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23
After two days of mind-numbing work at the bank, Friday comes. No texts from Finn. No news from Cole. I’ve even thought about talking to Jax again, but the thought of bothering the ornery brother of the guy who’s currently ignoring my texts doesn’t sit well with me.
Jaz enters the lunchroom during break smiling into her phone. It’s a small room in the back of the brick building with a folding table and mismatched plastic and wood chairs. The furniture and appliances are a mishmash of employee contributions throughout the years. A year ago, the staff pooled money together and purchased a new microwave because the other bit the dust when Fran accidentally (because she’s a moron) placed Olive Garden breadsticks in the microwave and never took them out of the bag that says Do Not Microwave across the side. The packaging is rimmed in foil, so of course that was the last straw. The microwave smoked so bad, we got complaints from customers.
I heat up my soup before joining Jaz at the table. Previously, we would’ve gossiped about co-workers or those annoying clients that every business has, but today, Jaz beams at me. “Soooo....”
“Oh jeez,” I mutter, teasing her. “What now?”
She gives me a playful scowl. “Jared wants to go to the fights tonight.” I go to make a face, but she charges on. “You liked them before you met Finn. Plus,” she hedges. “I was kind of thinking—and don’t get pissed...”
She waits for me to answer, so I roll my hand over to make her say whatever she wants.
“I was thinking that maybe he’s back and he just didn’t tell you.” She grimaces. “If we went to the fights tonight, we would know for sure.”
My brows practically creep into my hairline. I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t think Finn’s that kind of person. Then again, I didn’t think he’d be the kind of guy who didn’t text me back either. His only saving grace is that I don’t know exactly what he’s doing for Cole and maybe he just hasn’t had the time.
“You really loved the fights the last time,” she pressures. “Maybe, all you need is to fall in bed with someone else to get over him.”
My stomach turns over. It clenches so hard and so fast, I’m actually worried I’m going to get sick.
I know it seems like it wasn’t enough time to really like Finn the way I do, but I don’t care about shit like that. I care about what I actually feel.
I shake my head to rid myself of her words. “I’ll go with you. I’m not looking for another guy though,” I tell her. “But you’re right. I should probably get out.”
It beats staying at home and looking at my phone every ten seconds. Or letting Jaz do funny shit to try to keep me upbeat. Ever since the first night, she hasn’t invited Jared back over. No matter how many times I’ve told her that I really don’t care, she refuses. “It’s bestie time,” she keeps saying, and I love the hell out of her for it. But…I’m fine.
“Yeah?” she asks.
“Definitely,” I tell her. “Let’s do it.”
Later that night, we get ready, but I don’t have the same amount of enthusiasm as I did the first time we dressed up to go to the Ring. Apparently, Jared hasn’t gone back to Elite Boxing since Finn left. He was alerted that his future one-on-ones were canceled unless he wanted to sign up with Jax. He tried that, too, but Jax was booked out.
I feel bad for the grumpy trainer. He’s probably drowning in work because my brother sent his away, and that really isn’t fair.
Still, I make sure I look damn good before we leave in case Finn is there. I don’t know what I’ll do if he is, probably ignore his ass because he obviously made up his mind not to contact me again, a decision I can’t blame him for.
Jaz knocks lightly on my door. She’s dangling her cute boots by the heels. “You want to borrow these?”
I throw my head back and laugh. She really knows how to lift my spirits. Even so, I think about saying no, but who would turn down a pair of perfectly cute boots? “Who knows?” I shrug. “They were good luck last time.”
She smiles and plops them at my feet. Looking me up and down, she says, “You look cute!”
“Um...” I gape at her risqué outfit. “As do you. Damn. Are you trying to get Jared to propose?”
She blushes, something she’s been doing a lot more lately. “Oh God. We’re a ways away from that. Just showing him what he’ll miss if he fucks up.”
The burst of laughter that bubbles from my throat is genuine. That’s our go-to line when one of us has a man. It started in high school when we specifically went to a party to call out Jaz’s then boyfriend. Boy done fucked up when he cheated, that’s all I got to say.
Here we are years later and Jaz can still rock an outfit. The deep blue tank of hers is skin-tight, leaving nothing to the imagination. The fabric hugs her curves, dipping to just above her ass. Her jeans take over from there, ending tapered at the ankle. Silver heels complete the outfit and give it a nice little upgrade from skanky to swanky.
Next to her, I look like a bag lady.
The regular boots I was going to wear with my good pair of work jeans and a black blouse scream bland. The peep-toe boots dress the outfit just enough so it’s respectable. Either way, it’s better than the t-shirt and jeans I originally wanted to wear, so there’s that.
Earlier, I texted Cole to ask for a guard as we were going out to the Ring. He told me he’d send Dempsey to pick me up, and I was okay with that. Dempsey’s cool. My brother proceeded to go overboard, informing me I can do whatever I want. Dempsey is just there to watch, not to comment. I asked him if he’d be coming himself, but he told me he had some business to take care of.
The firm knock on the apartment door makes Jaz jump. She sighs. “Dempsey?”