Page 51 of Strelitzias in Spring

CeCe: It’s fine, I’ll say it. What were you up to, Serena? Don’t even try bullshitting us because you lie like shit.

Scrunching my nose, I grow increasingly annoyed at my friends’ good-natured but nosy texts.

Serena: It’s a text message. You can’t detect a lie from a text.

CeCe: Can’t I?

Letting out a sigh, I shake my head before typing out my response.

Serena: Just drop it. I’ll be there on the twenty-fourth. I have tutoring and will be in the library all day tomorrow, so I won’t make brunch. I’m also scheduled for tutoring sessions next Saturday and Sunday, but I’m free both afternoons if you want to move our weekly breakfast to lunch.

Since the beginning of the semester, Ava, CeCe, and I have met weekly for breakfast, typically on the weekends but sometimes during the week, too. This will be the first week where my schedule is too busy to allow me the girl time I’ve missed out on for most of my adolescence and teenage years.

CeCe: Do you want me to drop off a French toast? I feel bad that you’re missing out on brunch.

I can’t help the smile that breaks out on my face at CeCe’s question. Even when Dylan and I were on good terms, he was never thoughtful in a way that communicated he truly cared about me or my well-being. Just like when I had the flashback to stapling the fabric of my car, the memories of our friendship are tinted with an unflattering hue.

Serena: No, thank you, though. I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. XX

Swiping out of that conversation, I take a look at the last unread messages on my phone: one from a random number and the other from my big, Meg.

With the knowledge that I spoke to Meg yesterday about giving Jack my number, I have a strong feeling that I know the owner of the unknown number. Without delaying, I open the text.

Unknown: Hi, beautiful. It’s Jack. How are you? Meg finally gave me your number. It was great seeing you.

The choppy sentences of his text make me feel like I just read the intrusive thoughts of a dog. Gnawing on the skin of my thumb, I consider the fact that I have one man’s saliva and bite marks covering my body, who couldn’t be less interested in me, while another seems wildly interested despite my reservations.

Serena: Hi, Jack. It was nice seeing you yesterday, too.

I don’t have to wait for his response; it’s almost instant.

Jack: I had no idea you were related to Marina. That must be cool to have a friend turned sister. I have two brothers.

Furrowing my brow, I think back to our encounter yesterday; I’m not sure if Jack is just trying to make conversation or if he’s so obtuse that he didn’t pick up on the obvious dislike Marina and I harbor for each other. I’m pretty sure I was blatant in my distaste.

Serena: We’re not friends.

Jack: Right, right. So, uh, anyway, would you want to go to dinner sometime? I’d love to take you out and get to know you better.

Serena: I’m not sure. I have a lot going on right now.

Jack: Come on, just one dinner, beautiful. Please. I promise if you want me to leave you alone after, I will.

Jack: Just give me a shot, beautiful.

Releasing a breath, I look at the texts, his obvious eagerness, and feel like there’s a rock in the pit of my stomach. For some inexplicable, stupid reason, Wolf’s face flashes in my mind when I think about going to dinner with Jack; in my vision, it’s not Jack’s slender form sitting across from me, it’s Wolf’s hulking one.

That image is like ice water soaking my veins, breaking me from any delusions I may harbor. We had sex, amazing, wild sex, but there’s nothing more to it. Pushing my shoulders back, I expel any thoughts of Wolf from my mind and respond to Jack.

Serena: Okay. I’m free on Thursday.

Jack: Hell yeah :) I’ll pick you up around seven.

I like the message before moving to the last unread message on my phone.

Meg: Hey, Little! I just spoke to Jack, he’s so into you, holy shit. He’s going to text you tonight and ask you out!!!

Yeah, no shit, Meg.

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