Page 38 of Give Me a Shot

“You did not start a call while you were sitting on the toilet,” Jess said.

“You’re the one who called for an emergency meeting while I was sitting on the toilet. The least you could do is plan your emergencies for when I’m not bleeding like a stuck pig and gritting my teeth through clots,” she said.

“Oh, Steph,” Alice sighed. “A rough period again? I’m so sorry.”

“Me too,” said Jess.

Stephanie rolled her eyes and shrugged.

“Hardly the first time, and I doubt it will be the last. Until science decides to properly research the female body,” she said. “Now, about this kissing.”

Jess cleared her throat.

“So um, that happened, and I’m having trouble,” she said.

“Trouble?” Steph asked.

“Yeah. I…” Jess didn’t know how to say it.

“Jess. Don’t try to make it pretty and correct. Just dump the box of feels. It doesn’t need to be tidy for us,” Alice said.

Jess cleared her throat and brought them up to speed about Mo helping with her car, the keychain, and the second meeting. And then about the moment on the doorstep that had made her happy but was messing with her head.

Neither of her friends said anything.

“Um…ladies?” she asked.

“Al,” Steph said. “Do you see the trouble?”

Alice shook her head.

“Nope. No trouble,” she said.

“But I’m all back and forth. It just does not make logical sense,” Jess said. “I’m starting my career; I’m getting back into—”

“Jess, I love you, but would you kindly shut that alleged ‘logic’ up?” Steph asked.

Jess blinked.

“I’m sure what she means is to shut the hyperdrive analytical part up and enjoy this arguably great thing that is happening to you,” Alice said.

Jess hesitated to reply.

“Avoiding a romantic relationship is not going to keep you safe. What happened to Cassie is not going to happen to you just because you let a man in,” Steph said flatly.

The connection slapped her in the face. She hadn’t named the concern.

“But this Mo situation doesn’t have anything to do with Cassie,” she said, blinking fast because the room had gotten a little blurry.

“Cassie’s relationship…resulted in something bad,” Alice said. “That doesn’t mean any relationship you have would be the same. And Steph, you could be more gentle, you know.”

Stephanie snorted.

“I could, but this is Jess, and she’s hardheaded and stubborn. We have to be brutal to get through,” she said. Then she sighed. “Okay, fine. Maybe I’m wrong. But maybe that’s what’s bothering you.”

Truly facing that might be the root of the problem…Jess didn’t want to go down that emotional road.

“This might not be the best question to ask,” Alice said softly. “But have you really spoken with your parents?”

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