Page 37 of Not Your Enemy
As I got ready for our celebratory welcome-back plans, I couldn’t help but notice how boring my place seemed. Jade’s quaint house in Riley was so colorful and maximally designed. Every inch of space had been covered in art. Even their parents’ house had a comfy old-style aesthetic, like a house that had been well loved, well lived in. The blank walls that surrounded me felt like a cold, sterile hospital waiting room. There was also no woodsy amber scent caressing me.
I miss you already.I texted Jade. She’d already told me when she made it back to Riley, and I’d texted her back as soon as I parked at my apartment. But it felt weird that I wouldn’t sleep beside her tonight, wouldn’t even see her.
“Oh my fucking God,” Jana shouted before throwing her arms around me. She’d knocked like an enraged ex when she got here, and I’d just opened the door for her.
“I missed you too, Jana,” I said with a giggle against her shoulder. Her lean arms were forcefully holding me against her. “I haven’t been gone to war,” I teased her before she finally released me.
“You may as well have been! I feel like it’s been years.” Letting out a heavy exhale, she tugged me over to my couch. “So, everything’s done?” She asked, sitting down beside me.
“All the non-valuable stuff is with Jade in Riley. And the contractor starts tomorrow. So yes, until the house is on the market. And I’m happy to communicate with Jade about that and just relay the info to you.”
Jumping up, I grabbed the check from the appraiser out of my bag and brought it back over to Jana. She took it with a smile before folding into her wallet.
“You are the best; have I told you that?”
“Once or twice,” I teased back with a wink.
“I’m so happy you’re back and that the entire ordeal is behind us. I never even want to go to Clark again if I’m honest!” I nodded sympathetically at her words. Despite how I felt about it, it was the place where both her parents had passed away and where she associated all her terrible memories of childhood. It would be hard for anyone.
“Well, guess you won't have to, so no need to worry about it.” I reached over and squeezed her manicured hand with mine.
Jana caught me up on the minor drama our friend group had going on in my absence before filling me in on more of her work details. I desperately wanted to tell her every detail of my new relationship. Wasn’t that one of the best things to do when you felt happy with someone? Tell your bestie about how head over heels you were, how wonderful they make you feel? But I couldn’t say a word about itwithout hurting her or cutting out how truly obsessed I was. So, I just nodded, smiled, or laughed when appropriate. I talked about my job briefly, not that there was much to say. It was pretty typical day in and day out. Not like Jana’s ever-evolving career.
There was one thing that was burning a hole in my throat and had my hands shaking. I needed to tell her about Jade and me. I didn’t want to run away every few weekends to Twin Forks and lie to my best friend about it. And I didn’t want Jade to be a secret. Not when she was becoming such a special, important part of my life. No, I couldn’t do that to her, and I wouldn’t do that to Jana either. I understood it wasn’t my place to mend their relationship. But it also wasn’t right for me to have to choose one of them when I loved them both dearly. Jade was willing to accept that, but would Jana? I didn’t know.
Deep in thought, I noticed Jana staring at me with raised eyebrows.
“You good?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. Just been a long day, and I kinda got distracted.” I huffed out the words, hoping I hadn’t missed too much of what she’d been saying.
“All good.” She smirked at me. “Wanna head to dinner? Seems like you need a drink, on me, of course. And I’ve got some goodies in the car for you,” she said excitedly, wiggling her eyebrows for dramatic effect.
“Before we go, I need to tell you something.” Okay, so I already regretted how I phrased that. My whole plan was to bring it up casually. Crossing her legs, she tilted her head to the side as if in question.
Just spit it out and be done with it!I said to myself over and over.
“Well?” she asked, splaying a hand forward.
With a sigh, I began. “You remember how I said I was friends with Jade?”
With a roll of her eyes, Jana nodded.
“So, that was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth.” I caught my breath before continuing. “I…Jade and I are dating. And I want to keep seeing her, even though we are done with the house.”
Chapter 24
Jana looked at me with blank, wide-set eyes and thin lips. I gulped before looking down at my hands and then back up again.
“For what it’s worth, I’m not expecting you guys to rekindle any kind of relationship. I understand that is not my place to meddle in. I just want to be totally transparent with you, since you are such an important person in my life.”
A cold, anxious buzzing washed over my skin as I waited for any physical or verbal response from her.
“Oh,” she said with a laugh. “You’re kidding! I should have known.” Scrunching my face up a bit, I stared back at her before shaking my head no.
“I’m not,” I responded, keeping my voice gentle.
“No, you are,” she continued with an assured nod and smile, waving her hand at me playfully. “Because the Libby I know, my best friend in the entire world,” she said sarcastically, “wouldn’t be dating the only person I have ever thought of as an enemy.” I sucked in a breath as her tone shifted to something darker, angrier. “That wouldbe so fucked, don’t you think?" She looked away from me, her gaze falling to the floor. "I mean, you knew how I felt about Jade before you even met her. You knew the things she did to me growing up, and you knew I was so traumatized that I had to send you in my place, so I didn’t have to face her.”