Page 48 of The Other Room

Maybe that was what had stung the most about his betrayal. That I’d been here the whole time. I was single, available, and not his best friend’s fiancé... and yet he’d still chosen to kiss her. My thoughts tumbled around in my head, and I didn’t even care that I’d never given him a clue that I liked him in that way. That I desired him. I’d never given him a better choice. As that realization hit home like a bowling ball smashing the center pin, I finally understood the depths of my anger and why I’d felt so hurt when he had done what he’d done.

He could have picked me.

But he didn’t. Instead he’d picked her, and at the expense of everyone around him.

While I shoveled ice into a glass, I tried to fight the anger seeping back into me. Anger I’d finally gotten control of since he forced himself back into my life. Anger I didn’t want anymore.

The shadows of the past – they were always behind you. Now I just needed to figure out a way to let them go.

You’re just friends, Jo. And you’ve forgiven him. You have.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling the tension the realization had driven into me, I closed my eyes for a beat and forced all the hurt back out of me.

Matt was my friend. Always had been, always would be. And just friends.

“Hey, JoJo!” My sister called, and I turned to see her climbing into a stool.

“Hey, JennaJenna!” I taunted back.

She smacked her lips and I cringed. “You’ve been avoiding me. I’ve texted. I’ve called. Time to dish.”

She was right. When I’d gotten off the jet ski the day of the non-kiss, she’d been blowing up my phone asking me what the hell had happened. Demanding an update.

But I hadn’t known what to say. And I’d blown her off and stalled by answering “call you in a bit” and “Nothing happened. You need glasses.” But she’d kept on, and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she’d shown up here. She knew damn well I was trapped and couldn’t avoid her when I was stuck behind the bar.

“I’ve just been busy. Sorry!” I answered, hurrying around behind the bar to look too slammed to admit to my innermost feelings. The dinner crowd was picking up, and I hoped they would flood in soon, so I really was too busy to talk to her.

“Dish, sis. What the hell is going on with Matt? I definitely saw you two almost kiss. I do not need glasses.”

When I looked up, she pursed her lips and her eyebrows lifted in a challenge.

“Jenna. It was nothing. He was just trying to prevent a little wardrobe malfunction. We fell down, we were a little stunned, and nothing is going on with Matt and I.”

“Mmmhmmm.” She crossed her arms.

“Jenna.” I stopped in front of her, placing my hands on the bar. “Nothing is going on. We’re just friends. Drop it.”

Hoping by convincing her I could convince myself, I waited for her submission.

With an eye roll, she unclamped her crossed arms. “Fine. Just friends. But—”

“No buts. Just friends.”

“Ugh. Fine!” She flung her arms up in defeat. “Can I at least get a marg?”

“That I can do.”

Giving gratitude for her immediate surrender, I took a deep breath. I’d convinced Jenna I had no feelings for Matt, and now just one non-believer remained.

Me.

I made Jenna her margarita and as I dropped it off, the doors opened, and the bar flooded with bodies.

Dinner rush.

Hanson and I jumped into action and slid into fifth gear while we took orders and made drinks. Jenna, always the outgoing one, made some new friends with the couple seated next to her and continued sipping on drinks as I raced around the bar.

While I struggled to keep my head above water, I reached into the beer cooler to grab a bottle, and when I looked up, Matt was sitting next to her.