Page 104 of Home in Nevada

The idea of Jamie flirting with Brandon makes me sick. I can’t even let myself go there. If Jamie ever cheated on me the way Tiffany and Emily did—fuck, I don’t know what I’d do. I think my heart would just stop beating.

I’d straight-up die.

Jamie tilts his head, eyes lighting up like he’s cracked some kind of code. His smirk sharpens, and somehow, that makes it worse.

“Oh my God, Jeff… Are you jealous?”

My face burns.

“Why did you invite him?!” I snap.

Jamie shrugs. “I dunno. I invited everyone.” He says it so casually, like it’s nothing, like it’s not a big deal.

He’s still smirking at me, like I’m the one who should feel embarrassed. And honestly, my rage is starting to lose the battle to said embarrassment. My arms uncross before I even realize it.

“Jamie…” I stare into his eyes, trying to calm my pulse. The anger is still there, tightening my chest, but at least now I canthink.

“…I want him to leave. Like, right now. He needs to leave.”

Jamie laughs quietly, then reaches out and tugs the front of my shirt. “You’re really hot when you’re jealous, you know.” He bites his lower lip.

I freeze. The compliment totally throws me off.

Jamie’s grin widens. “What if I don’t ask him to leave?” he teases. “Because that’s rude? And all of that happened a long time ago?”

I scowl. “Then I’m going to go do it.” I turn and grip the glass door handle.

“Jeff—” Jamie calls after me, catching my arm before I can yank the door open.

I look back, bracing myself, expecting a reprimand or at least some kind of protest. Instead, he surprises me.

He slips his arms around my shoulders and pulls me in, his voice low against my ear.

“You shouldn’t be mad,” Jamie murmurs. “There’s nothing between us, Jeff. Nothing. You shouldn’t be mad.”

But I am.

Even as I breathe him in and feel my body begin to relax in his arms, the anger won’t leave. I can’t shake it.

“Iammad.” My arms slip around his waist before I can stop myself. I hold him there for a moment, taking in his warmth and the way he fits against me. Then I mumble, “I’m also mad that you tell Lucy about our… private time together.”

Jamie lets out a deep laugh and pulls back just enough to look at me.

“Ourprivate timetogether?” He grins.

“Dude…” I glare. “Why are you telling Lucy details about me going down on you?! You don’t think she’s gonna throw that in my face later? She ripped me a new one!”

Jamie laughs again, unbothered. “I only say that stuff in passing. She really doesn’t want to hear it anyway. She hates it.”

“She loves it,” I snap. “She lives for it. She weaponizes it every chance she gets. You can’t tell her that.”

“I’m sorry.” Jamie’s voice softens, like he’s actually trying to sound remorseful. “It just slips out around her because I know she doesn’t care. And sometimes it grosses her out—” He chuckles. “Which is kind of hilarious.”

I glare a little harder, and Jamie’s smirk fades.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop,” he says.

“Thanks.”

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