Page 31 of No Place Like Home

Juliet: And we won’t leave afterward.

Me: That’s okay. I was thinking of coming soon.

Juliet: Great, see you on Sunday. Everyone is coming over for the game. Be here, or I’ll have Jake bring you. ILY.

Great. Football and people.Awesome.

I knew everyone was family, but they were all a littletoomuch. I hoped Blake’s parents weren’t there. Mrs. Carson kept waiting for me to get it on with Blake.

“You two need to sex it up and realize you’re perfect for each other.”

I cringed just remembering that conversation.

Before I put my phone away, another text came. I hovered at the name before I opened it, remembering the last text Quincy had sent me.

Wildflowers only grow in the hardest of weather, defying all odds. You look gorgeous.

That night, I stayed there most of the night, reading the words repeatedly to where it got to the point where I could almost hear his voice as if he spoke them to me. I was acting crazy. I didn’t do feelings. Why was I feeling like this? I was really annoying myself.

Quincy: Got a new collab coming. Any suggestions?

Did I answer right away or wait?

“Okay, Miss Jess, I’m all done.” Charlie came out of the bathroom, his hands still wet.

I put the phone in my back pocket. “All done?”

Charlie nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t flush because my brother said that’s how ‘It’ gets you.”

Gross.

I let the next teacher deal with whatever surprise Charlie might have left.

* * *

True to his word,Blake was gone by the time I got home. He liked to leave sticky notes on the screen door, so I would know he wouldn’t be home. That would be an invitation for someone to break in anywhere else in the world.Don’t miss me too much-B.Taking the sticky note from the door, I took it to the trash.I threw my things on our brown sectional and sat down. Grabbing my phone from my satchel, I opened my text messages, but instead of texting back, my fingers hovered on the call button.

Oh, fuck it. We’re friends. Friends talk on the phone, right?

“Hello…” Quincy’s deep voice sounded breathy, and I forgot why I wanted to call him in the first place. “Jessa?”

I stayed quiet, forgetting how to say “hi.” What was wrong with me?

“Did you butt dial me? Why am I talking to myself?” he mumbled.

“Wait!” I closed my eyes and cringed at my shout. “It’s me.” My voice came out much softer this time. “Hi.”

I heard soft laughter come from the other end of the line.

With the phone pressed to my ear, I threw my head back on the couch and groaned. “Are you making fun of me?”

“I would never,” he answered in a heartbeat, but I could practically see the smile on his face. “Tell me, Jessamine, why are you calling?”

That was an excellent question. The Lord had the answer, because I sure didn’t.

“I don’t know…I guess I was bored,” I said, ignoring the fact that he’d said my full name yet again, and I didn’t entirely hate it.

“Shit, babe. You aren’t good for my ego.”

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