AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jill took my cue and changed the subject. “How’s work going?”
“It’s fine. I’m up for a promotion soon, so they’ve been giving me more cases. I should really be working on one now that I mention it.”
Jill’s hand came to hold my arm. “You don’t need to do anything tonight. We’re going to enjoy our time together before I head home tomorrow, then you can throw yourself into work mode all you want.”
I sighed, not having the energy to put up a fight. “Fine.”
“Good. Now, what episode of Friends were we on?”
* * *
The next morning, I went for a run bright and early. Jill was still snuggled deep in her bed, sleeping away. Running had always been the only way I could let off steam. That and chewing my nails. I’d stopped doing the latter when I met Brandon, but lately, I’d started the habit again. My fingertips rubbed against each other, and I felt the meaty part of the tips of my fingers rather than healthy nails.
What I hadn’t told Jill was that a feeling of dread had started to form inside me, and I didn’t know what to make of it. It started the night we attended the masquerade ball. Brandon and I had gone off to have dinner together. We were always friendly, and Brandon made me laugh, but that night, something changed. Something inside me made me bold. So bold as to ask if Brandon wanted to see a movie with me. It’s not that we hadn’t done that before, it’s just the way he was looking at me made me all hot and bothered. He’d worn a smoldering look—the one he turned my way when he thought I wasn’t looking. The way his hands clenched and the forced shiver I felt from across the table told me he was trying to calm himself down that night.
It was exhilarating, because I’d thought this was it, that we were taking things to the next level. I even ventured to hold his hand during the movie. Albeit, I was scared of the part in the movie at the time, but it felt good to be skin to skin. And when he walked me to my apartment, I leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. It was like an electric shock to my system, and it felt so right; but only a millisecond later, he stepped back and held me at arm’s length. The next thing he said nearly shattered me. He’d told me I was like a sister to him. His best friend, in fact, and he didn’t want to jeopardize what we had.
I’d gone to sleep devastated, but that had all been forgotten the next morning because Jill had been kidnapped. What then followed consumed all my energy. The race to find her had pushed that moment between me and Brandon to the back of my mind.
Until now.
My feet pounded the pavement even faster, and I could feel fresh tears start to form in my eyes. There was no way around it. I was in love with Brandon, but the feeling was not mutual. Now, after seeing Jill find her one and only and observing how in love they were, I wanted that too.
It was with these thoughts that I ended up in front of the supermarket and walked straight to the frozen food section. Looking through the many options, I decided on the most chocolate one of them all—triple chocolate ice cream. This would do the trick, along with a bottle of wine and a good movie. And probably some groceries because I didn’t want to come back again.
Walking back home, I made myself think about the case that was coming up. Brandon had taken some time off to help Luc build his house, so this would be one of the few times where I wouldn’t have him nearby. It was a good time to reset my head.
“Need any help with that?"
The voice sent shivers through me. I turned around and ran straight into a hard chest.
Thomas laughed, placing a hand on each of my shoulders to keep me steady. “Sorry about that, didn’t mean to scare you. You okay?”
“Yes, absolutely. You just startled me.”
“Sorry again.” The smile that crept across his face made me melt, and I couldn’t help returning it. He gestured at my hands. “Let me help you with those bags. Don’t want you getting fined again.”
“Ha ha ha.” But the bags were kind of heavy, because as usual, I impulse-bought my way through the store. “Thank you, that’s kind of you. Can you take this one?”
“I’d be glad to. Ladies first,” he said, gesturing toward the open door.
I led our two-person parade back to my apartment, hoping Jill was not yet awake.
As soon as we got to my apartment door, I faced Thomas and said, “Well, here we are. Thank you for your help.” I made to take the bag back from him, but he didn’t move.
“I’ll put it on your counter for you given I’m already here.”
On receiving another flash of his smile, I relented and turned to unlock the door, but it swung open before I could finish turning the key.
“Becca, did you get chocolate ice cream?” Jill cried. Then she looked up and noticed Thomas. “Oh, we’ve never met. I’m Jill.”
“Jill, nice to meet you. I’m Thomas; just moved in last weekend.” He looked so hot holding groceries in one arm while shaking Jill’s hand with the other.
“It’s really nice to finally meet you, Thomas,” Jill said, ushering him in while giving me a big ‘oh my goodness, he’s hot’ look.
“Um, you can put the groceries right here,” I said, placing mine on top of the kitchen counter. “Thank you for your help. I can take it from here.”
“No problem. Any time.” He lingered a bit and looked as though he had something to say, but then he turned and began walking back to the door.
