Page 41 of One More Secret

Simone directs her to it, and Jessica hurries off. The rest of the group chats among themselves, the conversations loud and filled with laughter. I’m vaguely aware of the various conversations, but my attention is mostly on Jessica.

The sensation something is wrong stirs in my gut once more, and I head in the direction she went.

I don’t stand outside the washroom door. I lean against the wall far enough away to give her privacy. Several minutes pass, and the door opens. She steps into the hallway, appearing a little calmer.

Her gaze lands on me, and surprise widens her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize someone was waiting.”

I push myself away from the wall. “I’m not. I just wanted to check on you.”

“I’m fine.” She glances down the hallway toward the living room.

“I don’t think you are. You looked pretty freaked out when I was introducing you to everyone.” More specifically, when Avery teased Noah.

“You’re imagining things. I really am fine.” She walks past me, and I let her. I don’t buy that she’s okay, but I refuse to make her more uncomfortable by pushing for answers.

I just wish I could help her.

We return to the living room. Jess pours herself a glass of soda from the table, and I grab a beer.

I keep an eye on her as she talks to the women, my attention half-focused on what my brothers are saying. It’s clear she has already slipped into an easy friendship with Simone, Zara, and Emily. She smiles and laughs when talking to them, but she also startles at loud noises.

It’s the men in the room she seems less certain about, especially Noah. Fear clouds her eyes when she talks to my brothers, and she keeps a distance between herself and Noah, even when Avery is with him.

But there’s nothing in his expression to suggest he knows her. He’s all smiles and charm and amusing stories. I mentally curse whatever was responsible for the wariness she wears.

“Hey, Garrett,” Emily says, grabbing a nacho from the plate on the table. “Jessica is writing a thriller.”

Jessica’s face reddens. “I’m…uh…doing research for it right now. And…I’m not ready to talk about the story yet.”

“You might want to get that printed on a T-shirt.” A chuckle vibrates in Garrett’s voice. “I can’t go out without someone fishing for details on my next book.”

A small smile twitches on her face. “Thanks for the warning.”

Emily sets up the easel and the large dry-erase board.

I lean closer to Jessica. She smells sweet, like strawberry shampoo. “We’re playing Pictionary. How’re you at this game?”

She glances at everyone else, and it’s obvious they’re all sitting with their game partners. Her eyes dart to me, wide and uncertain. She must have just done the math.

“I’ve never played it before.” Fear darkens her eyes, and an unmistakable tension tightens the lines of her body. “You might not want to play with me if you want to win.”

“It’s just a game. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose. The only prize that comes with winning is bragging rights.” I mean, sure, winning is great, but there are more important things in life—as serving in the Marines taught me.

True, we’re a competitive bunch. Especially my brothers and me. Marines are about as competitive as you can get. But I meant what I told her. It’s just a game.

A faint sigh slips past her lips, taking the stiffness in her shoulders with it. “That’s good.”

Everyone else takes their usual seats. I sit next to Jessica on the couch, breaking tradition as to where I usually park my ass. Butterscotch flops down next to her feet.

Emily holds out the bag with the Scrabble pieces inside. Each of the women pulls out a letter to determine who goes first.

Simone removes an A, which trumps all, and grabs the first card from the box. She reads it, picks up the erasable marker from the easel, and nods at Emily to start the timer.

She draws, and Lucas yells out answers. “Fish! Monkey!” I have no idea how he got monkey from what she’s drawing. “Owl!”

Garrett cracks up laughing, and the rest of us snicker. “Dude, I have no idea how you two ended up together. Where the hell are you pulling those answers from?”

“Rose,” Lucas yells, ignoring him.

---