Page 27 of The Relationship Mechanic

“Please, continue. I would be happy to offer my opinion.”

Dani laughed, and Jessica was surprised to see even Ava fighting not to smile. Dani walked over to the couch and sat down beside Jessica, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as if they were old buddies. Jessica went with it. Whatever was going on seemed to have something to do with Vini and her surly expression.

“Well, someone is having a birthday next week and refuses to tell us what she wants to do.” Dani spoke softly as if no one else were aware of just what they were talking about.

“Oh, is that so?” Jessica gave Vini a pointed look. She remembered asking Vini about her age, but it had slipped her mind that she would be turning a year older so soon. Birthdays were something Jessica took great pleasure in celebrating regardless of if it were her own or someone else’s. If she had remembered, she would have started preparations already to do something, no matter how small.

“Yes, it seems like our pint-size princess is under the impression that if she doesn’t acknowledge that her birthday is coming, we’ll just let it quietly squeak on by,” Ava added. She and Grace stood over by the large window, and with Dani and Jessica on the couch, it left Vini standing in the middle of the room facing off against everyone like she was on trial.

“Well, that’s not happening,” Jessica blurted out before she could stop herself. She saw Grace raise an eyebrow, but she didn’t say anything when Dani and Ava agreed. She quickly continued before they got the wrong idea. “Birthdays are meant to be celebrated.”

“Exactly,” Dani agreed. “Plus, it will be so much better if you just go ahead and tell us what you want to do instead of just begrudgingly going through with it and then complaining about it for weeks after.”

“Let’s not have a repeat of last year,” Ava piped up. Jessica wanted to ask about what happened last year, but she figured pushing for something this year was a much better use of time.

“I don’t know why we have to plan anything anyway,” Vini bit out finally. “It’s not like it’s a big birthday. I’m turning twenty-three. There are no big milestones at twenty-three that need attention drawn to them.”

“Oh, I disagree,” Jessica countered. “Every birthday is one more year that you’ve survived on this big hunk of rock. I think your sisters are wise to plan something for you if you don’t want to celebrate yourself. In fact, I would happily help.”

Vini’s scowl lessened, but she didn’t look completely convinced.

“See? I knew it would be a good idea to come over to Grace’s,” Dani replied, smiling widely. She shook Jessica’s shoulder. “I think that planning something big is a perfect idea. You’re usually so wrapped up in work at the shop that I think it would be a good idea for you to chill out for a night or two. Act your age and all that.”

Vini rolled her eyes again before dropping into the oversize chair. “Something big like what? There aren’t big things out here.”

“Why not go up to Atlanta?” Jessica said before she could second-guess herself. “I’ve got some contacts that owe me favors. We could have a nice dinner and then maybe do some dancing.”

“That does sound like fun,” Grace said, speaking up for the first time since her living room was invaded. She looked down at Ava. “It’s been a while since we had a night out like that too.”

“Great. Leave it all to me, then.” Jessica stood up and clapped her hands together gleefully. She was excited, not just to do something for Vini but also to feel like she was useful again in some way. She wasn’t bored per se in Peach Blossom, but other than finishing out some contracted audiobook work, she didn’t have much to do, and it left her feeling a bit out of step. This would give her a chance to show Vini a little of her world.

It was time for Vini to be impressed.

Fifteen

Vini wasn’t sure how the hell she had gotten herself into this situation, but she was pretty sure pinching her own arm wouldn’t do anything but annoy her. The few times she had spared a thought about her birthday, she had considered maybe inviting Jessica over to the house and having dinner. Thanksgiving had turned out well enough, so it wouldn’t have been too much of a stretch. She had thought Dani and even Ava would probably okay it, given how little Vini usually cared about celebrating her birthday. But this...this was so far out of the realm of what she had imagined.

Being sandwiched between Dani and Jessica while Grace drove them all to Atlanta had not been on her bingo card, that’s for damn sure. It was taking everything in her not to slap her own cheek on the off chance that she was stuck in one of those dreams that felt too real.

“So how do you know about this place, Jessica?” Dani asked, leaning over Vini’s lap. Vini tried to lean back and away. The move only served to move her farther into Jessica’s heat, which created a whole other problem that she also couldn’t address without drawing attention to herself.

“I lived in Atlanta for a few months while I was working on a show.” That piqued Vini’s interest. Even when they were alone, Jessica didn’t talk a lot about the work she did. Vini knew she had to have some type of money to afford a suite for this long at the bed and breakfast and be able to spend so much time at the shop. She had listened in on Jessica and her dad’s conversation at Thanksgiving, but as always, Vini was still ravenous for more information.

“I didn’t know that,” Dani continued. “I thought this was your first visit to the South.”

Jessica shook her head and leaned into Vini. “I’ve been to Atlanta a couple times, but never anywhere else. I mean, everyone jokes about Florida being its own entity.”

“Which is true,” Ava spoke up. She turned around in her seat. “Florida is its own breed of Southern that has nothing to do with us. I mean, falling iguanas. Enough said.”

Vini choked back a laugh but didn’t dispute Ava’s words. She sucked in a sudden breath when Jessica shifted again, pushing the side of her leg more fully against Vini’s. They had decided to take Dani’s SUV, though Dani had no desire to drive. Grace had thankfully offered to pilot, and Ava of course took the front seat beside her.

“So what kind of job were you doing?” Dani asked, bringing back the former conversation. “Do you act, like your mom?”

Jessica shook her head. “Not really. I never really wanted to go into that, though I have done a few commercials and had some minor roles when I was younger. I like voice-acting much better. Less about me and more about the words I’m recording and the feelings I can convey in my voice.”

“That’s cool.” Vini found herself speaking up before she decided what to say, but when those dark brown eyes looked over at her and the sides crinkled up with Jessica’s smile, she couldn’t regret it.

They talked casually as the miles ticked by. Traffic grew heavier as they made their way closer to the city limits. It was a Friday and rush hour, which meant they weren’t going anywhere fast. Vini had slowly relaxed the longer they were all cooped up together until she finally got used to the hot line of Jessica’s shoulder against her own. It was a comforting heat, even if she wasn’t able to wrap herself in it like she wanted.

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