Page 66 of No Place Like Home

The customer ahead of me just turned to look back at me with glares, but I didn’t care. I needed to go hide in the four walls of my classroom. When it was my turn, I gave Emma my order.

“Large americano and an extra shot of espresso,” I rushed out, to which she raised her eyebrows, probably worried about my caffeine intake.

I already knew it was going to be a long day.

Freya walked toward us with my food in her hand, then stopped dead and stared at me.

I sipped the coffee Emma put in front of me, and I wondered if there was something on my face since everyone was looking at me.

“Is there—” I started to say.

“Is that a hickey?” Freya screeched as she pointed at my neck.

My hand automatically went to the body part she had pointed toward. Then I walked to the metal gloss of the bakery stand, and sure enough, there was a fucking hickey on my neck.

There was no missing that thing either.

Fuck.

Jake and Juliet didn’t even know what to say. No—they probably didn’t want me to run out of their house either, but Freya had no problem speaking what was on her mind.

I walked out of the diner, leaving my coffee and food behind, but not before flipping off the blackboard. I got in my car and drove straight to school. No more detours for me.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

I slept.

Not “close my eyes and take a quick nap,” but more than six hours without waking up to a nightmare. It wasn’t a lot, but I felt refreshed, more than I had in months. Without even thinking, I stretched my arm, patting the bed, not knowing what I was actually patting until the emptiness reminded me that there should have been a petite woman next to me.

There wasn’t.

I got up and noticed that my clothes were everywhere on the floor. After putting on my pants, I walked out with the shirt in my hand.

“Jess!” I yelled.

There was no answer. I made my way to the bathroom first to wash my face. The first thing I noticed was that it was apparent that it was a shared bathroom between a man and a woman. One side had lotions, the other shaving creams. A blue toothbrush and a black one were side by side. I dried my face, left the bathroom, and headed to the kitchen, where I assumed Jess would be.

There was no one. The fuck?

“Jess?” I called again, but no answer.

My good mood was suddenly gone. Didn’t we agree on not letting this shit affect us?

“Jessamine.” I let her full name roll out of my tongue, which just reminded me of last night.

She wouldn’t admit it, but her pussy would get tighter every time I said her full name.

Simba was whining, and I suddenly remembered I had a dog. I followed the noise and found him by the kitchen, scratching the door.

“Did you see Jess run out?” I asked.

He cocked his head and just looked at me. In his dog brain, he was probably calling me an idiot.

“Let’s go,” I commanded as I reached for the doorknob.

But before I could turn it, someone else was doing it.

I shouldn’t have underestimated Jess. She probably went to get us some coffee.

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