Chapter Twenty-Two
Jade
Oh my god, what am I doing?
I’m kissing Brian—in the bank!
Now granted, there was no tongue, and it was pretty chaste, but still!
I was sure by the time the story circulated, we will have had our tongues down each other’s throats while we dry humped in the teller line.
I was so glad my parents now lived in Savannah, although it wouldn’t surprise me if word got back to my mother before dinnertime.
I fully expected to receive a call before I went to bed that night.
I really wanted to be mad at Brian for putting me in this position, but Rachel was being such a snot, so I kind of appreciated the chance to put her in her place. She’d been one of the mean girls in high school. Sixteen-year-old Jade was giving me a high-five.
Not to mention, it was Brian I was kissing. I’d thought about what that would be like since before I could drive. His lips were even softer than I’d imagined.
So, I may have been the one who’d prolonged it.
We broke the kiss, and he dropped his forehead to mine with a smile. For a second, I almost believed this thing between us was real.
“How much did you want to withdraw?”
Rachel’s icy tone broke the spell.
I turned to find her frowning at us. Well, probably more precisely—me.
“Oh, um. Everything but a hundred. In hundreds and twenties, too.”
Hopefully Brian and I wouldn’t spend a lot of money once we actually arrived at the cottage and bought groceries, so I could put a good portion of it back in my savings account when we returned home.
But, it was better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
I still couldn’t believe Brian had said that, too.
Rachel counted the cash out, then straightened the piles—sort of. She wasn’t nearly as careful as she had been with Brian’s money to make sure the bills were neatly stacked before stuffing them into the envelope and shoving it toward me.
“Anything else?”
I really wished I could think of something more, since she clearly did not want to be waiting on me.
Instead, I gave her a chipper smile. “Nope, that’s all. Thank you so much!”
Brian offered a wave and a “Have a nice day!” before we headed toward the door.
I knew this little stunt was going to bite me in the ass, but in that moment, I didn’t care.
****
Brian
I was thrilled that Jade was giggling when we left the bank. I’d thought for sure she was going to throat punch me once we got outside.
“You know we are going to have to do major damage control when we get back,” she said as she opened the passenger door and waited for me to get in. “It’s going to take on a life of its own while we’re gone.”
“Good. Hopefully if people think we’re dating, they’ll stop trying to set me up.”
She climbed into the driver’s seat and let out a groan.
“Ugh, you too? I mean, of course, you, too. What mom wouldn’t want to set her daughter up with you?
You’re…” she ticked off her fingers as she continued.
“Smart, handsome, and kind. You have a good job. And you don’t have the baggage of an ex-wife and kids.
” She started the truck before continuing, “Do you?”
“Nope. No ex-wives or children that I know about.”
“You’re like the perfect catch.”
I tilted my head at her as I put my seatbelt on. “Was that a compliment, Sunshine?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She put the truck in gear. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
Oh, it was going to my head, all right. Just probably not the one she was referring to.
****
Jade
We’d only gotten a block from the bank when Brian blurted out, “We need snacks! We can’t go on a road trip without snacks.”
“I mean, you’re not wrong. But I feel like stopping anywhere else in town is just asking for our picture to be taken and plastered everywhere.”
“That’s true. I’m sure hiding out from them has only made the demand for a photo worse.” He leaned his head against the headrest with a sigh. “I should’ve just posed for pictures outside the hospital and been done with it.”
“Well, like my gramps used to say, ‘shoulda woulda coulda’. It’s too late now.”
“Yep,” he reluctantly agreed, then turned his head to look at me, revealing those damn dimples again. “How long before we can get snacks?”
I shook my head and grumbled, “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
That made him sit up straight as his grin grew wider.
“You think I’m cute?”
I kept my eyes on the road and refused to take the bait. “We’ve already established that, Bri.”
He relaxed against the seat again and stared out the window for a few seconds before murmuring, “For the record, I think you’re gorgeous.”