Page 19 of A Moment for Us
Of course she did. “A rumor?”
“About a certain car outside your house the other day.”
Jesus. This town is so damn predictable. “He came by.”
“For a few hours?”
“It wasn’t a few.”
“And what were you doing in your time together?” Jess asks with a smirk.
“Seems you already made assumptions.”
“I know that you’re a grown-up and are capable of making your own decisions.”
I take a sip of my champagne and then sigh. “I am. Thank you for the trust.”
“I trust you not to be that stupid. Plus, we all know sex complicates things, and you wouldn’t do that to yourself.”
“Nope,” I lie.
“Good. I’ll set people straight. Gray heard it too, and Josh assured him there was no validity to the rumor.”
Oh, he did? How nice of him to give me a heads-up. “There you have it.” My tone is a little clipped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just . . . I hate that people are talking about me. It’s stupid and petty, you know? I walked in on Fred and Bill giving Josh a sit down about how he needs to be smart and ask me out. None of that is needed, you know? I am over Josh. I don’t want to date Josh. I’m . . .”
Jess laughs softly. “Over him?”
“Yes.”
I don’t know why I’m bothered by all this. People love to mind everyone else’s business while ignoring their own. It’s human nature, but I don’t understand why they’re invested in this. Josh and I are adults and there is no misunderstanding about what we are or what we’re doing.
I’m someone who is madly in love with him, in denial that I’m not, and sleeping with him as often as I can so that, when he leaves, I have something to hold on to.
That’s all.
Josh is a guy who feels nothing for me, other than lust. And . . . I’m okay with that.
Mostly.
Not really.
Okay, not at all, but I’m good at lying about it.
As if summoned by this conversation, all four Parkerson brothers approach.
Grayson’s hand slides around his wife’s back, resting on her belly. “How are you?”
She looks up, adoration so thick in her eyes it steals my breath. “I’m good.”
“No sickness?”
Oliver gags. “I’m going to be.”
I laugh, but Gray does not look amused. “Shut up.”
