Chapter 23
Jade and I wiped down the bathroom counters, mopped and vacuumed the floors, and dusted the shelves in all the rooms that didn’t need renovations.
The moving truck had come and gone, and although I was looking for any excuse to stay a little longer, there was no reason I needed to stay just for someone to come pick up the last of the worthwhile collectibles.
It was finally done. I had a check from the appraiser with Jana's name on it in my purse.
My suitcase sat next to the door, and I sat on the bottom stair next to Jade.
“Twin Forks, nine days,” Jade said with a squeeze to my hand. Her intense gaze focused between my hazel eyes and my lips.
I let out a rough exhale before responding. “I’m already counting down the days.” And I was, I couldn’t wait until I could see her again, kiss her again.
We planned to meet up halfway between Riley and Hale, saving either of us from having to make a longer trip. Jade booked us a hotel, and even though it wouldn’t be as comfortable as our current shared bed, I couldn’t wait to hold her in it.
“You will let me know when you get home, right?” She asked, and I rolled my eyes at her sudden protective streak.
“Of course, I’ll want to talk to you at night sometimes, if that’s okay,” I stated, wondering what would be too much.
“Every night,” she replied with a wink in my direction.
With a sigh, I stood, pulling Jade up along with me.
We made our way to the front porch, Jade locking the door before slipping the house key under the mat.
Hunter, the contractor, would come to start the renovations tomorrow.
Before I could grab it, Jade snatched my suitcase, rolling it behind her as we walked to my car.
She’d grabbed it the first day I’d come here too, walking it up to Jana’s bedroom for me.
My vision grew blurry as I thought about our time here.
She loaded my suitcase into the back seat of my Camry. Shutting the door, she walked in front of me until she backed me up against the closed driver-side door. Arms around my neck, she gazed down at me. I laughed at her boldness, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“I’m gonna miss you, princess.” Her voice was shaky, and that made the heaviness behind my eyelids worse.
“Nine days,” I whispered against her lips as I kissed her forcefully.
Swirling my tongue with hers, savoring her sweet mouth, her warm scent, and her lean body against my own. She pulled away and lifted my hand to kiss the back of it, lingering there before gently returning it to my side.
“Be a good girl for me; be safe.” I’d usually smirk at her teasing, but I was too close to losing the battle with my tears.
“I will, Jade. You be safe too, try not to speed too much for me, okay?” She rolled her eyes but shot me a smirk as she got into her Mustang.
On my way down the gravel drive, I took in the white farmhouse in my rearview mirror. It was weathered and isolated; the sun exposing all the places on the property that had seen better days.
So why did it look so much like home?
Thanking the heavens I had decided against seeing my parents, I finally pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building.
Not that I didn’t wanna see them, more that I was both physically and emotionally exhausted.
I couldn’t stop myself from analyzing how to tell Jana I was dating her sister the entire drive back to Hale.
Well, I thought about that and Jade. How strong my feelings had grown for her, how pretty she was, how much I already missed her.
It was going to be complicated, messy, and emotional regardless, but maybe my delivery could soften the blow.
My suitcase sat by my closed front door, and I flung my flats off before heading to the bathroom.
My bed was calling to me like a siren song, but Jana was coming over soon to pick me up, and if I tried to nap, I’d be deadweight by the time she got here.
As I got ready for our celebratory welcome-back plans, I couldn’t help but notice how boring my place seemed.
Jade’s quaint house in Riley was so colorful and maximally designed.
Every inch of space had been covered in art.
Even their parents’ house had a comfy old-style aesthetic, like a house that had been well loved, well lived in.
The blank walls that surrounded me felt like a cold, sterile hospital waiting room.
There was also no woodsy amber scent caressing me.
I miss you already. I texted Jade. She’d already told me when she made it back to Riley, and I’d texted her back as soon as I parked at my apartment. But it felt weird that I wouldn’t sleep beside her tonight, wouldn’t even see her.
“Oh my fucking God,” Jana shouted before throwing her arms around me. She’d knocked like an enraged ex when she got here, and I’d just opened the door for her.
“I missed you too, Jana,” I said with a giggle against her shoulder. Her lean arms were forcefully holding me against her. “I haven’t been gone to war,” I teased her before she finally released me.
“You may as well have been! I feel like it’s been years.” Letting out a heavy exhale, she tugged me over to my couch. “So, everything’s done?” She asked, sitting down beside me.
“All the non-valuable stuff is with Jade in Riley. And the contractor starts tomorrow. So yes, until the house is on the market. And I’m happy to communicate with Jade about that and just relay the info to you.”
Jumping up, I grabbed the check from the appraiser out of my bag and brought it back over to Jana. She took it with a smile before folding into her wallet.
“You are the best; have I told you that?”
“Once or twice,” I teased back with a wink.
“I’m so happy you’re back and that the entire ordeal is behind us.
I never even want to go to Clark again if I’m honest!
” I nodded sympathetically at her words.
Despite how I felt about it, it was the place where both her parents had passed away and where she associated all her terrible memories of childhood. It would be hard for anyone.
“Well, guess you won't have to, so no need to worry about it.” I reached over and squeezed her manicured hand with mine.
Jana caught me up on the minor drama our friend group had going on in my absence before filling me in on more of her work details.
I desperately wanted to tell her every detail of my new relationship.
Wasn’t that one of the best things to do when you felt happy with someone?
Tell your bestie about how head over heels you were, how wonderful they make you feel?
But I couldn’t say a word about it without hurting her or cutting out how truly obsessed I was.
So, I just nodded, smiled, or laughed when appropriate.
I talked about my job briefly, not that there was much to say.
It was pretty typical day in and day out. Not like Jana’s ever-evolving career.
There was one thing that was burning a hole in my throat and had my hands shaking.
I needed to tell her about Jade and me. I didn’t want to run away every few weekends to Twin Forks and lie to my best friend about it.
And I didn’t want Jade to be a secret. Not when she was becoming such a special, important part of my life.
No, I couldn’t do that to her, and I wouldn’t do that to Jana either.
I understood it wasn’t my place to mend their relationship.
But it also wasn’t right for me to have to choose one of them when I loved them both dearly.
Jade was willing to accept that, but would Jana? I didn’t know.
Deep in thought, I noticed Jana staring at me with raised eyebrows.
“You good?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. Just been a long day, and I kinda got distracted.” I huffed out the words, hoping I hadn’t missed too much of what she’d been saying.
“All good.” She smirked at me. “Wanna head to dinner? Seems like you need a drink, on me, of course. And I’ve got some goodies in the car for you,” she said excitedly, wiggling her eyebrows for dramatic effect.
“Before we go, I need to tell you something.” Okay, so I already regretted how I phrased that. My whole plan was to bring it up casually. Crossing her legs, she tilted her head to the side as if in question.
Just spit it out and be done with it! I said to myself over and over.
“Well?” she asked, splaying a hand forward.
With a sigh, I began. “You remember how I said I was friends with Jade?”
With a roll of her eyes, Jana nodded.
“So, that was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth.” I caught my breath before continuing. “I…Jade and I are dating. And I want to keep seeing her, even though we are done with the house.”