Page 41 of Embody

Fourteen

Bellamy

MY SHIFT ATThe Pit Stop over, I grab a seat at the bus stop and pull out my phone. My, Brynn’s certainly been a busy girl today, blowing me up with texts and voicemails.

I start at the bottom. You should always start on the last text— ‘cause it’s usually the one they not only gave the most thought to, once they had time to vent, think and rephrase, but more often than not sums up all the others…that you know you don’t have to spend an hour reading.

 

Brynn: I told my brother he absolutely could NOT pursue you. No excuses, but I didn’t realize how invasive, disrespectful and selfish this was of me. I only thought of myself and how I would be devastated if things didn’t work out between you two and it cost me my friendship with you. I was wrong and I am very sorry. It will never happen again and I hope you can forgive me. And if you can forgive me, I have Sam Hunt concert tickets for this Friday. I’d love for you to go with me!

 

See? Only read the last one of the many texts and heard everything I needed to. Fromher, that is. She failed to mention whether or not she had lifted the ban with Jefferson…but I don’t want to know. That part falls solely on him.

While I’m proud of her and it only reinforces what I knew, she’s a great person who came to her senses and did the right thing—the “girl” in me would rather a scenario where Jefferson stormed the castle door, sword drawn, and threatened to burn down the village (without hurting any villagers of course, he’d have warned them to go on a trip out of town first) if he didn’t get his woman!

I suspect her apology had a bit to do with both of them, a compromise on both of their parts. But “compromise” isn’t a real sexy word—so the longer I’m allowed to believe in my fairy tale version—the better.Or worse.He needs to hurry the hell up and show mesomething.

 

Me: I absolutely forgive you and do have faith in the innocence of your motives. Brynn, we’re good, and thank you. Also, just for the record, I forgave you before I read about the tickets, but I AM SO IN! xoxo

 

With a smile, I stand as I see the bus approaching, happier than one should be about the venture, because it’s starting to sprinkle. I’m about to climb aboard when I hear my name being called.

I peer around the line and behind the bus, spotting a familiar silver Lincoln Navigator, and a familiar Kendrick standing with his door open. Wet, black hair, light blue, button-up dress shirt soaked and clinging to his skin, and a lopsided grin that could stop time.

Seems Jefferson Kendrick doesn’t allow for a long pause between forbidden and come a’ calling.

I like it.

I like it a lot.

When our eyes meet, his grin spreads into a devastatingly sexy lure and he crooks his finger, mouthing ‘come here.’

“Are you stalking me, Jefferson?” I taunt with a very flirty smile of my own, sauntering over slowly, unconcerned with the rain.

He quickly comes around and opens the passenger door for me, lifting a hand to brush my wet hair off my forehead.

“Are you scared, or thinking of filing a restraining order?” he asks on a slight laugh.

“No.”

“Then it’s not stalking. I think the words you’re looking for are “pleasantly surprising you in pursuit of your undying affection.” Now get in, you’re soaked. And while I more than appreciate your white uniform top and excellent selection of a pink bra today,” his eyes smolder as he runs them over me, then back up to mine, “I’d rather not share the view with anyone else.”

“But I’ll get your fancy seats all wet.”

A low rumble emanates from his broad chest and he grabs my hips, physically placing me in his car. “I don’t care. Seatbelt,” he bosses, shutting my door and hurrying to his side.

He starts the car and heater, turning on my seat warmer. “How long is your bus ride?” he asks, pulling out into traffic. “I don’t know the exact route, but I know where you live, so I’m guessing at least thirty minutes.”

“Yeah, depending on the stops needed on any given day, usually about thirty to forty-five minutes. Lots of time to do homework when school’s going.”

He tries to smother his growl and fails. “What’s your major?”

“Undeclared. Just taking general cores and a few classes of possible areas of interest, like Sociology. I really have no idea what I want to do yet, though. You?”

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