Page 46 of Falling for the Enemy

Her jaw gaped. How fucking dare he? “You have some nerve⁠—”

Rather than own up to his bullshit, he spun away and retrieved his date. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah, you better run away,” she grumbled, shaking her head.

The second Soren’s taillights faded in the distance, Logan said, “What the fuck was that about?”

She honestly didn’t know. She never saw Soren act like that. “I have no clue.”

“Did he think we were together or something? And if so, why the hell would he care?” Logan looked at her when she didn’t answer. “Are you okay?”

“I need to sit down.” She limped to the sea wall and sat.

“Joce, you’re white as a ghost.” This time, he removed his sweater and draped it over her shoulders without asking. “Don’t let him bother you. He’s just being a drama queen, as usual.”

Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She waved her hand in front of her chest, as if that might help her breathe easier. “I’m having some sort of attack or… I don’t know.”

“Shit. Should I call someone? Want me to get you some water?”

“I’d prefer vodka.”

He stilled. “Is this serious or not?”

“Sorry.” She drew in a shaky breath and blew it out in a rough exhale. “Joking is how I cope.” She finally drew in a deep breath. “I just need a second.”

“Take as much time as you need.” He paced, hands in his pockets, still grumbling about Soren. “Screw him and whatever that little hissy fit was about. He’s been in a mood for months. I’m fucking sick of it.”

Maybe she was the cause of his mood. Or maybe she was overthinking her significance in his life. Still, he’d never talked to her like that before.

They bickered, yes, but this was different. He wasn’t annoyed. He was angry. With her. “Did you see how he looked at me?”

“Who? Soren? I’m pretty sure this had nothing to do with you.”

He was wrong, but explaining that required too much brain power and truth. “And that woman he was with... She stared at me like I was dog shit on her designer shoes.”

“Uh, I didn’t catch any of that. Who is she?”

Jocelyn’s heart continued to hammer in her chest. “It doesn’t matter.”

This was what she wanted. She wanted to see him at this place, on his date, to make it real. She needed the jolt back to reality, but she never expected it to feel so… shattering.

Her hand rushed to her mouth as something woozy swished in her stomach. She needed to pull herself together. Out of sheer self-preservation, she hardened her heart and turned her upset to anger. “How fucking dare he?”

“I know. He acted like a total dick for no reason.”

He had a reason. But how dare he? How dare he get jealous of her while he was the one on a fucking date? The audacity!

She scoffed. This was good. Anything was better than paranoia and tears. She could use the anger. It was an excellent clarifier.

She should go key his car⁠—

Nope. Too much. Dial it back.

“I gotta get home.” She stood, wincing when her ankle reminded her to take it slow. She limped towards home, and her stomach swooped with a horrible woozy wave every few steps.

Seeing the truth changed nothing. She’d known he’d been dating other women. She smelled them on his clothes and saw the patterns in his schedule. Seeing him date and imagining it were two different things.

Every painful step further anchored her in reality. Maybe Wren was right. Maybe there was no such thing as casual sex among friends, which was exactly why she had to cut off whatever this had become.