Page 85 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part One

“You really like him, don’t you?”

Is she kidding me right now? I’m head over heels for the guy. This is way more than a crush. Way more than anything I ever felt for Jonas.

“I do, Foxy. What am I going to do?”

“You’ve got to call him. I invited him to the party, and he seemed hesitant even then before all this.” I pull back and adjust my towel so I’m not flashing her. She wouldn’t care anyway, just start some shit about how I should be a stripper or something with my banging body.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to face him. I mean, I am. God, I so am, but I’m not sure I will be able to handle his rejection again. Do you think he’ll come?”

She messes her lips up into a shrugging frown. “I don’t know. I’ve told J to do everything he can to get him here, so we’ll see.”

This party blows.There is no alcohol, some DJ is playing remixed tunes from the nineties, and my parents are making their rounds talking to my “friends”. The only good thing is I managed to sneak away long enough to smoke some of my stash, so I’m doing pretty good. People have been coming and going all evening, leaving when they figure out it is a chaperoned event and there is no booze.

Eventually, I move to the backyard when it dies down a bit and I can slip away from making nice with a bunch of people I haven’t seen since graduation. My parents meant well by throwing this party. They did, but it just goes to show that they don’t know me at all. This nonsense isn’t anything I would choose for myself or anything I want.

Foxy has spent most of her time with Kai, and I let her. There is no need to drag her down with me.

“Hey, beautiful,” a familiar tenor rings through the music. “Are you okay?”

I glance up to see Brett standing in front of me. He’s wearing a black button-down shirt that hugs his biceps, rolled up at the elbows with gray slacks and black Vans. The Vans don’t quite fit his outfit, more of an after-thought, or he changed without committing to the change and opted for just the shoes. He looks damn good.

Why couldn’t I have chosen him? Yeah, he’s not Riggs hot, but he’s hot and sweet and caring and might not have a super troubled past that keeps interfering. I meet his gaze and muster up a small smile. I’m still a little high, so the smile isn’t so hard to conjure, but it’s not a true, cheerful smile by any means. A frown turns his sexy lips down.

“What is it, Charley?” He places a little silver box down on the concrete bench beside him and takes my hand in his. He kisses the back of it then swipes a lock of hair that has fallen free from the up-do that Foxy gave me. Before I can stop myself, I’m leaning into his touch. What the hell is wrong with me? The last thing I need is to give Brett the wrong impression. Things may not be great with Riggs right now and if we do officially break up, I’m not jumping back into it with Brett. I need a break from guys. “Did he not realize how good he has it? Do I need to beat a fool?”

“No.” With that statement, my smile turns genuine and my mood lifts a little. Brett is way too good for me. He is going to make some girl disgustingly happy one day. “I don’t need you to beat anyone up, though I’d love to watch that.”

“Hot, right?” I laugh. Hell yeah, that’d be hot as shit to watch.

“Yeah,” I agree with a giggle.

“Anyway, I can’t stay but I wanted to swing by and say hi. Quite the party you have going on here.” I don’t miss his sarcasm and roll my eyes.

“It’s so bad it’s embarrassing.” He tries to fight a smile and licks his lips. The movement draws my eyes and I mimic it, making me miss Riggs even more.

“Okay, it’s not that bad, Charley. Just a little stiff. If there was a little more alcohol and a little less of your mom and dad, it’d be great.”

“Right? I keep trying to tell them that, but they aren’t getting it. You brought me a present?” His eyes gleam in the dark night and a few belts of laughter spew out from some kids splashing in the pool. They clearly pre-gamed before they got here.

He swipes the box up and turns to me. “It’s not much, but I think you’ll like it. It’s hard to buy for a girl whose parents have all the money in the world.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Brett.”

“I know, but I wanted to get you something. To show you I’m serious about being in your life. I want to be your friend. It hasn’t been long, but I already miss talking to you,” he admits, and I think I see him blushing. But maybe not. It’s hard to tell under the moonlight because it gives everything a blue hue and we’re far enough away from the patio that the lights aren’t reaching us.

“I miss talking to you, too.” I pull a white ribbon off of the tiny box and slide the lid from the base. It’s a little tight and when it pops off, the contents bounce, thudding back into the cushion they’re resting on.

Inside is a diamond bracelet with a few charms attached. A hockey stick, a puck, and a skate. It’s perfect.

“They aren’t genuine diamonds. I’ll save that for the person who has your heart, but they are those crazy crystals that everyone loves and you can add more charms.” This might be the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. And expensive, even if it isn’t diamonds. Crystals are not cheap. Brett can afford it though, his parents are loaded like mine. It’s how he and his brother both attended the Academy.

I palm the bracelet, and Brett scoops it up so he can clasp it on my wrist. His touch is light and warm, strictly platonic. Nothing at all like the way he touched me when we kissed. Damn that kiss.

A laugh I recognize interrupts my heated thoughts, cutting through the air.Jensen.

My heart flutters in my chest because when Jensen appears, Riggs is not far behind. I hope. Though I’m still not sure I’m ready to see him. He hurt me physically, which I don’t give a shit about, but he also hurt me by dropping me like a hot potato back at my house with no further explanation or a goodbye kiss.

I glance up anyway.

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