Page 47 of Honest With You

Stephen stops me before I make it down the stairs.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Let’s catch up over breakfast before I pick up the brat?” He nods his head toward Reese, who is skipping to her room, her nose already buried in her phone.

“I heard that! Bye, Ava!” She calls out before she slams her door shut.

“Bye, Riri!” I turn to Stephen. “You’re not going out this weekend?”

“Nah, I’m keeping it lowkey this weekend.” He points at my phone. “If you guys need a DD, call me, okay? I don’t care what time it is.”

I nod, grateful to have such a supportive brother who isn’t very subtle about his reasons for staying home this weekend.

* * *

Matt’s house is just a few blocks away from mine.

On the way here, Jesse told me his dad is a reporter for the local news while his mom is a general manager at a hotel in Coronado, but they had met in high school. The same school we currently attended.

We park on the driveway where Matt reserved a spot for us beside his motorcycle. There’s a handful of kids stretched out on the lawn outside, still basking in the semi-cool weather only an early fall night in California can provide.

I take Jesse’s outstretched hand as he helps me out of the car. I admire the off-white stucco and large windows on the Spanish-style home that’s the epitome of San Diego living.

Jesse stops me just outside of the huge, wooden front door, circling my waist with his arms. He pulls me close.

“We can leave anytime, okay? If it gets to be too much, you’ll let me know?”

I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend who understands my anxious and introverted ways.

The heeled combat boots give me just enough height that I can easily catch his mouth in a quick kiss.

“I will, I promise.”

He dips his head, kissing my jaw and then whispering, “Have I told you how hot you look?”

His right hand splays on my waist before it trails up my stomach to the front of my white button up shirt. He playfully tugs at the knot in front.

Heat blossoms in my belly at his words and I grip the front of his loose white t-shirt. He’s dressed like Eminem in a tee and jeans, but Jesse makes the simple outfit of his favorite rapper look devastatingly hot.

He pulls me in closer for another kiss but the door swings open and interrupts. We both turn our heads and find Matt rolling his eyes at us.

He grabs Jesse’s arm and pulls him inside. I manage to catch Jesse’s hand as Matt all but drags us through his house.

It’s already bustling with the kids from school. I wave to a couple of people I know from classes and Jesse is pretty much greeted by everyone we pass.

I try my best to look over the sea of heads crowding everywhere. Some are drinking, some shooting pool or playing beer pong, and others are dancing or playing xbox. None of them are Vanessa. I don’t see Dean either.

We stop in the dining area that’s filled with drinks and food. Jesse grabs 2 coke cans from the huge tub of canned drinks. Matt goes to swipe a soda from him but Jesse shakes his head, pointing to himself.

“I’m driving.”

Matt releases an exaggerated breath before trying to hand me a beer. “What’s your excuse?”

I make a face. “I don’t drink.”

Matt frowns at Jesse. “Can we just call you an uber or something, bro? We haven’t hung out in—”

He’s interrupted when a loud cheer comes from the direction of the front door, along with a booming laugh that lets me know Dean has arrived.

I grit my teeth, already irritated. I feel Jesse’s arm wrap around my shoulder, followed by a feather-like kiss on my temple.

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