“Yeah. So yeah. He sent such a formal text. Very polite.”
“Yeah, I’m not falling for it.”
“What should I tell him?”
“Ummm ... could you send me the text? Oh, and can you send me his number.”
“Yeah. Hold on.”
A second later the screen shot made her phone vibrate, along with Jesse’s contact information. Lily-Grace skimmed the text, ignoring the way her heart fluttered. Not a romantic flutter. Something else, but it was there.
Good Morning, Jenny.
If it’s okay with your dear friend Ms. LeRoux,
I wondered if you could pass along her phone
number. I’d like to speak to her again without either
of us showing up unannounced.
She read it two more times before she let out a deep breath. “Jesus.”
“He’s so ... tight.” Jenny laughed. “Sweet, but tight.”
“Hmmm, would we jump right to sweet?” Lily-Grace knew she was giving Jesse a hard time, but he had gone nuclear on her father. She couldn’t ignore that. She couldn’t let it slide. She didn’t want to be an enabler to a next time. Did she remember him as a sweet person? Yes, actually she did. Very sweet, thoughtful, and kind. She still had the pink glittery cowboy hat he’d given her for her birthday. It was in a wicker trunk somewhere. But that was then and this was now, and people can change a lot over the course of decades.
“He’s an interesting guy.”
“I don’t trust it.”
“So tell him to fuck off. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
“Let me call you back.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m gonna call him. Put an end to this madness.”
“Listen, I know things are complicated. You want to stab him. He’s clearly been in love with you since eighth grade at least. But, for the good of womankind. For science—”
“I have to sleep with him.”
“Oh my God, please sleep with him.”
“I’m gonna tell Vinny you said that.”
“Tell him!”
Lily-Grace’s burst of laughter melted into a sigh. “I’ll call you back.” She ended the call with Jenny, then slid her thumb over Jesse’s contact. She knew she should ignore him, but she knew she couldn’t. She swallowed as the line rang, secretly hoping he didn’t pick up, senselessly praying he did.
“This is Jesse,” he said as soon as he answered. Without looking at him, without being in the same room with him, it was just brutal how deep and smooth his voice was.Don’t trust it, girl,she told herself.All men are trash. Especially this one.
“Heard a rumor you were trying to get in touch with me.”
“Lily-Grace, hi.” Did he sound nervous?!?! “Ah, yes, I uh, reached out to Jenny Yang to see if I could get in touch with you.”
“Well, you have me. What can I do for you?”
