Page 67 of Home in Nevada

"Yeah, it’s kind of a long story, Jeff."

"Wow. So now you’re the one who sucks at gossip, huh?"

"Okay, okay, fine," she relents, and I can hear the sound of something clattering in the background. Probably her kitchen.

"So, you know Nichole..."

"Yeah, I know Nichole..."

Nichole. Lucy’sone-that-got-away.Older, graduated before us, got a job on the East Coast. It was wild they lasted as long as they did. I know Lucy always considered Nichole a rebound after that whole cheating episode. Back when we still hated each other.

After Nichole moved, Lucy and I started talking more, stopped arguing. Eventually, we clicked. She helped me move past all the shit I’d held onto. I’d never hated my ex for cheating with Lucy, but I directed all my anger at her anyway. It was unfair. She didn’t even know about me back then.

Lucy had nothing to do with the breakup, and she got cheated on just the same.

I never really knew Nichole personally, but I’ve got her to thank for helping me and Lucy become friends.

"Lucy, is Nichole back?"

"Well, no. I mean... she was, for a while. When Jamie was here. Look, I didn’t want to bring any of this up back then because... Dude, you were going through some serious shit."

I briefly remember the worst day of my life.

"So don’t get pissed at me," Lucy says, her tone apologetic. "But Nichole was here... When I went over to your place to help. We just ended up talking a lot, Jamie and me. I gave him my number back at your parents’ house."

"You’ve been talking to him since then?"

"Well, yeah... How could I not try to be friends with your top-secret ‘other best friend’?"

"Shut up," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"Anyway," she continues, her voice muffled like she’s eating something. I press the phone closer to my ear.

"He was really upset that day after you let him stay at your place. Like,reallyupset. He kept texting me, and I felt bad that he was alone, so... I went over there. He told me how he felt about you. Shit, he just went on and on... That boy hasseriousfeelings, Jeff. Also, he talks a lot. He rambles."

Yeah. Like I didn’t already know that.

Why the hell doesn’t Jamie ever talk to me about his feelings? It’s always like pulling teeth to get any clue about what he’s thinking. I know I’m the outspoken one, but I never get the same in return, and it drives me crazy. A pang of jealousy hits when I realize how effortlessly Lucy seems to bring out the side of Jamie I’ve been dying to see.

"He said he felt bad... that he kept confusing you. That it was his fault for encouraging something to happen and not just letting it go. He kept crying over something he said, about you being heartless or something. Jeff, he was so fucking cute, it broke my heart. All crying over you in your bed—"

"Stop."

She does. Thank God.

"Nichole just kind of came up in all that... and that I knew she was visiting. I couldn’t not think about her... So, Jamie helped me. We all hung out a few times—me, Jamie, and Nichole."

Lucy laughs for a second. "Jamie is awesome at destroying awkward pauses, I’ll give him that."

So Jamiedidend up going out and exploring LA. I’m glad.

"And... well... we’re trying long distance, just seeing how it goes."

I grin. "Lucy... That’s fucking awesome, dude. I’m happy for you."

And I really am. I know she never truly got over Nichole. She stopped bringing her up a few months after she moved, but I always knew.

"Yeah, thanks... Just so you know, when I brought Jamie over to my place when you were there, that was for him. He didn’t want you to leave thinking he hated you. I was trying to help."

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