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Dammit, she’s right. I look down to see a red, splotchy mark on my finger from spinning my ring so much.
Me: FINE. Maybe I think he’s cute.
Great, now I sound like I’m in middle school trying to deny the crush I have on the boy sitting next to me.
Em: Just cute?
I groan again. I don’t know why I bother to hide anything from her. She always finds out everything, anyway.
Me: A lot cute. A lot smart, sexy, kind, funny, caring, gentle, and did I mention fine as hell?
There I said it. SJ and Nora are sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Em: I noticed the bulging biceps and ass so round and tight you could bounce a quarter off of it.
I sit up.
Me: Hey now…
Em: Bahaha. A girl would have to be dead to not notice.
She’s just playing, but after tonight and how fucking jealous I got, I can’t seem to find her joke funny. I hate it. I’m not this kind of girl, and this is exactly why I need to get all of this crap out of my system.
Em: You know I’m just playing, Nor. What’s really going on?
And I tell her. I tell her what I did and why I did it. I tell her how it made me feel to see Jennifer all over SJ and how it pierced something deep in my chest to watch him laugh and give her one of his famous smirks.
Then I tell her his reaction.
Me: What do I do? How do I fix it?
Em: Give it time. Everything will work out in the end.
What the hell does that mean?
Me: That’s all you’ve got for me? How am I supposed to turn these feelings off? I can’t let this ruin our friendship, and it’s one sided. This is my problem, and I need to fucking get over it.
Em: Just have some faith in yourself and SJ. You guys are friends first, no matter what bullshit he wants to spew about you being his client.
Em: Just be his friend, Nor. No pressure, no expectations.
That’s it? Just be his friend? I drop my phone and finally roll onto my back, staring up at the ceiling fan. Can I do that? Just be his friend?
I don’t know, but I have to find a way. My heart protests at the very thought of only being friends with Samuel Johnson for the rest of my life.
Chapter 27
SJ
The last few days have been awkward between Nora and me. I thought us apologizing would have prevented this…but here we are.
She spent the morning helping Mom in the office at the hardware store, and I’ve spent the day out on the floor rearranging and straightening stock. Each of us effectively avoiding one other.
I need to address the awkwardness between us, but if I’m being honest with myself, I’m thankful for the distance.
My feelings for her have never been more glaringly obvious to me, and I assume they are to her, too. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option. I’m her bodyguard, that’s supposed to be it.
I’ve never developed feelings for any of my clients before. I knew there was something different, something special about Nora, but I didn’t expect this burning desire for her to engulf me daily.
