Page 5 of The Last Love Story (Baker Girls #3)

CHAPTER FOUR

JUSTIN

“Dude, should I be getting you coffee instead of beer?” Devon asks as he slides a bottle in front of me, then sits down next to me in the semicircle booth at our old hangout spot in New York City.

“I wouldn’t complain.”

“You stayed up all night reading, didn’t you?” Kennedy teases.

She and Dev flew out to New York on the same flight as me. While I have a job, they’re here to finish packing Kennedy’s apartment since she’s moving in with Devon.

“I had to finish,” I whine. Then start another book on the flight . It’s not my fault that Jade’s books are infused with some kind of magic that makes stopping impossible.

“Aw, is someone getting old? Can’t pull all-nighters anymore?” Kennedy’s cousin Hallie teases.

She’s the youngest of the bunch at twenty-three. I give her the middle finger, and she laughs loudly. She was thirteen when I first met her, and was seventeen when I moved here after college with Devon and Kend, and we have a very sibling-like relationship.

The whole crew is here tonight. The new version of the whole crew.

It used to always be me, Dev, Kend, Hallie, and Frannie—Hallie’s older sister.

But back in February, Frannie met professional football quarterback Mark Abbott on a flight and they had a whirlwind vacation romance without realizing they had ties to the same town upstate, Ida, where Frannie now lives.

She still comes down regularly to visit her folks and Hallie—and even more now to be with Mark.

Mark came with two other NFL players, Ryan “Hardy” Hardison and Brian Ackley. Hardy is a wide receiver and Brian is a giant lineman. He looks menacing, but really, he’s quiet and kind.

I only met them one other time a couple of months ago when I was here for a job. I only had time to visit for a couple of hours, though. This time, we all have a whole weekend together, and I’m hoping it’ll be like the old days. Lots of laughter and shenanigans.

I’ve missed that.

I don’t regret my decision to move home to Georgia a few years ago.

The city life isn’t for me. Unfortunately, going back home only reminded me why I left.

Not all small towns are full of bigotry and hatred, but mine has way too much of that.

Since I travel a lot, I’ve been letting it slide, but as I’ve been taking on more narration jobs and traveling less, I find myself looking for somewhere else that feels like home.

“What book got all in your head?” Hardy asks. He’s a Bridgerton nerd and loves all things romance and drama.

“Not a book. A whole ass series.”

“Ooh, which one?” Frannie asks, pulling out her phone.

Mark laughs and wraps his arm around her.

“The Mariano Family series by Jade Jackson. Just be aware, it’s a rabbit hole, and once you start down it, there’s no going back. I started one of her other series on the plane.”

“Still got you by the balls?” Devon asks with a laugh.

I shove my shoulder into his. “Fuck off.”

“This sounds amazing,” Hallie says.

“I was thinking of starting it too,” Kennedy says. “Oh. We should start our own book club!”

“Yes!” Frannie throws her hand up. “Baker Girls Book Club.”

“Uh, rude. What about the rest of us?” I ask.

Kennedy waves a hand. “Please. You must know by now that you’re an honorary Baker girl.”

“Thanks?”

All three girls pin me with the same exact glare. They’re more like sisters than cousins, especially since their moms are sisters and their dads are brothers.

“Uh, you should be thanking her. It’s an honor to be as awesome as us,” Hallie sasses.

“Do I get to be an honorary Baker girl too? I want to be in the club!” Hardy says as Brian laughs.

“Of course. We’re keeping you forever now,” Frannie says.

“Sweet.” Hardy smiles as he pulls his black braids into a ponytail, then digs out his phone.

“So, the seventh book isn’t the last?” Frannie asks, eyes narrowed on her phone.

“Nope. She’s just finishing the eighth.”

“He complained about the cliffhanger all morning,” Kennedy says.

That was not a cliffhanger. It picked me up, threw me over the cliff, and laughed as I tried to find some rocks to grab on to.

“You don’t understand,” I groan into my beer bottle.

Hardy plugs his ears. “La la la. Can’t hear you. Don’t spoil the heartbreak for me.”

“This is gonna be fun,” Hallie says.

“Can’t wait to tell her I’ve got more souls for her to feed on.”

“Wait, did you actually reach out to her?” Kennedy asks.

“Yeah. Slid into her DMs.”

“Nice,” Hardy says with a grin.

“Not like that.”

Okay, a little like that .

I’m not trying to hook up with her, but she’s gorgeous, brilliant, and fun to talk to. I’m enjoying myself.

“Aw, Justin has a crush,” Hallie sings.

“I—barely know her.”

Beside me, Devon snickers.

“I’m telling you, the love bug is coming to bite us all,” Frannie says. “Got me. Got Kend and Dev. Maybe it’s Justin’s turn.”

“As long as it’s not my turn,” Hallie says. “I’m happy to watch all you get dopey for love, but not me.”

Kennedy and Frannie exchange a look, but it’s Hardy who pats her hand and says, “Whatever you say, baby girl.”

Hallie vehemently shakes her head. “It makes sense for it to be Mr. Romance over here.” She gestures at me. Then she looks past Hardy at Brian. “Or Brian.”

Brian looks down at his beer bottle. “You’re acting like I’m desperate for love.”

Hardy puts his hand on Brian’s arm. “Not desperate. But I know you want that, and you deserve to have it.”

Brian’s head snaps up, and his eyes lock with Hardy’s.

Whoa .

Maybe it’s my romance brain, but it seems like there’s some kind of vibe between the two of them. I assumed they were both straight—which was probably dumb of me—but now I’m wondering if there’s something going on there.

But the moment quickly passes, and Kennedy changes the subject.

“So, Hal, how’s the nannying going?”

Hallie groans.

“I haven’t found another full-time client yet, but between subpoenas and trying to make sure the little girls I used to nanny for have everything they need, I wouldn’t have time anyway.”

Hallie works as a nanny, but unfortunately, her last job went up in flames when the father cheated on the mother with their overnight nanny.

That’s led to a bitter divorce, which Hallie, as a former daily member of the household and caregiver to their two young children, has been pulled into the middle of.

“I’ll ask around with the team. See if anyone needs anything. Even if it’s not full-time, it’ll still help you out,” Mark says, pulling out his phone.

It’s funny, if we’d known them sooner, I can see the football boys being a part of our gang all along, they fit in seamlessly.

My eyes drift back to Hardy and Brian, who are acting normal, but I swear there was a vibe. Maybe I should ask Jade. But when I go to my messages, I find a response from her to a bunch that I sent her earlier.

Me: I stood in the middle of the airport to finish the last chapter and almost threw my e-reader. I hate you.

Me: Okay, I’ve cooled down. I don’t hate you. But you’re really good at what you do.

Jade Jackson: I’m glad you enjoyed (?) it.

Laughing to myself, I type out a reply.

Me: I’m a third of the way through the second book.

Jade Jackson: I’ve got you in my clutches now. Have you joined my reader group yet? You can commiserate in there. I think some of my fans have a love-hate relationship with me. I’m not sure why.

Me: No clue…

Me: Guess what… I’ve got some new souls for you to torture.

Jade Jackson: Oh really?

Me: Yep. My best friend Kennedy, her cousins, and another friend of ours. They’re hyped.

Jade Jackson: Thanks. I appreciate the support.

Me: Full disclosure, it’s part support and part needing others to suffer with me.

Jade Jackson: Fair.

Me: Speaking of which, you get any random sparks of inspiration to finish book eight?

Jade Jackson: Lol. Not yet.

Me: I suppose demanding you to work all night would be unfair labor practices.

Jade Jackson: Just a smidge, but my boss has been known to demand those in the past. It’s me. I’m the boss.

Me: Sort of speaking of that. I need your romance expertise.

Jade Jackson: … about what?

I stare at the message for a second then realize how mine sounded.

Like I need romance advice for a girl. A girl who isn’t her.

Which would be shitty. And something I’d never do.

Especially because Hallie might not be totally wrong about the crush thing.

But I think I should wait and see what happens to decide that .

Me: Sorry. That sounded scummy. I don’t need romance advice, but more your romance eye to see if I’m imagining what I think I’m seeing between two of my friends.

Jade Jackson: Ooh. Then hit me.

Me: So they’re newer friends and I don’t have a lot of context, but it’s two guys (neither are out as far as I know), and they’re friends. One touched the other’s arm and said something nice, then they locked eyes, and for a half a second, I was waiting for them to kiss.

Jade Jackson: Ooh. Tension. I like it. Um, without knowing them it’s hard to say, but it’s possible. I’m good at getting a read on people, so feel free to keep telling me if you notice anything else. I’m invested now.

Me: Good. Something to keep you on the hook. Since we all know you’ve got me on yours.

Jade Jackson:

Jade Jackson: You act like it’s a bad place to be.

I bite my lip as I read that.

Bite my lip?

Christ, maybe waiting to see if I have a crush is long gone. I think I’m into this girl. Twenty-four hours of talking to her, and I already know I don’t want to stop any time soon.

I almost want to ask if she’s from New York since it’s where her books are set. But I would think asking to meet up while I’m in New York might be a little much.

Then again …

Me: Hey, are you going to be at that signing in Vegas in a couple of weeks?

Jade Jackson: Yes. Are you?

Me: Yep. Any chance you’d be willing to meet up in person? Also, do you have a pre-order form? I might need to order signed copies of all your books.

Jade Jackson: I might be open to it. I mean, I won’t stop you from coming up to my table, but if you actually want to sit down and hang out… that’d be cool. In a public place.

Me: Of course. I… didn’t pause to think about how that might sound. I’m sorry.

Jade Jackson: No. It’s fine. We just don’t really know each other well yet. You could be a stalker or a serial killer.

Me: Saying I’m not probably won’t prove that, but I’ll do my best to prove I don’t have any psychopathic tendencies (unlike you). Maybe sprinkle in some details about my life instead of just ranting and raving about your books.

Jade Jackson: As much as my ego enjoys those things… I wouldn’t mind that.

“Whatcha doing?”

I jump as Devon puts his chin on my shoulder, trying to see my phone. I quickly turn the screen off, but when I look up, everyone’s eyes are on me.

How long was I messaging Jade?

“Honestly, it’s been months since you’ve been here, and now you’re ignoring us? Rude,” Hallie says, eyes dancing with trouble .

I clear my throat. “Sorry.”

“Since we’re all here, who is it that you’re messaging nonstop?” Dev prods.

I put on my most charming smile. “Just trying to get some spoilers about book eight. Have to have something to hold over your heads.”

I turn my phone screen back on and quickly type another text to Jade.

Me: Sorry. Gotta go. I’m being heckled by my friends.

Jade: All good. My hands are tired. Have fun!

Me: Night.

“Were you seriously messaging her?” Kennedy asks, eyes alight.

“Who else would it be? All the important people are here,” Hallie says.

“Hey, I have a family.”

I don’t talk to most of them, but still.

“Most of whom you don’t like,” Devon says. “Speaking of, how’s Georgia been?”

I shrug. “Still doesn’t feel like home. I don’t know why I remembered it being so idyllic. Maybe that’s just what I wanted it to be.”

“I understand,” Kennedy says. “Sometimes you build something up differently in your mind.” She flashes a smile at Devon. “Then find out home isn’t where or what you thought it was.”

Hallie quirks a brow. “I think you had unrealistic expectations and wanted your hometown to be Stars Hollow. Also known as fictional.”

“Hey, I think Ida gives some strong Stars Hollow vibes,” Frannie says, referencing the little town upstate she moved to a few years ago .

“Agreed. Always loved visiting there as a kid, and getting to live there now, I love it even more,” Mark adds.

I chew on my lip, then take a swig of my beer. Would moving to a town I’ve never been to be crazy?

Maybe.

But I always liked New York, generally speaking. I like the northeast, I love snow, and the summer weather here is less suffocating than down south.

“You know, if you were interested in checking it out or… moving, I happen to know of a couple available apartments,” Frannie says. “And the landlord is great.”

She looks up at Mark, who smiles at her, then looks at me.

“Yeah, I bought Frannie’s building a couple of months ago. We renovated the top floor into a penthouse, so her apartment and the one across from it will both be available at the beginning of July. One is yours if you want it.”

I spin my beer bottle, thinking it through. My mom will complain endlessly, but what else is new?

“You know, I think I might take you up on that.”

Kennedy laughs. “Frannie’s just trying to move the whole friend group there.”

“Hey, I know you’re happy in Brighton. Maybe I’ll convince you to retire in Ida, though.” She winks at her cousin, then looks to me. “No pressure. But keep it in mind if you need a change of pace.”

Should I do it?

What is there for me in Georgia?

Not much. Not the home I’ve been craving.

“Two bedrooms?” I ask.

Frannie nods. “Yep.”

“Can I turn one into a recording studio?”

Mark shrugs. “Fine by me.”

I take another swig of my beer.

Fuck it.

“Sign me up. ”

Frannie claps her hands. “I’m so excited! You really will love it. No rush to move in, just let us know when you’re ready.”

“I’ll start packing as soon as I’m home and plan for the move after I get back from Las Vegas.”

“Sounds good. We’ll have it ready for you,” Mark says.

I give him a nod in thanks.

It’s crazy, but life’s too short not to take risks. Even if I don’t love it, I doubt it’ll be any worse than where I am now. And at least I’ll have a friend nearby.

Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky and live out my own small-town romance.

But when I think that, my eyes drift down to my phone, and I think of Jade.

Of the picture of her looking gorgeous surrounded by books.

It would be delusional to believe that there’ll be anything between us.

But if life as a romance lover has taught me anything, it’s that you can’t predict how and when love will find you, and you can’t stop the free fall into its hold once it does.