Part 43 (1/2)

”Please, I'm a queen!”

”Actually, you can't be a queen without a king.”

She eyes me. ”Fine, I'm a princess. But d.a.m.n it, you better make me a queen.”

I wink. ”I got you.” Grinning, she leans across the table, kissing my lips softly. Melting into her kiss, I go to cup her chin, but she pulls away and gets up. I'm confused. ”Where you going?”

”To go meet my other boyfriend in the bathroom.”

”Har, har, har.”

She laughs as she heads down the hall to the bathrooms. When she disappears from view, I pull my phone out and open Jude's text.

Me: Why?

Jude: I need to talk to you.

Me: Okay, well it probably won't be till tomorrow.

Jude: That's fine. It's not a rush.

Me: What's it about?

Jude: Her.

My face scrunches up. What the h.e.l.l is going on?

Me: What about her?

Jude: Jace, relax. We'll talk tomorrow.

I go to text him back, but Avery sits down again and I turn my phone off.

She eyes me playfully. ”Texting your girlfriend?”

”Yup, she's busy, though.”

”Her loss,” she says with a grin before lacing her fingers with mine.

”Very true. Thankfully, I have backup.”

She laughs. ”Yeah, whatever.”

I stand up and now she looks confused. ”You meeting her in the bathroom?”

”Please, you made me have to pee.”

She chuckles as I disappear into the back, but I don't have to pee. Dialing Jude's number, I wait until he answers. ”Really, Jace?”

”What's going on?” For some reason, he has me on edge. Why won't he just talk to me in front of her?

”I'll talk to you later. If it was a big deal, I'd talk to you now. Go celebrate with your girl. This is huge for her.”

I roll my eyes. ”You got me worried.”

”Don't be. I don't even know how I feel about it.”

My eyes widen. ”And that's supposed to make me feel better?”

He laughs. ”Go, dude. Call me tomorrow. Alone.”

Blah. ”Okay. Love you.”

”Love you.”

Hanging up the phone, I shake my head as I try to think of what it could be. It doesn't make sense, and I wish he'd just tell me now. It's going to drive me crazy, but I need to let it go. I have a girl to celebrate.

Heading out, I see her at the table, her spoon to her mouth and her phone out in front of her. ”Ha, now who's texting their on the side person?”

She laughs. ”Um, no, actually, I'll looking at your timeline.”

I narrow my eyes playfully. ”Stalker.”

She grins, but it doesn't reach her eyes. s.h.i.+t. What did I do? ”Well, if I weren't a stalker, I wouldn't know that Delanie Collins is so excited to see you this weekend and is hoping you're ready for some fun.”

I laugh. ”When did she post that?” I sit down and grab her phone. Sure as s.h.i.+t, there is a post on my timeline from her. Why didn't she just text me that? ”Hm. Yeah, she's coming in for a late celebration of Baylor's birthday. They're best friends.”

She doesn't look convinced. ”Friend of yours?”

”I used to sleep with her.”

Her eyes widen. ”Awesome, and you're seeing her while I'm out of town?”

I grin at her suspicious eyes and shake my head. ”We are going out for Baylor's birthday.”

”With her?”

”Whoa, Jealous Jenny, calm your t.i.ts. I'm going with Markus, and I would go with you, but you're leaving me for the weekend.”

She gives me a deadpan look. ”'Cause I've got to.”

”Okay? So you go, I go, and then we meet up for hot s.e.x when you get back.”

Shaking her head, she takes a bite of her ice cream. ”I knew you were using me for s.e.x.”

I scoff. ”Please, you know it's 'cause your daddy can get me first in the draft.”

That has her laughing and I laugh too before leaning across the table to kiss her cold lips. Pulling away, I smile. ”Delanie is nothing to me, not when I'm completely and utterly in love with you.”

Her cheeks burn as she waves me off. ”Aw, Lame Line Larry, I've missed you.” I grin and she takes my s.h.i.+rt, pulling me back across the table to her. ”I love you more.”