Page 37 of Give Me a Shot

Only the four began to put their things away.

“Hey!” Jess shouted. Most of the rest of the class looked up.

“Go home,” she said, packing her own things. She waited for the last student to leave and returned to her office.

Once the door closed behind her, she resolved to clear out her inbox, but her thoughts would not behave. She had some privacy, and her classes were done for the day, so she settled in behind her desk and let her mind wander. As she’d been fighting off thoughts about Mo during the day, he’d shown up in her dreams instead. The way his wary expression brightened with her when they had a little privacy. The deep, gruff sexiness of his voice when he spoke to her with full sentences. The shy little kid he’d turned into at her car and then in his.

A shy smile curved her lips as she remembered his kiss that had shocked her even though she’d been wishing it would happen. Then the smile fell.

This isn’t…a good idea.

She sighed. She’d had a plan. She was solidifying her footing in her “adult” life. She was settling into her job. Even though there was a bit of stress involved due to the threat to the Folk School, she’d picked up archery again and was being social, which could lead to real friendships. The decision to be open to new friends wasn’t that far off from being open to a relationship.

Why am I struggling with it?

She was too in her own head. Even though Steph would make fun of her, and Alice would say “I told you so,” Jess grabbed her phone. Thumbs over the keyboard, she hesitated, trying to find the right words for the group chat.

Fuck it.

Jess:

Emergency meeting, Ladies

The word “typing” and a dancing ellipsis appeared at the top of the screen.

Alice:

What’s wrong?

Steph:

You were with me the whole time. Wherever they said you were, no you weren’t.

Jess chuckled.

Jess:

Mo & I kissed

For a few moments, the top of the screen remained the same. No “typing” or dancing ellipsis. Then the app screen changed, and the phone started ringing in her hand.

“Excuseme?” Steph asked as the screen changed again. But it was dark, and Jess could barely make her out.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about—”

Stephanie was cut off as Alice joined in.

“Youwhat?” she asked, a little breathless.

“Hi, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you all freak out,” Jess said.

Jess could see that Steph was speaking but couldn’t hear anything.

“You’re on mute, Steph,” Alice said.

“My bad,” she said, the sound coming back. Including the sound of a refilling toilet. Jess raised an eyebrow.

---