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She shifted as if to stand, and Arran clamped a hand on her thigh, keeping her in her seat. “Don’t.”
She snapped her eyes to his, and for a moment, he was transported back to his studio, her naked on the couch and meeting his gaze steadily as he sketched her.
Jess shook her head. “No, don’t go, Liv.”
Arran dragged his gaze over to Jess, keeping his hand on Liv’s leg and wondering what the hell was going on.
Jess cleared her throat. “This concerns both of you.” She shifted in her seat, fiddling with her nails. “I wanted to apologize. For yesterday morning. I, er, I think I kind of gave you the wrong idea.”
“Kind of?” Arran said, unable to keep the anger out of his voice.
Liv slid her hand on top of his, and it immediately infused him with some calm.
Jess glanced up and back down quickly. “Yeah. I know what it looked like, and I get the feeling that something might be going on with you guys, so I just wanted to say I’m sorry, and that nothing happened with me and Arran.”
“Too fucking right it didn’t,” Arran said, appreciating the manner in which Liv rubbed her thumb over his skin in response.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Liv said, shooting him a calming look. “I think you realized at the time how it appeared. So how come you didn’t say anything?”
Jess kept her eyes down. “I won’t lie. I came over here hoping something would happen, and when it didn’t I was angry. Then when you arrived, I was jealous.” She took a shaky breath. “I’ve been jealous of you two hanging out together for a while.”
Arran’s pulse spiked. “You’ve no right to feel jealous.”
“I know,” Jess said, squeezing her eyes shut as if she was in pain. “I’m sorry.”
Liv stroked Arran’s hand. “Then why did you?”
Jess looked at Liv. “I guess because…things aren’t going well for me and Rory. And just as that started to happen, and I wondered whether things weren’t going to work out with him long term, you two seemed like you were more than friends. It made me confused about whether I’d made a mistake.”
Arran ran a hand over his hair. “Jess.” He sighed. “Just because things aren’t going well for you doesn’t give you the right to sabotage me.”
The dejected expression on her face sent an icy splash of cold onto the heat of his anger.
They sat in silence for a couple more seconds, Arran glancing at Liv and taking in the soft expression on her face as she studied Jess.
“Can I ask another question?” Liv said.
Jess nodded, blinking quickly.
“And there’s no judgment,” Liv continued softly, giving Arran a reassuring look. “But had you…become interested in Rory while you and Arran were still together?”
Jess nodded again, eyes down. A few months ago, that admission would’ve cut him like a knife. But now, he didn’t even care.
“The grass seemed greener?” Liv asked.
“Yeah. I kind of…felt down on myself. Things hadn’t been the same between me and Arran for a while, especially since we had Jayce.” She glanced up at him. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Jayce to bits. But my life changed completely when we had him, whereas sometimes I felt like yours hadn’t. Then Rory had this carefree attitude and a party lifestyle.”
Liv nodded. “But it wasn’t really what it seemed.”
“No,” Jess said. “It was good at first. Exciting. But the novelty wore off. Especially when I couldn’t keep up with all his partying. I do have a small child to care for. I thought I still wanted all that carefree stuff, but I don’t.” She took a breath. “And I think he’scheating on me. But when I asked him about it, he deflected by accusing me of being hung up on Arran.”
Liv reached over to touch Jess’s hand. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out how you’d hoped,” she said quietly.
Jess’s expression softened, and she blinked again, her eyes wet. “Thank you.”
Arran’s heart swelled with love for Liv.She always understands everyone else’s point of view. Always makes everything okay.He glanced at Jess, begrudgingly acknowledging that his anger had fizzled away, leaving only sympathy and sadness for her.
Liv gave Jess a reassuring smile, then turned to him. “Can I have a quick word in private?”
