Page 33 of Not Your Enemy

It was Monday morning, and we’d just finished breakfast before walking outside towards the metal structure. Before I got started with work, I wanted to come look at the space so we could see how long it would take us. We’d been thinking that by this weekend we’d have our yard sale and could have the movers come by the next week so Hunter, Crissy’s husband, could start on the repairs. But it was like we were looking at a bottomless pit of junk. More like a mountain, considering it almost touched the ceiling in places.

“I had no clue it had gotten this bad. The last time I saw this place, it was cluttered, but not like this. This looks like an episode of Hoarders.” I couldn’t disagree with Jade’s statement.

“Well, we will just have to take it one day at a time. If we have to stay here a little longer, so be it,” I said.

“You’re right; it’s just overwhelming. Meanwhile, here you are sucked into this shitshow that is not your responsibility,” she huffed.

“What? Jade, you know I don’t mind being here. Had you been what I expected, I’m sure I would have felt differently.” I giggled, giving her a playful shove.

“That’s because you are a saint! I don’t deserve you.” Her arms wrapped around me, pulling me against her.

I was dressed in a green blouse and jeans, while she was still in one of her band tees and underwear. She smelled like our bedsheets—linen and sex—and I wanted to close my eyes and fall back into my slumber. I knew that once this was all over, I’d no doubt have restless nights. Pulling my hand up, I covered my yawn.

“Wish you didn’t have to work. I’d drag you back up to bed and snuggle you to sleep.” She squeezed me.

“That sounds lovely,” I responded, wishing that were the case.

By the time work was over, Jade and I were knee-deep in antiques. I was sweaty and covered in dust. My gloved hands were aching from pulling various items out from underneath piles of junk. Jade had been out here basically all day and, based on how I was feeling, I couldn’t imagine how tired she was. At least I got to go sit my ass in the AC for a good portion of the time. But, resilient as she was, she kept at it right next to me until dusk.

Collapsing into the house, Jade dramatically laid face down on the couch. I laughed at her while a thought crossed my mind.

“You want to take a bath with me?” I toyed with a strand of my auburn hair as I waited for her response.

“Uh, that sounds amazing! I have Epsom salts and bubble bath in the cabinet.” Her words came out low as her face was still shoved against the cushion.

“Okay, sweetheart, I’ll go get it started for us.” I walked around the front of the couch and kissed the back of her head before hiking up the stairs.

While the water filled up, I borrowed one of Jade’s hair ties and pulled my hair up into a bun. I hoped she liked the water hot because I definitely did, and my muscles needed the heat more than anything else. Her tub was a typical shower combo, but it seemed wide enough to fit us both if we sat close together. Jade walked in as I was removing my pants, getting an eyeful.

“Damn,” she said, and I brought my gaze up to hers.

“What?” I asked, lifting a brow.

“I really just wanted to soak, but you are so fucking sexy. I’m contemplating—”

“Ha, heck no, Jade. I’m super gross at the moment.” She thinned her lips at me but dropped the issue and then removed her own clothes. I looked away when I started getting hot myself.

I moaned as I sank into the water, relishing the heat brushing against my skin. Jade stepped in, sitting in front of me and leaned back until she was lying against me. Closing the polka-dot shower curtain, we tried to preserve some of the heat rising from the water. I poured water over her shoulders, letting it soak her skin where it wasn’t submerged. She sighed with contentment as I massaged her arms.

“I have a question for you, Libby.” Something in her tone made me grow nervous. It didn’t seem light; she almost sounded scared.

“Go for it,” I said playfully, trying to hide the tension.

“I don’t want to stop seeing you once we’re done here. What about you?”

So many emotions swam through me. I didn’t want to stop seeing Jade. Hell, at this point we were living together, and I didn’t really want to stop that either, regardless of how quickly things had moved. But how would that work? Would I hide my relationship fromJana? Would I tell her and risk the betrayal tearing us apart? I wish things weren’t so complicated.

“I would love to keep seeing you, Jade,” I said quickly once I realized how long I’d been thinking. “Please don’t think I wouldn’t want that,” I said, wrapping my arms around her front and pulling her into me. “I’m just scared of Jana’s reaction. She’ll be hurt, and I guess not thinking about what happens once we leave this place has made it easy to forget about that.” I kept massaging Jade’s arms and shoulders as we sat in the warm water. I wasn’t sure what else to say.

“I understand,” she said, voice full of sadness.

My heart broke immediately, realizing that I had seemed so insensitive to her feelings. She was the one who’d been trying to patch up the relationship while Jana ignored her calls. Jana viewed her as an enemy, but Jade did not. And here I was, making her feel yet again that she wasn’t enough. Just like their parents, I was making it a competition. I had no intention of this happening, but I can’t help how I feel. Surely, as my best friend, Jana would forgive me, right?

“Jade, I—”

“I think I’m gonna go downstairs. You don’t need to wait up for me,” she said, pulling away from me.

“No, Jade, please wait!” I tried to grab her wrist, but she slipped out of my reach, into her towel and out the door before I could.