Page 63 of Love Medley
I need to tell Lucy the truth.
I can’t bear for her to think that I’m still pining over Sam. There’s no one but Lucy, and she should know that.
If I’m going to be rejected, she needs to know all the facts.
I’ll wait until mid-morning and then give her a call.
Come what may.
Chapter twenty-one
Lucy
My God, I kissed Jake. I kissed Jake Whitlock in the middle of a bar in front ofeveryone.
That kiss was…beyond incredible. The moment Jake’s lips touched mine, all my nerves began firing, my belly swooping low.
I never wanted to stop—until I remembered Sam.
Until then, I had no regrets.
Unfortunately, that’s the only one that really matters.
Now that I’m in the car riding back with my friends, I know for certain that I’ve never felt this way with Weston, even at thebeginning. While I enjoyed the companionship—that is, before it turned dark—Weston never made me feel like a bird taking flight.
Jake does.
If I look at how this played out—in theory, it was a success. Weston was furious, and likely believes we’re together now, which was the whole point to the fake dating in the first place.
But in reality? Nothing about that moment was manufactured for Weston’s benefit. In fact, he didn’t even come to mind until I saw him stomping off for the exit.
But God—Sam. How could I have just launched myself at Jake without thinking about how it would affecthim? I admit I was thinking only about myself and my seemingly insatiable desire for this man.
And I probably messed up everything for him.
He looked completely confused after we broke apart. And my heart broke at the sight.
But that kiss wasn’t one-sided—or was it? I shrivel inside when it occurs to me that he might have been thinking of Sam during our kiss, wishing I were her.
Can someone die of embarrassment and shame? Maybe I’ll be the first.
“Our little Lucy is growing up,” Zoe says, grinning. “That kiss is something I would do!”
“I thought you said this was all a bad idea,” I say a bit flatly, my exhilaration from earlier in the night muted. If I weren’t so upset about Jake, I’d probably be glowing from her praise. It’s been a while since I’ve been the recipient of her teasing.
“I’m totally in favor of you having some fun with Jake,” Zoe counters, not at all dissuaded by my limp response. “I’m just not a proponent of falling in love.”
“But it was so romantic,” Isabelle points out. “Jake serenaded you and then you guys had that steamy kiss. It was like a movie unfolding before my very eyes. I think you guys are totally end game.”
“No way,” Zoe shoots back. “You should totally have a one-night stand with him and then move on to the next guy. You haven’t had any fun since that ass Weston, and you deserve to have some.”
“I’m not sure I can do a one-night stand,” I say faintly. The thought of Jake categorizing me as a one-and-done makes me want to hurl.
“You can take it slow,” Amelia says. “Jake seems like a nice guy, but there’s no need to rush into anything. There’s nothing wrong with just seeing how it goes. But if your only reservation is how Jake feels about you, I think it's pretty clear to all of us that Jake is completely smitten.”
My ears feel hot. “He was just being nice. I’m not sure that he’s over Sam.”
“Uh,I’mpretty sure Jake only has eyes for you. He’s probably forgotten what’s-her-face’s name by now,” Zoe says.
