Page 14 of Fall Hard

“It was stupid, right?” Bryn laughed. “It’s okay, I understand if you want to call it off.”

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder as Bryn folded up the comforter she was using on the sofa. Honestly, I wasn’t sure why she didn’t just take Jamie’s room, other than the fact that it was usually a mess, because it wasn’t like Jamie was around enough to use it lately.

“I shouldn’t have asked, I guess I was just overwhelmed. But I did have fun, so thanks for taking my mind off of things.”

Bryn straightened and smiled at me. “Anytime.” I even thought she meant it.

“I’m going to meet Jamie and Kat atThe Box,do you want to come?”

“I’ve got class.” She ran a brush through her hair before tying it up in one of those lazy buns that were somehow ridiculously chic while she did her make-up. “But thanks.”

I smiled wryly. I had class too, but that wasn’t stopping me. “See you later then.”

Bryn waved and then got back to applying her mascara in a tiny mirror she’d pulled out of her make-up bag. I couldn’t help but find it funny that she was literally living in our living room and yet still made less mess than Jamie usually would have on a daily basis.

It was warm outside, though the sky looked like it was deciding whether or not to rain, and the air was thick enough that I had a light sheen of moisture on my skin by the time I got to the bar. Kat was already waiting in a booth near the back and I grabbed a strawberry milkshake from the bar before joining her.

She raised a delicately sculpted brow as I sat down. “No cocktail?”

“Drank too much last night.”

“Jamie?”

“Bryn.” I didn’t like the knowing look that passed over Kat’s face at the mention of her name. “It wasn’t like that. We were just hanging out.”

“Hey, hey, I said nothing.” The slight smirk stayed on her face though and I rolled my eyes as I sipped at my shake.

“You know, these are pretty good. Maybe we should make our cocktail meet-ups milkshake meet-ups instead.”

Kat snorted. “Maybe we can alternate as needed.” Probably a good call. “Have you seen Jamie yet today?”

“Nope,” I said, popping thepextra loud like I was so nonchalant about it. “I think she—”

“Hey!” Kat looked up and I swiveled around to see Jamie approaching us, a red glow to her cheeks that could have been from the heat outside if not for her freshly-mussed hair. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know I’m late.”

“You’re fine, I just got here.” I smiled and she relaxed as she slid into the booth on the side opposite me. “I listened to the recording you sent me, it’s so good. How’s it been working with Max?”

Kat perked up and I watched her in surprise. As far as I knew, they’d never really spoken so her sudden interest in Jamie’s answer was intriguing at the very least. Or maybe it was just Kat’s innate love of any kind of gossip.

“It’s great,” Jamie said, a small smile flirting with her mouth. I knew what she must be thinking, that it’s great considering she almost passed up the opportunity out of her own sheer stubbornness. “I actually saw him earlier and we tried to write something together—it was terrible, but we had fun doing it.”

“Well, do you know who else has been hanging out together?” Kat said, casting a sly glance in my direction and I opened my mouth to cut her off but she was too fast. “Liv and Bryn.”

“Oh really,” Jamie said, stretching the word out as she leaned in close to Kat and they waggled their eyebrows in tandem. “So it was a good idea that she moved in then?”

“She moved in?” Kat looked accusingly between the two of us. “Why am I always the last to find out these things?”

“That’s entirely inaccurate and you know it,” I said dryly and Kat pouted. “It’s temporary, her place flooded and Jamie insisted she crash with us while the repairs are done.”

“But you guys are hanging out now?” Was it me or did Jamie sound… jealous?

“Tequila and pizza. No biggie.” It was a biggie. Whenever someone comes and pulls you out of a depressive spiral and plies you with booze, food, and company, it’s a biggie.

“Tequila, huh.” Kat narrowed her eyes at me. “Spill.”

“Um, okay? We drank the bottle between us.”

“No, I mean,spill. What happened? Did you kiss again?” Kat leaned forward eagerly and I shot her a look toshut upthat she promptly ignored.

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