Page 27 of Valentine Dare

“Trent says that you just get nervous and you’re shy. And Brent, well you know Brent better than I. He says you’re just socially awkward. But, I don’t think he means it.”

I agreed. “He does, and he’s right. I’m just not used to being around girls. Now I sound like a freak.”

“Not used to being around girls, but you’re a stud. Just like your brothers.”

She touched my hand, and it sent shivers down my spine.

“On the outside maybe, but on the inside is a totally different thing.”

She came so close I could smell the strawberry shampoo she used on her hair. One thing was for sure, Jenny wasn’t good at housekeeping. She wasn’t a slob like Brent, but she liked to leave things around at times, as if she was expecting someone to clean up after her. I’d seen Trent scold her a couple of times because of it, but between her golden hair and winning smile, he would always tell her not to worry about it. He’d dismiss it as if it wasn’t one of the things that annoyed him most in the world.

“Do I make you feel uncomfortable?”

Her lips were so close. We could easily kiss, and I faced her, melting into her eyes as I pulled back, and she gazed at me.

“You’re with my brothers. I mean, we can’t do this.”

“What? I just want to get to know you better. Is that so wrong?”

I shook my head, confused by her revelation.

“No, it’s not wrong. But this is all new to me. Trent and Brent are completely different than me. Sure, on the outside we look the same, but on the inside, we’re our own persons. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah, but…”

“What?” I asked, as I pulled her close to me, thinking that I’d been presumptuous about not wanting us to take this further.

“I don’t know. With Trent and Brent it feels so natural, and I don’t feel bad being with both of them. But when I see you, I feel guilty about leaving you out. I want to make you feel the same way as they do with me.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I don’t want you to feel that you do.”

She was about to say something when my phone rang. I didn’t want to pick it up, but as I took it out of my pocket and saw it was mom calling, I picked up the call, and she backed away from me to the other side of the kitchen.

“Hey, mom.”

“Hey, will you ask Jenny if can I speak to her for a minute?”

I nodded, then handed the phone to Jenny so she could talk to me. She smiled, took the phone and greeted her. She didn’t say much, but nodded, and said yes a couple of times before hanging up.

“Here’s your phone. Your mom said that bail was set for five mil, and dad paid it.”

I didn’t understand why she had the glum look on her face. I took my phone and put it in my back pocket.

“Why the glum face?”

She pondered, “I don’t get it. I mean, how did he get his hands on the money?”

I shrugged. “Not sure. But not your problem.”

“I feel like shit not giving him the code. After all, it’s his money.”

I shook my head. “Remember, your dad didn’t go to jail for stealing a can of beer out of a store. He went there for stealing millions for years. Fraud. Money laundering. I’m surprised they even allowed bail.”

I realized I’d said a little too much as I saw tears well up in her eyes.

She quivered. “They didn’t at first. Russell said they did, Claire found out it was a lie. They had to appeal it, or something, anyway, it doesn’t matter. Dad got what he wanted in the end. He’s out.”

I quickly changed the subject after realizing that my comforting technique was not working at all. I was crap at it. I was never the voice of reason.

---