Page 12 of The Last Love Story
“I’m telling you, the love bug is coming to bite us all,” Frannie says. “Got me. Got Kend and Dev. Maybe it’s Justin’s turn.”
“As long as it’s notmyturn,” Hallie says. “I’m happy to watch all you get dopey for love, but not me.”
Kennedy and Frannie exchange a look, but it’s Hardy who pats her hand and says, “Whatever you say, baby girl.”
Hallie vehemently shakes her head. “It makes sense for it to be Mr. Romance over here.” She gestures at me. Then she looks past Hardy at Brian. “Or Brian.”
Brian looks down at his beer bottle. “You’re acting like I’m desperate for love.”
Hardy puts his hand on Brian’s arm. “Not desperate. But I know you want that, and you deserve to have it.”
Brian’s head snaps up, and his eyes lock with Hardy’s.
Whoa.
Maybe it’s my romance brain, but it seems like there’s some kind of vibe between the two of them. I assumed they were both straight—which was probably dumb of me—but now I’m wondering if there’s something going on there.
But the moment quickly passes, and Kennedy changes the subject.
“So, Hal, how’s the nannying going?”
Hallie groans.
“I haven’t found another full-time client yet, but between subpoenas and trying to make sure the little girls I used to nanny for have everything they need, I wouldn’t have time anyway.”
Hallie works as a nanny, but unfortunately, her last job went up in flames when the father cheated on the mother with their overnight nanny. That’s led to a bitter divorce, which Hallie, as aformer daily member of the household and caregiver to their two young children, has been pulled into the middle of.
“I’ll ask around with the team. See if anyone needs anything. Even if it’s not full-time, it’ll still help you out,” Mark says, pulling out his phone.
It’s funny, if we’d known them sooner, I can see the football boys being a part of our gang all along, they fit in seamlessly.
My eyes drift back to Hardy and Brian, who are acting normal, but I swear there was a vibe. Maybe I should ask Jade. But when I go to my messages, I find a response from her to a bunch that I sent her earlier.
Me: I stood in the middle of the airport to finish the last chapter and almost threw my e-reader. I hate you.
Me: Okay, I’ve cooled down. I don’t hate you. But you’re really good at what you do.
Jade Jackson: I’m glad you enjoyed (?) it.
Laughing to myself, I type out a reply.
Me: I’m a third of the way through the second book.
Jade Jackson: I’ve got you in my clutches now. Have you joined my reader group yet? You can commiserate in there. I think some of my fans have a love-hate relationship with me. I’m not sure why.
Me: No clue…
Me: Guess what… I’ve got some new souls for you to torture.
Jade Jackson:Oh really?
Me: Yep. My best friend Kennedy, her cousins, and another friend of ours. They’re hyped.
Jade Jackson: Thanks. I appreciate the support.
Me: Full disclosure, it’s part support and part needing others to suffer with me.
Jade Jackson: Fair.
