An angry heat flashed all over Lily-Grace’s body. She didn’t know whether to rage cry or throw her phone at the wall. This had to stop: the texts and whatever the fuck Dane was doing talking to other people about her future careers.
Please don’t do that.
I don’t need your help finding a job.
I’m glad to see you haven’t blocked me.
Come home so we can talk about this in person.
There’s nothing to talk about.
I can worry about my professional life
and you should worry about treating
your partners better in the future.
I hear you.
The only person I want a future with is you.
Lily-Grace scoffed out loud, her body’s way of blocking the rising bile with humor.
We are done, Dane. Stop texting me, please.
There was nothing left to say. She didn’t know what she wanted for herself moving forward, but it didn’t have anything to do with Dane. Finally, she blocked his number.
It was definitely time to turn in. Fuck Dane. She set down her phone, then picked it up again. Bed. She should definitely go to bed before she made any angry decisions. Sleep was exactly what she needed, the proper reset button. Or maybe like a TikTok of a puppy doing something cute or a hot guy making a complicated dish, shirtless.
But why watch soothing videos on her phone when she could revisit her weird,confusingfeelings about Jesse Pleasant. She didn’t really have a choice but to text him.
It’s Lily-Grace. Texting you from my brand-new phone.
It’s Jesse. Responding from my brand-new phone.
I know it’s so 80s, but can I call you?
Yes.
Lily-Grace hit send. It rang twice before Jesse answered.
“Hello.” The bass in his voice made her toes curl.
“Hello. What are you doing?”
“Just preparing for my week.”
“What does that involve?” Lily-Grace could just picture him doing exactly fifty sit-ups and fifty push-ups, before he ironed his socks and laid out his suit for the morning.
“I go over my calendar and then lay out my clothes. I try to get at least seven hours of sleep before I get up and workout and then go to the ranch. What are you doing?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. Looking at the ceiling of my childhood bedroom, wondering what I should do tomorrow while everyone I know in town is at work.”
“I’d have to speak to my brother about creating a position for you. The good Lord has shown me what you’ve done for Ulway.”
“Is that what this is all about? Teaching me how to swim so you can butter me up and use my enormous brain?”
“All a part of my evil plan.”
