Page 86 of No Place Like Home

“I didn’t say anything.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Did you hear me say anything, Ems?”

Emma shook her head and turned around, because if anyone lacked a poker face, it was her.

Seriously, they needed to mind their own business. It wasn’t like I was all up in theirs when they had their guy drama. It wasn’t that I had guy drama, but it was different for them. Quincy and I were just sex.

“Here,” Quincy said as he handed me my cup.

It was not only iced, but it had the cold brew in it, and he had topped it off with some cold foam and a dash of cinnamon.

I blinked, because this was the drink I had begun getting as the days started to get warmer.

Unease spread through me. Then I had to remind myself that we were friends. This was normal, right?

A light pinch on my cheek snapped me from my thoughts. I looked up at the man responsible.

“You look nice,” he said loud enough so only I could hear.

I felt my face flame. The bell dinged, and I looked up because I needed a distraction and almost got down on my knees and thanked the universe when said distraction walked through the door.

I moved past Quincy to make Prescott his americano. That didn’t work, because Quincy was next to me in an instant.

“Oh, look, it's my favorite brother-in-law!”

I turned to see Prescott’s reaction, but I guessed dealing with Freya for the last couple of years, he was used to it.

“I’m your only brother-in-law,” he retorted with an eye roll.

Once his espresso was poured, I topped it off with hot water and went to give it to him. I didn’t say anything as I slid it his way.

“And that’s why Jess is my favorite,” Prescott mentioned as he left a twenty on the counter.

“I already told him his drinks were free,” Emma grumbled.

“Why?” we all questioned as Prescott pretended not to hear.

“Because he’s my friend.” Emma said it like it was obvious.

Prescott raised his brows, as if that was taking it a little too far.

“If you gave free shit to everyone who’s your friend, you’d be broke,” I told her.

“Jessamine, you don’t pay for your shit,” Quincy shot back.

This was the first time he’d called me by my full name in front of others. It was usually Jess, sometimes Jessa and Jessamine when he was inside me. My full name falling from his lips felt intimate, like he was crossing boundaries he shouldn’t.

The door opened again, and the Hayward family walked in. Jana walked in, holding hands with her daughter, and Rusty was behind them. I didn’t know the whole story, but I never saw them around Prescott.

I didn’t know if anyone noticed or if they pretended they didn’t, but the way Prescott's eyes went to the little girl, they were filled with sadness.

“I gotta go,” I said as I made my way out of the back. “Come on, and you can tell me what you got Rosie for her birthday, because I hate when you outdo me.”

I said the last part as I hooked an arm around Prescott and dragged him out of the diner. Dragged was an exaggeration, because he happily followed.

“What are you doing?” he questioned once we were by his car, which was on the opposite side of Quincy’s.

“I’m making Brownie points for when we get married.”

“The fuck?”

---