Page 12 of Lost Love

I grabbed both plates and put them on the countertop, surprised by his comment.

“I needed to get over Jake, so I’m not sorry either.”

“And I needed to let loose after finding out about Lourde and Barrett and everything else…” he trailed off.

“So that’s why you looked so distraught when I saw you in the elevator.”

“So you knew too?” He laid down his cutlery, and it clanged at the side of the plate. “Fuck me, was I really the last to find out?”

“I’m her best friend, Connor, of course, she told me. If it’s any consolation, they are so in love it’s the real thing.”

“Oh God, I’m going to be sick.”

“Stop being melodramatic.” The gooey, yellow yolk spilled onto the plate as I sliced my egg in half.

“No, fuck…”

He lurched off the barstool and ran toward the bathroom.

Like literally sick.

After a few minutes, he returned, less pale than before.

“Better?” I asked.

After swallowing down a glass of juice, his shoulders slumped. “I just can’t get over my sister and Barrett together.”

“Is it that hard to believe? We were together last night.”

“Pepper, that’s different.”

He didn’t elaborate, nor did I want him to. We were a one-time thing, a fling.

“So what happened with Jake?”

I fanned out a sound from my lips, watching him stab at the concrete bacon, but when it didn’t cut, he picked it up, opting to use his fingers.

“Infidelity?”

“No,” I scolded. “Not really.”

He turned to me, his blue eyes piercing in their gaze. “Not really?”

“Busybody.”

“You know it.”

“I thought we were fine, but we were arguing more and more. When I wanted things to get more serious, I felt him pushing away. Then I found out he kissed a girl he worked with.”

“Just a kiss?” He stared at me disbelievingly.

“Yes. Just a kiss,” I stated.

“Uh-huh. And what do you mean more serious? You’re only twenty-three. Why the fuck would you want that?”

I shrugged. “Settle down, Fabio. We all know about your playboy status. I guess, for us, it was just the next step after we’d been together a year.”

“Bullshit.”

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