Page 24 of Cosplay & Consequences

It was like a punch to my gut when she said that. “Okay. That might be part of it,” I admitted. “But he’s still a jerk for not reading the books.

Bennet's eyes flitted back and forth between us before furrowing his brow. “Okay, I know I’ve never pried into Jess’s private life like some people at this table. But now I'm thinking I’m a bad friend, because I don’t totally understand the actor hate.”

“Oh, we don’t have time for that,” Brayonna said, shaking her head. “The con is only going on for another four days. The Seth tattoo alone would at least take a day and a half.”

The mention of Seth’s name made the itch on my shoulder flare up. “Actors suck,” I explained as I scratched my arm. “As do men. When you have both and try to have a relationship? Double suckage.”

“Got it,” Bennet said between bites of his turkey leg. “Men and actors suck. This does not surprise me at all.”

“Babe, you got turkey grease all over the back of your hand,” Bray said, pulling out a wet nap and scrubbing his hands.

“Hon, it’s fine… wait, you got a turkey stain on your outfit.” He pulled out a laundry pen from his bag and blotted at the stain.

I sat there in my misery and anger watching the two of them laugh, joke, and take care of each other, feeling a pang of jealousy in my chest. Seth never took care of me like that. Or if he did, he always wanted something.

“I see you watching us enviously,” Bray teased as she scrubbed Bennet’s other hand. “Go get your own dough boy.”

Bennet sighed, but his smile told a different story. “I really wish you would stop calling me that.”

“He’s all yours,” I promised her as my phone began to ring. It wasn’t spam, but it also wasn’t a number I knew. Usually, I let them go to voicemail, but I needed to pull myself away from the table and Bray and Bennet’s lovey-dovey routine. “Hello? This is Jess.”

“Jessica? It’s Daniel. Please don’t hang up.”

I hung up and walked back towards the table. Before I could return, the phone rang again. I checked and saw the same number from before. I sent it to voicemail.

I didn’t even take a step before the ringing started again. I gritted my teeth. I should have blocked the number. However, I had the feeling if I didn’t take the call, it would never end. I let out a long groan.

This was dumb. This was stupid. And I’m an idiot.

With a sigh, I hit the answer button and used the toughest, meanest voice I could muster. “I thought I told you to burn my number.”

“It wouldn’t do any good. I memorized it.”

He’d memorized my number? Something fluttered inside me, and I hated myself for it. “Okay. You have one minute.”

“I want to apologize, and I need a favor. Today was horrible, and I… I feel like we should clear the air. Just you and me.”

“You already apologized,” I said flatly. “And clearly this is about the favor.”

“No, it’s not. I believe the apology is more important. And if you don’t like either, you can tell me to leave you alone, and I’ll never bother you again,” he said. “Let me buy you dinner, and we can talk. Just one dinner. That’s all I ask.”

I shouldn’t have been entertaining this, but I was. This whole thing was a complete mess. Beyond salvageable. It was supposed to be a one-time fling, and now it was a problem. The worst thing about it was I couldn’t get him out of my mind, even if he was an insufferable–

“Jessica? Are you still there?”

“I am. I’m not sure how any of this is supposed to motivate me to meet with you.”

“Well, it’s a free dinner. I know a great place around the corner. It’ll be the best meal you ever had.”

I groaned, unconsciously beginning to walk around in a small circle, shaking my head. “I just ate three turkey legs. I’m not hungry.”

“...Three turkey legs? Seriously?”

“Daniel Finnegan, if you’re trying to ask me for a favor, you better not shame my turkey legs. What do you want?”

He paused for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Can I be honest with you?”

“Why start now?” I cringed a little when I said that. It wasn’t that he was dishonest per se, but… well, screw it. He didn’t read the books. I considered that dishonesty in my mind.