Page 60 of June: Jess' Story

“I was planning to call you today to say thanks for everything you and Liam did for Eden’s birthday, and all the gifts.”

“Okay, you’re welcome.”

“Listen, Brit, you’re right that I haven’t been honest with you.” She stays silent on her end of the line. “Before I ever even met you, I met your brother. And I may have developed feelings that went unrequited and so I buried it deep. Especially because I didn’t know Alex was your brother when I took the job working for you.” (So far, all this is true.) “Then when Alex and I saw each other in Spearhead over the summer, things just clicked, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up, okay? I didn’t say anything because I really thought it might not work out.” (Skirting the truth now.)

“And, I may have fallen into a bit of depression when I moved to New York, but once the dust settled around Tommy and me, Alex asked me to marry him and I said yes. And I’m really, really happy about it. And I don’t want you to think I’d ever lie to you about something like this because I wanted to tell you, so many times.” (Still some truth to what I’m saying.)

“Jess?” Britain asks.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t hurt my brother.” My stomach sinks. “Whateverisgoing on here, whatever happens with all of this, just don’t hurt him. He doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve to be used or not loved absolutely.”

“Okay.” I say it far too quietly. It’s obvious how much her threat is hitting.

“Will I see you at Thanksgiving?”

“Yes.” That's my decision then, isn’t it?

“Okay, safe travels. And if Alex asks you not to fly or drive at certain times, just humor him?”

“I will.”

“Okay.” She hangs up. She didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t say I love you. Hated that. I feel like a complete sleazeball. A shitty fucking human. Worst best friend in the history of best friends.

“Glaaahhhh!” Eden screams at me from her high chair, forcing me to table my self-hate fest until later.

“Yessss! I see you ran out of blueberries. The world isn’t ending, my love.”

I get the blueberries out, dumping another handful on her tray, then keep reading through the document on my phone.12 months of being married to Alexander Palomino and no extramarital affairs.And I’ll receive a settlement that would afford me my own townhouse in Soho… (I mean, really, I’m not that strong, guys.)

Fuck me.He’s made it impossible to say no.

Without a second thought, I DocuSign the next year of my life over to Alex Palomino.

SIXTEEN

Alex

J

I’ll come with you. Just for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure I can commit to moving there.

A

Just emailed plane tickets. I’ll pick you up from the airport.

K.

K.That was it.Fuck. I should’ve called. I probably should’ve gone up when I walked past her building yesterday afternoon, too. Just felt like if I pushed her, the answer would have been no. To be honest, I don’t know that Jess is going to love living in Spearhead. But sort of like I hope she tries on being married to me and loves it, I’m hoping she’ll do the same here.

Liam’s truck pulls around to the front of the drive at the new house, soI set my to-go coffee on the porch rail and walk out to meet him.

“Your sister’s pissed at you,” he states grimly. I shrug.

“She’ll get over it.” He raises his eyebrows at me, then laughs.

“Better you than me,” he slaps a hand down on my back. “Anyway, you ready to do this? They’ll be here any minute.”