Page 33 of No Place Like Home

“You’re no longer my girl, Glooms. You’re Jessamine, my wildflower. We’re friends. I got ‘chu. And because I got you, you get the first glimpse at my new line.”

Okay, that made sense; we were friends, in a strange new way. We knew each other, but not really. Kind of like we knew each other now. You didn’t always have to see someone all the time, but they might still be there for you. And Q did try to be there after my mom. My throat got dry, thinking about her.

Quincy got into an SUV; I assumed he put the phone on that stand thingy, since he turned around, pulling a package from the back seat.

“You ready?” He smirked at me.

I looked ridiculous with my hand on my mouth, but it made me feel more comfortable, so I didn’t move it. I just nodded instead of speaking.

“Last collection was all about black. Now it’s all about the white, playa.”

I giggled as I watched Q open the package, removing the excess paper out of the way. This time it was all done in all white with the QH in a soft eggshell.

“Now, tell me, is there anything I should add?”

“The lines would look cool in black,” I added shyly. “Sorry, it’s too much white for my taste, but with a little black, I bet more people would get them. They look amazing, though. So did the last ones. You’ve accomplished so much. I’m happy for you, Q.”

When I was done talking, I realized I’d removed my hand from my mouth and smiled at him.

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this,Jessamine.” He said my full name playfully before dropping his tone. “I’m proud of you too. I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a dick….”

Things were heading into dangerous territory, but I didn’t stop myself. “Say it. We’re friends, right?”

Q looked at me. Even through the screen, his gaze was too much. It made me feel like I was drowning.

“You could have let what happened with your parents break you, but you didn't. You kept going.”

I moved the phone away from my face so Quincy wouldn’t see that I was gasping for air. I nodded at him and forced a smile. I needed fresh air—to get out of this house and run.

“Someone’s at the door. Love the new line. Talk later,” I rushed out before ending the call.

I threw my phone on the sofa and ran outside, needing to feel the pain that came with jogging so I could focus on something other than the pain I kept buried. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the air soothe my panic attack. I hated them. It felt like I was drowning.

Once I was under control, I walked back inside the house, heading straight to my room. With shaky hands, I opened the drawer next to my bed. It had been such a long time since I’d felt the need to keep a journal. With school keeping me busy, I kept my demons at bay, but today Q had to mess it up by bringing up the past.

The words on those pages weren’t who I was. They weren’t a reflection of the woman I had become. The words on my journal pages were of a scared little girl who had to grow up when she was seven years old. The words on those pages were of a misfit who never learned to fit in—the words of a lonely girl.

But no matter how much I lied to myself, that lonely girl was still me.

CHAPTERTEN

When I pulledup to Jake’s and Juliet’s house, I groaned when I saw that I was the last one to arrive. Everyone was going to stare when I walked in. The number one reason why I hated social functions was the arriving part when everyone and their mama stared at you. It was like high school all over again. My tiny humans stared, but it was different. They were funny and cute.

Max’s vintage car was there, and Dex and Emma’s SUV. On the plus side, no Mrs. Carson. Loved the lady to bits, but she was a lot to take in sometimes. Grabbing the chips I bought at the grocery store, I made my way down the brick driveway. When Jake left Cubbie and me his house, he and Juliet had relocated to a fancier home, much to Jake’s dismay. He loved the house, but I guessed her money would always be a sore spot for him. According to Blake, it was because a real man was a provider for the woman he loved, and it was a bruise to his male ego.

Juliet, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less about her money. Even though she had started out in the gutters like us, she’d never belonged there. Still, she didn’t let her inheratence change her. She’d not only sent Blake and I to college, but every year since, she’d helped one lucky Sunny Pines student with a scholarship. This was also thanks to her brothers for helping her fund it.

Juliet was Wonder Woman. She had her charities, her family, and raising my sister. I tried not to think much about that. It always left me feeling conflicted. I was just happy that my sister was happy, getting the life I was denied.

There was no need to knock on the door when everyone was probably expecting me, so I walked right in.

Chaos. It was pure chaos. The house was a mess. Kids yelling and running everywhere. I didn’t mind dealing with that at work because I got paid to put up with tantrums. Right now, not so much.

Emily and Dax were running wild. The Hendrix kids scared me. There was none of Emma’s sweetness in them. It was all whatever troublemaking genes Freya and Dex were made of. I found my sister sitting cross-legged with her tablet in one hand and feeding Paisley with the other. I had to admit Jake and Juliet’s youngest was adorable.

“Hey, brat,” I said as I sat next to my sister.

“Shut up.” Rosie didn’t turn to look at me, her eyes glued to her screen.

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