Page 42

“You’re right. You’re more likely to go to her place so you can sneak out later.” Acid hits my taste buds at the thought of Jackson with someone else.

“I promise to follow all the rules you have established and ensure I uphold the most honorable standards.” Jackson steps closer, keeping his eyes locked on mine as he reaches over and lightly tilts my hat up. “The rest, I’ll leave up to you. See you around … Phoenix.”

He turns and walks toward the movers. I look away before he can confirm my eyes are following his movements.

The universe has a sense of humor, and I am filing a formal complaint. Since I can’t do that, I decide to take my frustrations out on people I can. I text the girls, needing an emergency group call, not caring if they’re at work.

SOS, 911, Red Alert, whatever the code word is, group call ASAP.

Nessa

Eh, I am subbing for 9th-grade English. I’ll put on the extended Romeo & Juliet trailer, I’ll be their favorite.

Becca

I should be done with this showing in 15.

Mack

My shift doesn’t start for another three hours.

I head inside and sit at the farthest wall of the duplex, hoping Jackass can’t hear me. The sunroom on this side is still bare—no built-ins, no daybed, only four blank walls—but it is the farthest point from the shared wall. I prop my phone up on my monitor in my sunroom/office and open the group call app.

Everyone jumps on, our four faces filling the screen. I don’t delay the inevitable and get straight to the point.

“I found out my new tenant is Jackson. As in Jackson Mercer”—I eye Becca suspiciously at that one—“the man who showed up at the BBQ on Saturday.”

Mack lets out an audible gasp, Nessa spreads her hands, looking up at the sky, and Becca looks confused.

“Becca, why did you approve my ex—whatever he was—to be my neighbor?”

She straightens “I … don’t know. The applicant had a 789-credit score, which is almost unheard of.”

“Becca,” I say, willing her to understand that his financial aptitude isn’t the point.

“I vetted him thoroughly; he was by far the best applicant.”

“You vetted him into my driveway,” I respond unamused.

“Technically into the other unit⁠—”

“Becca!” I raise my voice, surprising everyone, including myself. I never lose my cool, especially with my friends.

“Phi, you never spoke of him, let alone told us his name. Sure, we all knew you were dating someone, but we were letting you come to us in your own time.”

“Wait, you all knew?” I ask, thinking I hid it so well.

“Psshhh,” Nessa quips out, “Is the Pope Catholic? Of course we knew you were seeing someone.”

“Wha … How? I never said a thing.”

“You didn’t need to, sweetie,” Mack adds from a bouncy screen, clearly on a walk through her neighborhood. “You were … lighter. Quicker to laugh. And not to mention that there was a glow about you.”

“A glow,” I deadpan.

“Hey, orgasms will do that to you,” Nessa pronounces as if it were an undeniable fact.

Becca is quiet for a moment, collecting her thoughts. When she speaks, her voice is different, softer.