AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We got a call a little later.It was the shop in town, probably old wiring, and it started to go up. It wasn’t a very urgent call, but there were buildings around it that had people inside, so we needed to get there. It wasn’t as urgent as some calls, but there was a rush and the adrenaline let me forget everything for a while, thankfully. I needed a break from my mind.
It did take quite a while to put out the fire and wait for other agencies to get there. Pictures had to be taken, reports had to be made, and everything felt like it took forever because I was trying to get out of there. It was annoying with all of it, the time wasted. I had better things to do.
It must have been palpable because Lester was asking me what was going on. I couldn't very well tell him the truth; I was hyped up thinking about his sister and how awkward this shit was going to be tonight. He wouldn't understand. And if he did, I wished that he wouldn't.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, I'm just ready to get out of here. It's been a long day.”
Lester agreed, “Yeah, I'm ready to get a drink. Why don't you go ahead, and I'll stay here to get the reports filled out. Can you pick up Beatrice on your way? Jamie’s been texting me and I want to see if she's coming or not.”
I lifted my brow, because I wanted to ask what was going on, but I knew that Lester liked to keep his love life close to his chest. I thought that he felt something for Jaime, but I couldn’t be sure. He just wouldn’t say.
“Don't ask, just meet me there, okay?”
I agreed, feeling a little weird that I was going to pick up his sister, especially with everything going on. I had only mentioned that maybe she shouldn't come with, and Lester had gone on the defensive, saying that he knew that there was something going on with the two of us. I calmed him down, just saying that he might want some alone time with Jaime, but he insisted she come.
Either way, this was looking like it was going to be one hell of a night.
9
Beatrice
Iheard the door open downstairs and I called out to Lester and told him that I was going to be a couple more minutes. I was halfway down the stairs, my shirt off, and I was about to throw it in the dryer off the kitchen when I saw Jeff standing there. I abruptly stopped where I was. What was he doing here?
“If you are wearing that, we’re going to spend all night pulling people off you.”
I looked down at the lacy, black bra. “Too much, huh?”
He agreed, fire leaping into his eyes and making it hard to focus. He was looking damn hard, and I was still frozen on the stairs.
“Beatrice, what are you doing dressed like that? We have a guest. I know that is the new style, but you must wear something more. You can’t go out like that. What will people think?”
I rolled my eyes at my mother and told her that I wasn't finished getting dressed yet. She just kept looking at me like I was crazy for not being fully dressed in front of Jeff. In my defense, I hadn't even known he was coming. I had thought that my brother was going to pick me up.
“Where is Lester?”
“He had a couple of things to do before we went out. I am here to make sure you get there. He had some paperwork to finish up.”
Mom was gushing at how sweet it was for him to help me and I didn't know what to say to that. I knew for a fact that he wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart. I didn't think so anyway.
I put the shirt on, and Jeff still had his eyes all over me. He had that grin on his face that I was so used to now, and it made me relax a little bit. I didn't know why I was so worked up. Well, I knew why, but it wasn't going to do me any good, so I kept telling myself to pull it together. That was the only way.
He talked to mom for a minute while I did one last run through, fixing my makeup before I walked out. There was something in the air, something was off, and I couldn't say for sure what it was. I had an excitement inside of me that I probably shouldn't have had. Hadn't we told each other time and again that we were just going to be friends? So, if we had agreed to it, why did friends sound like the last thing that I wanted?
I was finally ready, and I was struck by the awe in Jeff’s face as he watched me descend. He made me nervous, faltering in my step, never sure what to think or feel when he was around. While we were leaving, he told me how great I looked.
“Don't let my brother hear you say that. He wouldn’t want to hear how beautiful you think I am.”
Jeff looked worried and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m just joking, geez.”
“It's not funny,” Jeff demanded. “If your brother finds out about us, he’ll never forgive me.”
Beatrice leaned in close, and I was hanging on her every word in seconds.
“There's nothing to find out, Jeff. Remember? We decided to be good, remember? I feel like I shouldn’t have to keep reminding you of that.”
Jeff agreed, but he obviously didn't want to. He had a sour look on his face, and I could only imagine what he was thinking. He was probably thinking the same thing I was. Lester was getting in the way of something great, I was sure of it.
