CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BIANCA
A smile is permanently stamped onto my face. Butterflies have not stopped flying around in my stomach, and honestly, I don’t want them to.
“Bianca, is that okay?”
I blink rapidly as I remember I’m at the breakfast table and everyone is looking at me expectantly. I cough slightly and cover my mouth. “I’m sorry, what?”
Mom looks down at her plate while Josh and Olivia roll their eyes, and I glare at both of them. Tension has been high since yesterday, and I can see it’s still very much in the air.
“I was asking about Ana inviting us to William’s work ball, are you wanting to—?” she asks curiously, and I nod, cutting her off.
“Of course, we have to show up for the Parkers,” I say. Josh rolls his eyes, and he doesn’t even care when he notices I catch him. There are a couple more sounds of clinking forks on plates. “Um, can I be excused, Mom?”
Josh sets down his cup. “We haven’t all finished, have we?
” I cast a harsh glance in his direction.
Mom looks between us as Josh stares at her.
She seems to plead with him, and he finally nods, resigned.
“Bianca?” My head snaps up and he has me locked in a glare.
“I realize my behavior hasn’t been the best it can be.
Therefore, I want to extend my apologies.
” My eyebrows raise and Mom grabs his hand, grinning at him.
“I have something to make it up to you.”
I narrow my eyes, and I want to spit out that I want absolutely nothing from him.
This is what he does, it’s his game. He releases his pent-up aggression and says something that isn’t right.
Then he throws in a gift in an attempt to, what, buy me back?
The doorbell rings, and I don’t say anything before going to answer.
The corners of my mouth are pulled downward, yet the moment I open the door . . .
“You’re joking.”
“Surprise!” Jamie exclaims.
I practically crash into her, hugging her deeply as she rocks us side to side. My eyes water as my frustration begins to ebb away; I can’t believe she’s really here.
“I missed you so much.” She mumbles a sound of affirmation. “I sent you a care package a couple days ago.”
She giggles, waving me off. “It’ll be there when I get back, no worries, girl.” Footsteps come from behind me and I pull away as everyone approaches the door, Mom with a big smile on her face and a knowing look.
“Mama Kate!” Mom chuckles while throwing her arms around Jamie.
I smile at seeing the two, avoiding eye contact with Josh.
They pull apart and she grabs Mom’s left hand, observing the sparkling teardrop diamond ring that hasn’t left her finger since the engagement.
“I heard you got engaged.” Jamie looks over to Josh as she smiles.
“Congrats to you both, and thank you for bringing me over to spend time with Bianca.”
My eyes widen. This is what the surprise was? Conflicting feelings rise in my throat; I hate accepting anything from Josh, but this . . . “Yeah, thanks, Josh,” I force out, and he gives me a curt nod. Jamie sends a wave Olivia’s way, but she just upturns her head, disinterested.
“No problem. I hope this makes up for everything,” Josh says while Jamie looks at me, confused, but I shake it off. “Olivia, remember to get ready, we have a prior engagement.” She sighs, stalking off to her room, before he whisks Mom away.
“How was the trip?” I ask, grabbing her lone suitcase.
She looks as though she wants to ask, but she doesn’t, thankfully.
Her expression changes to one of excitement as she retells the story of how she traveled through three different airports all to get here.
I don’t want to fight or even bring up that I hate that Josh didn’t get her a nonstop flight, but I guess I need to be grateful.
I listen animatedly, and my heart is at ease once again after these last few days.
Heading into my room, she marvels at everything, her eyes staying on the strip of Polaroids on the wall.
Throwing ourselves on the bed, she laughs while giving me all her exciting updates.
“Oh also, I didn’t wanna tell you over the phone, but guess who was offered a scholarship for fashion design.” My eyes widen and she gives me her biggest grin.
“Jamie! That’s amazing!”
She shrugs. “Yeah, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to afford college with the financial aid package they offered, so I applied for the scholarship. The only clause is to keep up with the program, pumping out designs and such.”
I roll my eyes because that’s all Jamie has done since I met her. Take anything, and she can make something beautiful out of it. “Well, no problem there. You’re a genius.”
Her cheeks redden, and I forgot how much of an easy blusher she is. Her phone lights up with a message and she looks down at it. A small smile makes its way on her face and I give her a playful nudge.
“Who’s that?”
She rubs at the back of her neck, almost as if she’s been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“It’s actually my cousin, Isabelle.”
I blink, confused. “Cousin?”
She nods. “Yeah. We’ve actually been talking for a bit, and she came over for the first time the other day.
” My mind works double time as I process everything.
When Jamie was pushed away by her family, I remember her telling me Isabelle was the only one who stood by her.
Though, being she’s only sixteen, her mom’s word trumps hers.
She sighs, rubbing her weary eyes. “Don’t get me wrong.
I don’t trust her. For all I know, it’s some evil plan from Aunt Mary . . .”
Ah yes, Aunt Mary, the person who convinced all of Jamie’s uncles and aunts to abandon her after the will reading.
How could such a cruel woman give birth to such a sweet person like Isabelle?
Granted, I only know bits and pieces of when Jamie would play with her when she was younger, but the fact remains.
I grab Jamie’s hand and she looks up. Her eyes bore into mine, and I hate that she feels ashamed. “Jamie, I think it’s awesome.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I’ve always hoped that someone would reach out after what had happened.
We all want our families even if they don’t want us sometimes.
Besides, if she rode the Amtrak from little Greencastle without telling her mom .
. . She really wants to form a relationship with you.
” Her head tilts as if she hadn’t really considered that.
“Give her a chance. She’s your family, after all.
” She nods and grabs her backpack to pull out the notebook and pens I gifted her.
Her stomach grumbles, and we both laugh before she hops off the bed, grabbing my arm in the process.
“Come on, I know you must have the best snacks in this bougie house.”
My laugh echoes when we get to the foyer.
“Bougie house?” She points at the three chandeliers, and I shrug, playfully defeated.
“Got me there.” We’re padding along the heated tile—regardless of the temperature outside, Josh has it turned on since he always runs cold—when the doorbell rings.
I freeze; if it was Josh and Mom, they would’ve just opened the door, but it stays shut.
Jamie looks over at me in confusion and I mirror it back.
I head to the door, but she beats me to it and throws it open.
“Whoa.” One word from her, and I get closer to see Liam, standing there in all his six-foot-four glory. He gives Jamie a glance before looking toward me, a smile breaking out on his face.
“Hi.”
My cheeks flush and I cross my arms, looking at him with a quirked eyebrow. “Hi.” Jamie’s eyes dart between us, and I rub a nervous hand through my hair. “Jamie, this is Liam.” He looks at her shocked, as does she.
“Yeah, nice to meet you finally.” She sticks out her hand and he shakes it politely while looking over at me. When I first met Jamie back in Philly, Liam and I were still close. They knew of one another, but their meeting was never the plan. Well, not today at least.
A sheepish expression comes over him. “I came from the shelter and wanted to swing by since I didn’t see you there.
I, um, didn’t realize you had company.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing once again.
“We can talk about that thing . . . another day.” Jamie looks confused, but deep down, I know what he wants to bring up.
Last night, me crying in his arms.
Me skirting the lines of our friendship when we’re still trying to build that trust.
“Are you sure?” I lean against the doorframe as he stands up straighter, looking down at me, a cute smile coming over his face despite the war going on in those emerald eyes.
He nods. “Catch up, okay? Don’t worry about it.” He sticks his hands inside his hoodie pocket, and I want to talk about it now . . . I just can’t. And here I am, using Jamie as an easy way out.
“Okay. I’ll see you later?” He nods, his eyes lighting up a tiny bit. His focus moves to Jamie, who I’m sure is gawking behind me.
He says, “Nice meeting you, Jamie.” Spinning on his heel, he walks off, and I stand there like a complete idiot. Jamie closes the door while I move out of the way, still dumbfounded as she pins me down with her stare. Her arms are crossed and her expression is almost annoyed.
“Bianca Everly Harrison, you have five seconds to tell me everything you’ve been hiding from me.”
“Okay, you guys are so cute,” she simply says while she prepares her clothes to take into the bathroom.
I grab a soda from my mini fridge, not responding.
A smirk forms on her face as she locks herself in my en suite, leaving me with my thoughts.
I try, but fail, to not think about the whirlwind that has been life this past month. The main twist: Liam Jax Parker.
We’ve gone from strangers, to sort of acquaintances, to coworkers, to I don’t even know what.
And the way he gazed at me the other night .
. . Even in the dark, I could make out every little detail on his face.
The way his long, full eyelashes—that I’m one hundred percent jealous of—fluttered as he looked at me.
Held me close and whispered those same words from all those years ago.
You’re safe with me, always.
“Is this what people look like when they’re in love?
” I put a hand to my heart, an audible yelp leaving me as Jamie asks, standing there with her arms crossed once again.
“If so, remind me never to do it.” She walks toward the bed in her matching pajamas, and I roll my eyes at that.
Jamie has one of the purest hearts I know, but after everything she’s been through, she guards it well.
While it may be hard, I know when the perfect guy comes, she’ll fall even harder than I already have with mine.