Chapter 5
Chapter Five
“Have you responded to Jack’s text message yet?” Willow asks me as we head toward a café to meet Brielle for a coffee before we go shopping.
“No, I haven’t.” I shake my head and look at my friend innocently. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Are you going to respond before the dinner tonight? Won’t it be awkward if you’re both there at Sebastian’s place and you haven’t responded?”
“I guess. I suppose I didn’t really think about it.” Which is a lie.
I’ve debated back and forth the last three days if I should text him back, especially when I found out that Sebastian and Willow were going to have us all over to dinner, along with some of Sebastian’s friends that I hadn’t yet met.
I just don’t know what to say. It hardly feels mature to type back, You are not forgiven and never will be, you smelly, old, wannabe wolf.
“Oh, I see.” Willow stops dead in the street and turns to me, her blue eyes keen as she takes me in. “Katherine, is Jack going to be a problem? Do you want me to get Sebastian to disinvite him?”
“Isn’t Jack his best friend?”
“Yes, he is, but I’m his wife, and if it’s going to make you uncomfortable, then I will ask him to please disinvite him. You’re my best friend, and you’ve always been there for me and I will not have someone in my home who makes you feel disrespected.”
“Oh …” I stare at her with love and grab her hands.
“Girl, I appreciate you going to bat for me, but I do not want you to tell Sebastian his best friend cannot be at the party. It’s not that serious between me and Jack, I promise.
Look, I’ll text him right now.” I pull out my phone and go to text Jack, but then I remember I no longer have his number.
“Um, can you get his number from Sebastian for me, please? I accidentally deleted Jack’s text, and I don’t have it. ”
“Accidentally?” Willow raises a questioning eyebrow at me, but I’m not going to answer her because we both know it wasn’t an accident. “I’ll text Seb and ask him to send it to me. I can’t wait for tonight—our first official dinner party with our friends. I really hope it goes well.”
“I’m sure it’s going to be fantastic, Willow. I can’t wait.” I beam at her and ignore the trepidation in my stomach.
I will be around Jack for the longest amount of time I’ve ever been around him. I can only hope that we are sat on opposite sides of the table.
“Oh, Sebastian sent it. I’m sending you Jack’s number now,” Willow says.
I hear my phone beep with a text message from her. I look down and see his number, and my heart flips.
“Thanks. Let me text him now.”
I save his number under the words Donkey’s Ass and then hit the button to start a new message.
Katherine: The Brothers Grimm called, and they want you to stop the IP theft of calling yourself the Big Bad Wolf.
Jack: Why, hello, Agnes. Fancy hearing from you again.
Katherine: It’s Katherine, jackass.
Jack: You texted me to insult me?
Katherine: I’m texting you to say you’d better be cool tonight. Willow is excited for this party with Sebastian, and I don’t want you to ruin it.
Jack: Ruin it? Oh, are you scared I’ll be braying like a donkey?
Katherine: I mean, that’s your normal sound, so no.
Jack: Ouch!
Katherine: Sorry to have to be truthful.
Jack: I suppose you had to do it once in your life.
Katherine: Do what?
Jack: Tell the truth … or is this Gisele, the Supermodel?
Katherine: Is this Liam Hemsworth, the handsome actor? Oh, wait, no, it’s his ugly cousin.
Jack: I haven’t heard that one before … original … Miss Jenkins, or do you have a new name and age today?
Katherine: You’re a jerk.
Jack: Yet you still texted me.
Katherine: To tell you to be cool at the party tonight.
Jack: Really? Is that why you texted?
Katherine: Yes!
Jack: Are you sure?
Katherine: Why else would I have texted?
Jack: To offer to suck another body part of mine later …
Katherine: OMG, no, you didn’t!
Jack: You’re correct. I didn’t do the sucking … you did. :)
I gasp as I stare at my phone screen. My face is bright red, and I’m grateful that Willow is not looking at me.
I tried so hard to banish the memory of sucking on Jack’s thumb from my mind.
It hadn’t been anything crazy, but still, it felt so erotic and wrong.
Which it was, of course—wrong … not erotic.
I’d sucked my boyfriend’s brother’s thumb in his parents’ house.
I should have felt ashamed of myself; in actuality, I’d more felt embarrassment.
I couldn’t believe that Jack brought up that moment though. He still remembers.
“Did he respond?” Willow asks as we walk into the café, and Brielle jumps up with a wave.
“Yeah,” I say casually, smiling widely. “He said we’re all good and that we’re both down to forget the past and start over, so there you have it. Tonight will be amazing.”
“Yay.” Willow links her arm through mine. “I’m so happy. I just knew that you and Jack could both move on. He’s a great guy, and I’m glad we can all be friends.”
“Yeah, me too,” I squeak out, trying not to throw up.
I won’t be friends with Jack Heathcliff, especially not after those texts. The man is obviously determined to drive me crazy. He is definitely more foe than friend. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that he is fast becoming my enemy.
“Yay, you girls made it.” Willow steps forward in her emerald-green dress and hugs Brielle and me as we enter Sebastian’s apartment. There are lit candles scattered around the space, and I can smell a very delicious pot roast cooking. “You both look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Willow. You look amazing,” I say as I step to the side and wave at Sebastian, who is striding over to us with two glasses of wine.
He looks tall, dark, and dashing in his crisp gray shirt and slacks, and my heart melts as I see the loving way he stares at Willow. I’m so glad she found this all-encompassing love as she’d had such a horrible childhood.
“Hi, Brielle, Katherine. So glad you could both make it.” Sebastian hands us the glasses and grins widely. “Come on in. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
“Thanks,” I say as I hold the glass of white wine and drink quickly.
I’m nervous to see Jack, but as I survey the room, it appears as if he hasn’t yet arrived. There’s a record player in the living room, and I hear Ella Fitzgerald playing through the speakers.
“Hey, guys.” Sebastian steps forward. “This is Katherine, and this is Brielle. They are Willow’s best friends, and they just moved here from Whispering Haven. You met them all briefly the other day. Girls, you already know Santiago, Flynn, Nate, and Levi.”
“Hi.” I wave at them, and I’m surprised to see Brielle blushing as she gazes at them. Does she have a crush? I’ll have to ask her later, but I’m so curious.
I see another man standing next to Levi, and as he looks over at me, I realize he’s really good-looking and staring at me with a warm smile. I look over to Willow, and she grins.
“That’s Levi’s brother, Caleb,” Willow says with a smile. “Then that’s Rose, Ginny, and Samantha. Oh, and Jack’s in the bathroom.”
“Oh, okay.” My heart races at her words.
So, he’s here. Shit, I take a deep breath and flatten the skirt of my black dress down.
Suddenly, I feel like I’m dressed far too provocatively.
My neckline is low and plunging, and my dress ends mid-thigh.
My heels are high, and my bright red lipstick screams, Look at me.
I am dressed to impress, and yet I’m not sure if I want his attention.
“That’s good to know,” I say belatedly, pretending like I don’t care.
“Will you be okay? I need to check on the hors d’oeuvres.”
“Go, girl. I’m fine. Brielle and I can take care of ourselves.”
I grin at her and make my way into the living room so I can look out the window and just observe the view.
I still can’t get over being in the city.
It’s so different from back home. My sisters would love being here.
They wouldn’t believe how luxurious Sebastian’s place is. Even I still can’t quite believe it.
“Why, hello there.”
I turn to see Jack and his sparkling blue eyes, and my heart skips a beat as I take in his light-blue shirt and dark pants.
“Enjoying the view?” he continues with a warm smile.
“I am. Thank you for asking,” I say politely as he grins. “What’s so funny?” I ask as he starts laughing.
“I’ve never known you to be so polite. Every time I see you, you have a mouth on you.”
“Well, I guess you don’t really know me.”
“I suppose not in the biblical sense.” He looks me over, and his eyes widen as he takes in my cleavage and short skirt. “Nice dress.”
“Oh, this old thing?” I say with a small smile. “I suppose it’s all right.”
“It could be better.” He nods, and I glare at him. “What? You said it’s just all right.”
“But I didn’t mean it like that.” I roll my eyes. “Do you try to be rude, or were you born that way?”
“I suppose I’m just losing my mind, as I’m worried that you’re going to pop out of your dress.” He nods toward my boobs. “That’s pretty low.”
“Thanks for alerting me. I didn’t know.” I shake my head. “I’ll be careful not to jump up and down and trip.”
“I don’t mind if you do. Feel free to trip on me.” He grins and takes a step closer to me. “You can fall right onto my lap.”
“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I lick my lips, totally caught up in the banter between us.
He’s too sexy and smooth for his own good. I’ve spent so many years thinking about my first meeting with Jack and our initial banter, but this is even hotter somehow. And I can’t believe I’m actually here, engaging with him.
“Honestly, yes.” He winks and touches the side of my arm. He runs his fingers across my skin. “You can fall right into my lap, and I’ll break your fall.” His eyes soften. “I just wanted to apologize, by the way.”
“Oh, yeah? For what?”
“Calling you out on your lie in front of my brother. I should have let him do that himself.”
“What did you just say?” My jaw drops, and I step back. “That’s not the apology I expected.”