Page 99 of No Place Like Home

“Why are you lying?” He took a step forward. “Doesn’t it get tiring?”

“I’m not lying.”

He took another step forward.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel anything,” he growled.

“I was just using you!” I screamed the truth. “I could have never taken you seriously.”

He stopped coming after me, and hurt was evident in his eyes. I took another step toward the front door.

“You walk out that door, Jess, and we’re done!” he barked.

I flinched, but no matter how much I wanted to stay, I couldn't.

I could never take him seriously, because guys like him weren’t meant for girls like me.

I left his house, needing to get away…not from him, but from my demons. I didn’t know that by the time I wanted to go back, it would have been too late.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

Present

My house wasanything but peaceful today. The crew got here at the crack of dawn and began to set up.

“Are you listening to me?” Leo asked me.

I looked away from the window and at him.

“Yeah, keep things light. Nothing too deep yet,” I replied.

Leo patted me on the back. “This will be good for your career.”

I nodded. I knew that, and it was all because of him. He’d stuck with me through all my bullshit.

“What time will they start rolling?”

He looked at me suspiciously. “Why?”

“Simba needs a walk,” I said nonchalantly.

“Be back in an hour,” he said and walked away.

There was a stick up his ass lately. He was excited about this documentary—hell, he’d set it up—but there was an edge as soon as production began. Originally, it was going to be done for my road back to the game, but when that didn’t happen, it got put on hold for this moment.

“Come on, boy. Time for a walk!” I yelled as I walked outside.

Right away, I heard Simba’s soft padding running toward me.

It was a little chilly since it was early, but the sun would come out in a few, and so would the heat.

Instead of going to the trail, I went to the front of the house and made my way down the road toward the homes near the entrance.

It was fucking stupid, but hell if I could stop myself. The sun was already coming out when I made it to Juliet and Jake’s house. I didn’t know what had changed with her in the last three years, but I felt disappointed when her Jeep wasn’t in their driveway.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go,” I told Simba as we turned around.

That probably meant she was still living with Blake. I fucking hated that. I always had, even before I had a name for the shit I felt for her.

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