Page 87 of Heartbeats & Highways

She nodded and went to the cabinet to get a glass.

Brielle grimaced as she walked to the counter to pick up a glass of wine and said, “I want to know too. But, like, a PG version. I don’t want to know about your aerobic activities withmy brother. I’m happy for you and all, but there are some details I just donotneed.”

“I had to reschedule all his appointments today,” I said. “So . . . you must’ve kept him occupied.”

Jazz filled a glass of water and then grabbed the other wine goblet and strode toward me. “Evie, take the couch. I’ll sit on the rug.”

I walked to the couch and plopped down on one end and the large dog immediately jumped up and crawled halfway into my lap and then laid down.

“She has no sense of personal space,” Brielle said with a grin as she took the other end of the couch.

“Clearly.” I rubbed her ears and she let out a big breath and burrowed deeper against my side.

“Okay.” Brielle took a drink of her wine. “Tell us all the things.”

“Well,” Jazz began. “I didn’t cancel my date.” She looked at Brielle. “Thanks for telling him that.”

Brielle raised her glass.

“Anyway, Homer was pissed. Like,livid. I’ve never seen him so mad.” Jazz grinned. “The date was the spark that pushed him over the edge.Finally. So, like the grumpy caveman he is, he dragged me back to his apartment and . . . well, ya know. We spent the night together.” She glanced at Brielle and then to me. “We, ah, didn’t do much talking, if you catch my drift.”

“I think we catch your drift,” I said with a laugh.

“We woke up and he cooked me breakfast. And then he asked me to move in with him.”

The room was silent.

“You said yes, didn’t you?” Brielle guessed.

“Actually, I punched him,” Jazz said.

I raised my brows. “Youpunchedhim?”

“Okay, maybe notpunched.But I slapped him.”

“Why?” I asked in confusion.

“Because he’s made me wait for years for him and he had the audacity to skip all the steps in a relationship. He doesn’t get off that easy. Well, actually, he did get off?—”

“Focus,” Brielle interrupted.

“I told him I wanted to be wined and dined. Wooed. He doesn’t get to jump ahead just because he’s finally ready to be with me.”

“And that talk took all day?” I asked in confusion. “That’s why he had to cancel his appointments?”

She shook her head. “No. I left his apartment this morning. He lives in this building, by the way. I have no idea why he’d cancel his appointments. Do you know where he is?” Jazz looked at Brielle, who shook her head.

“I didn’t see his car in the lot when Savage dropped me off here,” I said. “He might be back by now, though.”

“I should go knock on his door,” Brielle said.

“No, don’t do that,” Jazz said. “Let him stew. Let him figure his shit out. I’ve got him right where I want him.”

“And where’s that?” I asked.

“Addicted to me.” Jazz grinned. “I gave him some Jazz-nip. He’ll be back for more.”

Chapter 24

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