip-flopped routines.
“Which is why you’re coming with me,” Lexie says.
My frown deepens. Maybe it’s the below-average grade from my last math assignment still consuming my thoughts, but I’m confused.
“I’m supposed to give Lexie a ride to work,” Violet explains, reading my mind yet again. “She’s been twisting my arm all afternoon, asking if I’d come hang out during her shift.”
“And,” Lexie continues, “now that we know you’re actually home from work and not hooking up with Ford—”
I toss my hands in the air. “Violet!” It’s not that I expected her to keep my little rendezvous with Ford last weekend a secret from Lexie, it’s just…okay, I really shouldn’t be surprised, should I?
“Aw, don’t blame Violet,” Lexie defends. “Her love life is boring now that she’s settled down, so she had to spill your tea just to keep things interesting.”
“Lexie!” Violet squeals, mimicking my same outrage.
Lexie folds her arms. “Am I wrong?”
“Yes,” Violet argues. “My love life is plenty interesting, but it’s not my fault that June’s little soiree with a certain Harden brother made the headlines for recent events, okay?”
“And why does my little makeout session with Ford make the headlines?” I ask. “You both have kissed plenty of guys—”
“And it always makes the headlines,” Violet quips.
I give the girl a scowl but don’t reply. Besides, maybe I’m just sensitive about the whole Ford bit because it involves, you know, Ford.
“Well,” I mumble, “even if we did make headlines, he hasn’t reached out since, so…
” Blah. Why does it sound so pathetic when I say it out loud?
It’s not like I expected anything less. But even so, I’ve been avoiding admitting the truth since the moment he walked out of the room and left me behind.
But maybe it’s the silence that’s been holding me back.
Maybe if I admit the truth to everyone, it’ll be like airing out a room after cooking seafood, you know? A chance to clear the air and all.
I collapse onto my tiny twin-sized bed, careful not to jostle my hidden laptop.
Lexie plops down next to me. “That’s lame,” she announces.
“Super lame,” I agree. “But not surprising.”
“Want to know what I think?” she asks. “I think we need to teach you the art of teasing.”
“Teasing?” Violet interjects. Pushing herself away from the doorframe, she walks toward her bed on the opposite side of the room, sits down, and rests her elbows on her knees.
“Yeah,” Lexie answers. “Guys like Ford? They’re all about the chase. And now that he thinks the chase is over, he might even still be interested, but he doesn’t know what to do with himself because he’s never gotten this far.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t exactly know what to do with myself either, so…”
“So, keep toying with him,” she suggests. “Send him a sexy photo. Ignore him. Flirt with other guys. Give him a reason to chase, and do it so well he won’t be able to resist.”
I rub my lips together, considering her suggestion.
As a whole, it’s not a bad idea. The thing is, I’m not a tease.
I’m not even really a girl guys chase after.
I’m just…me, in all my sourdough baking, dental cleaning glory.
And the idea of stepping into any other persona is daunting, to say the least. “I don’t know,” I murmur.
“Come on, you can totally do it.” Lexie bumps her shoulder with mine. “You just need to…I don’t know? Push yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit.”
Peeking up at her, I offer, “You mean, channel my inner Lexie?”
Violet laughs across from us. “Maybe like, level one Lexie,” she suggests. “But not too much.”
“Hey—” Lexie starts.
“Calm your boobs,” Violet tells her. “All I’m saying is I don’t really think it’s about the chase. I think it’s more about how Ford doesn’t know what to do with himself now that he’s caught genuine feelings for you.”
Feelings? For me?
We are talking about the same Ford, right?
Looking down at my hands, I pick at my cuticles, unsure what to say, let alone how to process Violet’s conclusion. “I don’t know about that,” I murmur.
“Ford has always been the most jaded when it comes to love, June,” Violet argues, “and I always knew it would take a special girl to knock him off his feet. Not saying either of you is there yet,” she adds.
“But maybe he’s keeping his distance because he feels like he could get there one day, and it scares him. ”
“Or maybe you’re overestimating his feelings,” I argue.
“Maybe.” Violet shrugs. “But you won’t know for sure until you see him again.”
“For now,” Lexie chimes in. “We’ll teach you how to master the art of seduction and teasing by dragging you with us to The Body Shop, so you can see it firsthand.”
Aaaand, we’re back to square one.
Then again, maybe a night out would be good for me. I could use a distraction from my stupid test score and a certain Harden Brother I’d rather not think about.
Lips bunching on one side, I ask, “Will we even get to see you?”
“Oh, you’ll see plenty.” Lexie’s wink pulls a laugh from Violet. “Come on,” Lexie begs. “I’ll even make sure you get free drinks all night.”
I turn to Violet and wait for her to make the final call because we both know Jagger’s stance on Violet venturing into Drift territory.
Does she really think he’ll let her get away with this?
Not that he technically has any say, but you know what I mean.
Why pick a fight with your boyfriend when you know it’s a bad idea?
“To be fair, I’m pretty sure it’s the only way we’ll be able to see Lex for the foreseeable future,” Violet points out.
“You know, since my brother has a stick up his ass,” Lexie adds dryly.
Considering my few interactions with the guy, along with the way Hawke basically threw him out of the last Harden Night, Lexie might have a good point.
“And Jagger?” I prod, eyeing Violet.
She waves me off. “One kiss on the lips, and he’ll fold like Quasimodough.”
Lexie interjects, “I think you mean one kiss on the cock, but I like where you’re going with this—”
“Lexie!” Violet’s pillow arcs through the air, smacking Lexie in the forehead with a loud thwump.
Pressing my hand to my stomach, I laugh. Hard. And it feels good. To find joy and humor in a conversation instead of overthinking and overanalyzing like I’ve been doing all week.
“What the hell?” Lexie squeals.
“Oh, so you’re saying you didn’t deserve that?” Violet argues.
“Whatever.” Lexie throws the pillow back, and Violet catches it with ease before tossing it once more.
“You guys are insane,” I note.
With a smile, Violet counters, “Yeah, but you love us.”
She’s right. I really, truly do.
With that in mind, I announce, “Fine, I’ll come tonight.”
“That’s my girl!” Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, Lexie lands a lip-smacking kiss against my cheek, then jumps to her feet and darts across the room, laying one on Violet’s forehead.
“It’s going to be so much fun!” Not sure it’s the term I would use, but it’ll definitely be memorable.
“Eek! I’m so excited! But first, we got you a present.
” Lexie skips toward the hallway, retrieving her massive handbag that’s half her size.
Inside is a dark red top with a deep V-neck.
She hands it to me, her eyes dancing with enthusiasm. “Girl, you’re gonna look so good.”
Lifting it up, I inspect the fabric. It’s soft and silky and practically non-existent. “Uh, what’s this?”
“It’s a top.”
“It’s missing some fabric,” I point out. “Like, a lot of fabric.”
Lexie waves me off. “Trust me, where we’re going, it’s practically a sweater.”
Oh, jeez.
I’m not a prude. Seriously, I’m not. But I’ve never been to a strip club. Like, ever. The idea of going and seeing boobs and butts and who knows what else is a little…I don’t know, daunting? I give Violet a wide-eyed look from across the room. Why do I feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter?
Lexie laughs even harder, and Violet lifts a shoulder. “If it helps, she made me buy a skimpy outfit, too.”
“Speaking of which.” Lexie offers her hand to Violet and practically shoves her toward the exit. “Go change! Like I said, I can’t be late. Chop-chop, ladies!”