Page 56 of Puck and Prejudice

“You don’t sound super excited.”

“I’m happy for you, but at the same time, it’s a bittersweet reality. I’m going to miss our late-night talks.”

“Just because we won’t be sharing a room doesn’t mean we can’t have late-night calls. The phone exists.” She smirks.

“That’s not the same… everything is changing so fast.”

“I know.” She sighs. “I don’t need to move in with Chad right away. I can wait a bit.”

I shake my head. “Hell no. You’re moving in with him even if I have to drive the U-Haul myself.”

She laughs, but then turns serious again. “Do you think Mom will be upset if I move in with Chad?”

I wrinkle my nose. “I doubt it. She’s only uber-conservative when it’s convenient. She’s super invested in your engagement to Chad. Hell, she was planning your wedding before she knew for sure you’d gotten back together with him.”

“Good. I want the next twelve months to be as smooth as possible.”

I snort. “Good luck with that. You’ll be planning a wedding with Mom.”

Jane grimaces but after a second, she smirks. “Good thing that I have you.”

“What? You thinkIcan control her? She’ll be worse than a bridezilla.”

“I have total confidence in you. If you could work in tandem with Jackson, you can handle Mom.”

My pulse accelerates a bit. I hate the way my body reacts whenever his name is mentioned. “We’ll see. What time is the party at Chad’s tomorrow?”

“Three. It’s an informal gathering. He says Jackson will be grilling.”

Now the butterflies in my stomach awake. “Oh… I didn’t realize he was going to be there.”

“Jackson is like family to Chad. They’ve known each other for a long time.” She tilts her head. “I thought you and Jackson had made peace.”

“We have. I was just surprised, that’s all.” I fake a yawn to stop this conversation.

I don’t want Jane to know I have conflicting feelings toward Jackson. Nothing is ever going to happen between me and Chad’s best friend anyway.

ChapterTwenty-Four

IZZIE

The next morning at the breakfast table, Mom takes the news that we’re expected at Chad’s house to meet his parents as well as I thought she would.

“What do you mean we’re meeting Chad’s parentstoday?” Her voice rises in pitch.

“I know it’s last minute, but his parents are in town, and he really wants us to meet them,” Jane replies.

“That’s very thoughtful of him,” Dad pipes up before Mom can say anything.

“Well, no one is saying it’s not thoughtful, but if I had known, I’d have done my nails yesterday and put roll pins in my hair already.”

“Mom, your nails are fine,” I interject.

“And you have time to do your hair,” Jane adds.

Mom presses her hands against her chest. “Oh no. I invited Colombo Gomez for lunch. I can’t cancel on him. He’s only in town until tomorrow.”

“Colombo who?” I ask.

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