Page 10 of Rush of Jealousy

“I’m going upstairs, but first I need to hear how your camping trip went.”

“It was one of the best trips I have been on. I really like Ethan and never expected it to happen this fast. We just stayed in and did the sex every chance we got. It was like every activity we started, ended with an excuse to get it on. We did it on the—”

“And that’s my cue to leave.”

* * *

I wake up to more texts, a few voice messages, and an alert that there was motion at the front door seven minutes ago. I guess the security system is doing its job. I roll out of bed and go downstairs to retrieve the huge bouquet of pink roses from the doorstep. I verify that they are for me and carry them into the house. I read the card.

One for every day I have known you. I miss you. I am sorry. -GH

It seems like ages ago that I met Graham under the stars. From that moment forward, my life has irrevocably changed. I wipe angrily at a tear that starts to fall from my eye.

“Whoa, someone doesn’t understand the act of social distancing to win back a woman’s heart,” Claire says with a chuckle.

“Problem is, thisisGraham distancing himself.” I huff and touch the delicateness of a petal. “The man would probably camp out on the doorstep if he wasn’t afraid I would flee the country.”

“Hmm, that actually does sound like fun.”

“Which part?”

“The fleeing the country part. We need a vacay!”

The good thing about being friends with someone like Claire is that she is always on my side—regardless of being right or wrong. I know exactly where her loyalty lies, and that is refreshing and something I never had growing up with any friends other than James. My brother was my best friend.

“I have literally missed out on being reckless and impulsive my entire college journey. Isn’t this the time in our lives where we are supposed to be stupid and make mistakes and take chances?” I ask. “You know, before our prefrontal cortex completely finishes developing, and we get too old to use it as an excuse for our bad decisions?”

“Yes! Hell yes!” Claire whoops. “Let’s do it. One life to live and all that, right?”

“Absolutely. And time is running out. We only have a couple of months and then it is real world time.”

She gives me a smirk and then curls her lips into her mouth. “So, lucky you—”

“Oh boy, this is never good,” I whine. “Please tell me you don’t have a plan already.”

“Hush.”

I groan. “What did you do?”

“I’m already on top of this YOLO stuff after processing our conversation last night. So, you let your Fairy Godfriend Claire take over from here and make all your wishes come true.” She spins around with a rose in each hand, dancing about the first floor like a sugar-infused butterfly.

I swallow. “I was kind of thinking figuratively.”

“Too late. I have your week’s social schedule planned.”

“Claire…”

She pauses her rhythmic dance to look at me with an innocence in her eyes that contradicts everything she represents. “Yeppers?”

“How do you even know my wishes?” I ask.

Bringing the rose up to her nose, she takes a deep breath in. “Have a little faith.”

“The last time I did, you almost got me arrested.”

“Hold grudges much? Who would have dreamed that dancing naked on your own property is illegal?”

“Just about anyone who has ever watchedCops.”

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