Page 74 of Embody

“That’s what I thought.” He’s so proud and cute…I feel bad for tricking him. “Thank you, baby. What are we watching?” He sits down beside me, handing me my pizza.

“Steel Magnolias,” I miraculously say without any hint of amusement.

“Cool, what’s it about?”

“A group of women, friends, who live in the same small town. All their different lives, troubles, worries-”

“You girls enjoy, I’ve had enough ovary overload tonight. I’m out,” he springs to his feet. “Text me later, Bellamy.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I send Brynn a secret grin of victory.

“No, stay put, you’re hurt.”

“Jefferson, please,” I huff, standing and walking his way. “The entire pizzarestaurantdidn’t collapse on my legs, just a slice. I’ll walk you out. Be right back, Brynn.”

“By all means, take your time,” she plops down and kicks up her feet, happy as a lark.

Once we’re on the other side of the closed door, I wrap my arms around Jefferson’s neck. “I work tomorrow until three. You?”

His hands find and squeeze my hips, pulling me unfeasibly close against him. “Same,now. Pick you up at three?”

“Mhmm,” I hum, soaking up his scent and the feel of his body. “I kinda tricked you tonight, for Brynn’s sake. I’m sorry.”

“I know,” he murmurs on my hair, placing a kiss there. “It’s all right. I love my sister, I’ll let her have this one.”

“I was thinking though,” I lay my head on his chest. “Wonder how much different things would be if Ryder asked for more of her time?”

“Only one way to find out,” he grunts, deep and gravely, before lifting my chin so I’ll gaze up at him. “My brilliant, kind girl. I’m on it. Now kiss me goodnight like you can’t fucking live without it.”

And I do.

 

 

IF A WATCHEDpot never boils, then a constantly checked clock never ticks. Swear to my time,good one, it seems like three o’clock will never get here.

And guess what happens between one and three at the diner?

Not a damn thing.

The lunch rush is over, everyone back at work, and I gotta say…refilling ketchup bottles and rolling silverware is doing little to make time go by faster. Maybe even having the opposite effect.

“Bellamy!” my manager hollers from the kitchen, so I get up and go back there.

“Yes, sir?”

“Go ahead and take off. No sense paying you to sit around and do busy work.”

“Thank you,” I smile and hustle to grab my things before he changes his mind, all the while tamping down the wave of trepidation cresting in my gut.

If trouble really does have a smell—it’s currently singeing my nose hairs.

I pull the bus schedule out of my purse, only to find I’m out of luck on that front.

Brynn? Pitching practice.

Jefferson? At work, and already taking off too much time because of me lately. But I have to at least update him so he doesn’t show up here at three and fly into a panic.

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