24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Sean

My heart slams steadily in my chest as I run, my lungs expanding by the amount of air I have to inhale with every sprint. I'm stressing myself, and my legs hurt, but I don't stop. I'd rather experience the ache in my bones than the one in my heart. I keep running, ignoring the roar in my ears as I tear down the street. I only stop when I'm near home, walking briskly up my porch and into my house.

Jessica's car wasn't here when I left and it's not back yet. I can't help but wonder where she went if she didn't come straight home. I immediately wonder if she's with Rick. Why do I even care?

I close the door behind me and head to the kitchen to grab a cold water bottle. As I chug down the water greedily, I answer the question. I care—a lot. I'd hate to find out that Jessica was spending more time with Rick.

I fling the empty bottle into the trash before sitting on the kitchen stool to rest my tired muscles. As my heart rate slows to a steady rhythm, I go over every exchange with Jessica, only to realize that entire conversation was my fault.

When I got there everything started off great. Jessica was more than courteous and excited to tell us about her date. I turned the story sour by nailing Rick to a cross and persecuting him. Jessica was correct; Rick did everything right. He brought her flowers, held the door open for her, treated her to a fancy date, and walked her to the door afterward—the perfect gentleman.

I wish I could point out something about him, something that would justify the feelings of hate I have for him right now. But there's nothing. The truth is I don't like Rick because I'm jealous of him. My feelings for Jessica might not be totally clear yet, but I'm pretty sure I don't want any other man around her.

The amount of relief I have at the fact she didn't kiss Rick after the date is disconcerting.

"Oh, heck. Sean!" I drop my head on the ceramic island, wincing when I do it harder than I meant. Pain sears through me and causes an ache to lodge there. I need someone to tell me I'm wrong. I need someone to look me in the eyes and call me out as being wrong for looking at my best friend's sister and feeling anything deeper than sibling love for her. Calling me out won't change how I feel, but I deserve it.

I pull myself from the stool and drag my tired body up the stairs straight into the shower. The cold water pummels my body, kneading my bones until I feel a little better physically. Once out of the shower I hear my phone ringing. It's Jamie.

"Hey, Jamie. What's up?"

"Uh, hey, man," Jamie responds immediately. "You home?"

I want to lie and say no because I really just want to be alone right now, but Jamie always knows how to make me feel better. Plus, I want to make it up to Jessica, and Jamie would know how.

"Yeah, I'm home. What's going on?"

"On my way," Jamie hangs up the phone. I pull on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before falling onto the bed, laying still so my head won't ache so much.

Jamie walks in and I immediately smell food. I don't realize how hungry I am until my stomach growls as Jamie lays the food out on the table. I put a hand on my stomach in surprise.

"Hungry?" Jamie smirks.

"Yes. I didn't realize I haven't eaten." I devour it, all the while aware of Jamie's gaze on mine.

"What?" I glance up at him.

He chews slowly and swallows before answering, "So I hear you and Jessica are over."

The food suddenly turns to cotton in my mouth. I force it down with a sip of beer and sit up. "What do you mean?"

"Evelyn told me," he says like it explains anything.

"Told you what?"

Jamie rolls his eyes. "Well, according to Evie, you and Jess got into an argument, and when you left, Jessica said something about not caring about you."

Really? My heart slams into my rib cage. Jessica is as stubborn as they come. If she says she doesn't care about me, then she could very well mean it.

"Your sister is so hardheaded." I put my palm to my forehead and then wince at the pain.

"Tell me something I don't know," he jokes.

"I was only trying to help. It felt like she's not very experienced when it comes to dating and she needed help!"

"I'm sure she doesn't," Jamie says softly.

"What?"

"Jess has always been independent," he explains. "Even when I was depending on Mom and Dad, she was doing things for herself. Most of the time, it never works out, but she's never afraid to pick herself up and try again. That's what makes her wins even more amazing."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, Evie said you are vehemently against Jessica and Rick kissing or moving too fast."

"Aren't you?" I frown.

"Why should I?" Jamie laughs. "She's an adult. She can do whatever she wants. Do you care who Evelyn is intimate with?"

I purse my lips, feeling cornered. "Seems like I care about your sister more than you," I growl. "Jessica wants to go kiss a boy she just met. You know how boys are. What if they try and take advantage of her."

"Boy?" Jamie laughs. "Have you forgotten we were in the same class with Rick? And everyone knows that Rick is kind. He's more of a gentleman than you are. Heck, even more than me."

What Jamie says is nothing but the truth, and I resent him for it.

"Doesn't change the fact that she shouldn't be kissing someone she just met," I say lamely.

"Why not? I think she should kiss as many frogs as she wants until she finds her prince."

"Don't be stupid," I growl, pushing my plate away from me. Food has lost its appeal at the thought of Jessica kissing a bunch of guys. "This isn't funny."

"I'm trying to help," Jamie answers. "The fastest way to lose Jessica is by curbing her independence. Trust me. You've helped her find a great guy. Why not let her take it from here?"

No one understands! That's the problem. Letting her take it from here is the problem. I already regret finding her a guy so much so that I'm apparently not above using petty means to try and separate them before they actually get together.

"Jessica is mad at me."

Jamie lifts his eyebrows. "Um, that's why I'm here."

"How can I make it up to her?"

Jamie catches my gaze, and I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny. "Jessica is actually really easy to please, Sean."

"Tell me how."

"Her favorite coffee shop is Espresso Yourself," Jamie says. "Extra creamy with two sugars. They have red velvet cupcakes that are her favorites."

"Okay." I'm already planning to buy out the entire shop if I have to.

"Don't you want any more food?" Jamie points to my plate, and I shake my head. He picks up what's left on my plate and starts to eat. "Looks like your mind is really heavy," he says. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"

"Like what?"

"If I knew I wouldn't be asking," Jamie chuckles.

"There's nothing on my mind. I'm good."

"Sure. Sure." We sit in silence except for the sound of him chewing his food.

"When are you leaving?" I ask suddenly.

He pauses, his hands hovering over the plate. "What? You want me to leave now?"

I stare at him. The earlier he leaves, the sooner I can make it up to Jessica. I hate the fact that she's upset with me, and that it's because I was a jerk. I said a lot of mean things.

"I'm hanging out with some of the guys tonight," Jamie says. "Want to come?"

I start to shake my head, but Jamie stops me. "Think about it. You can have fun tonight, let off some steam, and refresh enough to clear the air with Jessica tomorrow. You're not in the right frame of mind to do that at this moment."

The more he talks the more interesting his point becomes. As much as I'd like to fix everything with Jessica right now, this isn't the best time to do it and we could end up in another argument without Evelyn as a buffer. Maybe Jamie is right. I should go to hang out with the guys, let off steam, and regroup.

"I don't know…"

"Come on, man. A night out will do you good. You'll have fun getting to hang out with the old crew."

After a slight hesitation I realize it's probably better than sitting here all night just thinking about Jessica.

"Okay. I'll go with you."

Jamie gives me a thumbs-up and continues to eat.