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Panic clawed at Azalea. What was going on with Jewel that she would say that? There was no way they would end up together, ever. They were best friends. It would be an awful idea. Azalea grabbed the tape and focused on the labels. She had no idea how to respond that that. The past few weeks Jewel had been acting so odd around her. Friendly one moment then closed off the next. It was nothing Azalea had ever experienced with her before.
She made it through one table before Jewel stopped her. “Don’t you think that would be ideal?”
“It would be ideal to be friends with the person you love, yes.” Azalea clenched her jaw tightly. The topic of conversation was one she was most definitely not comfortable with, and for some reason, the pain at Jewel’s off-hand comment stung a little too much for her.
“That’s not quite what I said.”
Azalea knew that, but she didn’t really want to give credit to Jewel’s comment either. She didn’t want to think about falling in love with her best friend, because her best friend would never love her back. That was a fact. She’d done that before, and like her last date, it had been an epic disaster. It was not something Azalea wished to repeat.
“I don’t know. I think we’re done here.” Flopping the labels on the table, Azalea straightened her shoulders. “I’ve got to grade those dissection reports.”
“Lea,” Jewel said, her tone soft.
Azalea shook her head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ve got pep band tomorrow for the basketball game.”
“Right. Then I guess I’ll see you Wednesday.”
“Lea—”
Azalea froze, trying her best to give Jewel a look that meant the conversation was over, but they knew each other too well. Jewel was able to see right through her avoidance to whatever was underneath, only Azalea really didn’t want to reflect on that. Not yet. Walking out of the room with one last nod, Azalea checked in with Mary, grabbed her jacket, and left for the night. She’d be stuck there all week, and she was pretty sure Jewel would find her if she wanted to talk.
* * *
That week had been one of the longest in Azalea’s life. It always was. Being at the school all day, then running over to the book fair for the evening until close to nine at night was utterly exhausting. By the time Saturday morning rolled around, she did not want to get out of bed. It was ten by the time she forced herself from the warm covers and soft mattress.
Azalea followed her routine, starting laundry and cleaning up after her week of barely being at home. She sat down about midday to do some grading and avoided her phone. Jewel had texted. She’d texted her back a few times throughout the week, but always left the conversation very surface level and avoided any confirmation that they could do something together that weekend. Maybe they did need some time apart.
They had spent more time together in the last four months of Brady and Jewel’s relationship than Brady and Jewel had. Perhaps that had been the straw that finally broke the camel’s back.
The knock at the door was sharp, startling Azalea, who had been attempting to refocus on the coursework in front of her.
“I know you’re in there, Lea.”
Cursing under her breath, Azalea got up from the desk in her office and headed toward the front door. Opening it, she found the screen door already propped open by Jewel, a pizza box in her hand, which she promptly offered over. “Whatever I said, forgive me.”
Azalea narrowed her gaze. How could she not forgive her? Jewel had meant nothing by it, but the entire conversation in general had made Azalea uncomfortable. They lived in small-town western Kansas, and if it got out that she liked women and only women, she could very easily lose her job, or at least there would be a lot of drama with some parents. Her pain hadn’t come from what Jewel had said, only from the fact she wasn’t comfortable with the conversation in general.
“Fine, I forgive you.”
“Good.” Jewel sauntered inside and settled the box on the kitchen table. “I’m assuming you skipped breakfast, like you usually do.”
“Of course, but that smells delicious.”
“Because it is.” Jewel winked as she pulled at the sleeves of her jacket. As soon as she had it off, she walked to the hall closet and hung it up.
When had they become so comfortable in each other’s presence that they acted more like a couple than friends? Azalea pushed that thought aside and opened the box, finding Jewel had gone all out and put the pineapple on the pizza even though she detested it. “You must be groveling.”
“Always. I usually have to shove a foot or two in my mouth.” Jewel touched Azalea’s arm. “Really, though, I am sorry about hurting you.”
Azalea lifted and dropped one shoulder. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She wanted the conversation to die and crawl back into the hole where it had come from.
“Thanks. I appreciate the apology.” Walking into her kitchen, she grabbed two plates and a can of Coke for each of them. Sitting at the table, Azalea opened the pizza box and grinned. “Did you really drive all the way to town for a pizza just to apologize?”
“I was grocery shopping.”
Azalea tsked. “Don’t let those old ladies hear you say that. They’ll get mad at you for not supporting our local store.”
