Page 35 of Made Over by Meredith

Jimmy huffed behind us. “Excuse me, ma’am.”

Claire ignored him. “I don’t know what’s going on with you lately, but you haven’t been yourself.”

Jimmy made a noise that had me flicking my attention to him. He knew. He’d been on Aiden’s side. Curiously, he still hadn’t spilled the beans, though.

Claire swiveled her head back and forth between us. “What? What am I missing?”

“Nothing,” Jimmy and I said at the same time.

“What?” she asked again, stepping aside so the three of us formed a triangle. A showdown of who would speak first. It certainly wasn’t going to be me.

“Jimmy,” Claire said, her hands on her hips.

“Hm?” He blinked a few times, the complete picture of guilt.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

She glowered at me. “What?”

“I haven’t been feeling well,” I said, which wasn’t completely untrue. I’m been sick to my stomach for two weeks, thinking about Aiden and Celeste together. Thinking about how I had to figure out how to fucking let go of the weight I’d carried from everyone else’s assertions of me. Thinking I did want Aiden and didn’t know how to tell him.

“There is something going on,” Claire said, giving Jimmy and I both a chance to come clean, and when neither of us did, she shot her hand out, pinching Jimmy.

“Ow! Get your little claws out of here!”

She attacked him, pinching and twisting, which he apparently thought hysterical from the laughter that rang out. “My little crab thinks she’s so tough.”

I rolled my eyes. “All right. I’m outta here.”

“No, you’re not.” Claire turned her pinchers on me.

I whacked at her. “Since when do you condone violence?”

“Since my best friend and my boyfriend are hiding something from me.” She tried to go for my boob, but I blocked her hand with my forearm. She was quite determined when she wanted to be. I ducked and dodged, pulling Jimmy between us.

Claire sighed and looped her arm around Jimmy’s waist, towing him to her, and I didn’t know where her other hand went, but I assumed it wasn’t in a place fit for public consumption. She whispered something to him, and Jimmy all but crumbled.

“Meredith and Aiden had a thing. He went to her house two weeks ago to tell her how he felt, and she kicked him out.”

Claire gasped, her eyes wide and zipping between Jimmy and me. I couldn’t deny it, so I shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, and I punched Jimmy’s arm.

“Why did you tell her?”

He raised his hands. “I cannot be held accountable for what I say when she puts her hand on my dick.”

“Where’s your loyalty?” I asked, and he merely pointed at Claire.

As it should be.

I finally met my best friend’s gaze. “It’s true. I kicked your brother out of my house.”

“So…you and he are…?”

“We’re nothing.”

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