Young Love (Bloomfield #4) (9 page)

“You want one?”

I looked up at her as she reached out a hand, waiting. “Sure, thanks.” I passed her my plate and watched as she walked back to the kitchen. She didn’t sway her hips like some girls did, or try to be overly flirtatious. She was just – her. It was…refreshing. Most girls her age were all about putting on a show.

Just friends, G
.

Right.

When she came back, we settled back in and started to discuss who we thought really did the murder. It was an argument. One I was sure I was winning, except when the end came, it turned out she’d been right all along.

“You watched this one before,” I accused.

“I didn’t, I swear,” she said with a laugh. “I can just see when people are lying.”

“Is that so? You’re some kind of human lie detector, are you?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Sounds like you should be working for the police, not the dance academy.”

She laughed again. “I don’t think so. Those uniforms aren’t really my thing.”

I nodded. “A tutu is definitely more your thing.”

Shit. Was that flirty? Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she didn’t appear uncomfortable. My phone dinged, saving me from saying or doing anything else stupid.

Kelly:
Hey :) what are you doing tonight?

I let out a long sigh.

“Is something wrong?” Honor asked.

I shook my head. “No, it’s just Kelly.”

“Oh.”

I turned to look at her, and wanted to curse as I saw that stiffness in her shoulders back. There was nothing for us to feel guilty about, and yet I could see it on her face as she stood.

“I should be going now,” she said, pointing her thumb toward the door. “I have to get ready and catch the bus.”

“Okay,” I said, leaning back on the couch, stretching my arm along the back of it where she’d been only moments ago. Part of me wanted to offer to drive her, but I knew that would be stupid. This little “friends” trial of ours had gone pretty well, and I didn’t want to push it. Plus, I needed to get a move on myself. Mom and Dad needed my help cleaning out the shed, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they started calling me to see where I was.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said, grabbing her backpack.

“No problem.”

She paused at the door. “I’ll…see you around.”

I nodded, staying silent as I watched her slip out, leaving me alone in my suddenly quiet and empty apartment. I looked back down at my phone.

Me:
I have to go to my parents for a bit.

A second later my phone dinged again.

Kelly:
okay, cool. Mind if I stop by later??

Me:
Sure

Kelly:
Good. See you then xoxox

I placed the phone back down on the table, my eyes falling on our empty plates sitting beside each other. It occurred to me then that I’d never cooked dinner for Kelly before, or just chilled out and watched TV like this. I shook my head. This shit was too confusing for me. I liked to keep things simple, and that was what I would continue to do. There was no overthinking this evening, or anything else that had to do with Honor Jacobs.

Getting up, I dropped both plates in the sink and headed out. I’d clean-up later.

Chapter 11

Honor

I stopped just outside the dance studio, my arms on my hips.

“You can’t pick me up every Friday night you know,” I said.

Perrie smiled. “Says who?”

I shook my head with a sigh, walking over to her car and getting in the passenger side. “I’ll feel bad if you keep this up,” I told her.

“Don’t. We’re family, we’re supposed to do things for each other. Plus, I wanted to share some exciting news with you.”

I twisted in my seat so I could look at her better. “Oh? Do tell.”

“I got that internship I told you about,” she said, her excitement practically vibrating off her.

“No way! I thought you said they never take first year law students?”

“They don’t. That’s why it’s so amazing.”

“Wow,” I said, leaning back against the seat. “That’s really awesome, Perrie. I’m so happy for you.”

“I knew you would be,” she said, glancing away from the road to smile at me quickly. “So, you see? I had to come and share the news in person. Not to mention I don’t want my hot, young cousin riding a bus alone at this time of the night.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her hand.

“You’re forgetting I’m about to be the best defense attorney this city has ever seen. I know all about criminals.”

“Right,” I muttered. “So what was the firm called again? It’s the big one downtown, right?”

“Hamilton and Gordon. And yes, it’s the biggest firm around. And I’ll be the youngest intern they’ve ever accepted.”

“Amazing. Auntie Grace must be freaking.”

Perrie chuckled. “Mom wants to take me out for a steak dinner tomorrow night to celebrate. She said we were going to go somewhere fancy.”

“So, Kelsey’s?”

We both laughed.

“Probably. The woman wouldn’t know fancy if it walked into her leopard printed room, and smacked her upside the head.”

“Your mom’s fashion and decor sense is the best.”

“You can only say that because she’s not your mom. It was embarrassing when she’d show up on parent teacher night dressed in a huge leopard printed fake fur jacket,” she said, her face scrunching up. “I remember Jack Tellsman asking me if my mom was a hooker.”

I chuckled. “I remember. You punched him right in the nose and got detention for a week.”

She snorted. “He deserved it. And Mom grounded me for two weeks because I wouldn’t tell her why I did it.”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Auntie Grace is lucky to have you as a daughter.”

She squeezed mine back, sitting up straighter. “Don’t I know it.”

We pulled up to my building, Perrie stopping just in front of the entrance.

“Speaking of our crazy mothers,” she said, putting the car in park and turning to me. “They wanted me to tell you that they demand you come for brunch on Sunday. Your mom says you haven’t been calling her either. I think she’s close to storming down here and banging on your door.”

I grimaced. “Tell them I’ll be there.”

All I could picture was my mom waltzing into my building in her fluffy slippers and pink bathrobe. She might not have a love for animal print like Perrie’s mom, but that didn’t mean her fashion sense was any better.

“I will contain her until then,” Perrie said.

“Thanks. I appreciate it. See you Sunday.”

“Love you, cuz,” she called out as I walked up to the doors.

“Love you too!”

***

I let out a relieved sigh as I sat down on the couch, covering myself with a blanket. Netflix was on, a fresh bowl of popcorn was in my lap, and no one was knocking on my door to beg me to go out. This was a good Friday night.

Turning on the episode I’d left off at, I wiggled into the cushion at my back and got comfortable. Mindlessly popping pieces of popcorn into my mouth, I watched the show without really hearing what was going on. It was the unfortunate truth, but my mind had other things on it.

All throughout class I’d done my best to focus on what I was doing. Every move I’d done afterward by myself was with half the energy and effort it would normally have been. Thankfully Perrie had distracted me enough on the ride home, but now that I was by myself again, I couldn’t help but think about Grey.

I didn’t know what to do when it came to that man. He wanted to be friends. That was…nice. It made sense of course. We had mutual friends, not to mention we lived beside each other, so it was logical to assume we were going to have to hang out with each other now and again. Which meant we couldn’t keep going on with this awkward tension between us. I had gotten that. I really did. It didn’t mean that it was easy.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to pay better attention to the show, but I just couldn’t. Even Frank and Clair’s dramatics weren’t enough to rip me from my own musings. I gave myself a good mental shake.

We kissed. So what? It was a while ago, and it wasn’t as though it would be happening again anytime soon. I certainly didn’t want it to.

Liar.

I didn’t. Grey was not my type, and I could tell I wasn’t his. Kelly was closer to his age, and seemed like the better fit. The kiss was just a mistake. One I still didn’t quite understand, but a mistake nonetheless. We just weren’t compatible. Tonight we’d gotten along, but that was just because it was a platonic hang out. I did better with those than with romantic situations.

If anyone asked my past boyfriends, they’d confirm that I wasn’t one to really indulge in alone time. I had too much on my plate to spend any of my spare time with someone else. Relationships just weren’t on the top of my “to do” list. One day it would be, but I was young and still trying to build a future, and I’d always considered that my top priority.

So why did it feel like Grey threatened that? He didn’t.
He didn’t.
Not only was he already dating someone, but there was also…there was…Okay, I didn’t know what else there was, but there were things. I was pretty certain there was a whole list of reasons why it wouldn’t work between us, I was just having a hard time thinking of them.

Him having a girlfriend alone was reason enough for me to stay away. I was no mistress. And I liked Kelly, so the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her in any way.

I leaned my head back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. The show was officially forgotten as I replayed the evening in my head. Grey had just been so…I didn’t know. Nice? Gentlemanly? Actually interested in what I had to say? Unlike most guys my age, Grey asked me about my life and listened when I answered. It was as if he actually cared about what I had to say, instead of just asking because that was what was expected.

It was the first time a guy had made me dinner, and then when we sat and watched TV together, it was actually comfortable. The awkward tension between us that I’d grown use to hadn’t been there. It was strange. But I’d actually liked it.

I groaned out loud into the silence of my apartment. What was going on with me? Could I actually be crushing on Grey Anderson? How stupid was that? It was ridiculous really. I had more sense than to lust after someone who was too old, too rough, and too far out of my league, like Grey was.

He was just so good looking. How could any girl really ignore that? Those blue eyes could make any girl fall for them. Even someone like me, who was damn good at ignoring the opposite sex.

Shaking my head, I set the popcorn aside, and turned off the show. It was useless. I wasn’t going to be able to truly relax when all I could think about was his perfect face and the incredible way he kissed.

My hand lifted on its own to touch my lips. The memory of the feel of his was still so strong even though it had happened months ago. Was any girl able to get over Grey once they had a taste? Somehow I doubted it. The man should have come with a warning.

“This is ridiculous,” I said, angry at myself for even dwelling on these thoughts. I just needed a good sleep and then I could go back to ignoring him. Walking to my bedroom, I slipped under the covers and tried to get comfortable.

It didn’t go well.

I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. When I looked over at the clock on my night table, I saw it was already past midnight. Kicking the covers off me with a huff, I stared up at the ceiling above my bed as if the answer to sleep lay there.

A faint giggle sounded from somewhere in the quietness surrounding me. I froze, listening closely. Another giggle followed by a throaty, female moan reached my ears. What was that? I sat up, looking around. Another moan filled the tiny space of my bedroom. I heard the deep rumble of a male voice before the worse thing ever began.

Mortified, I turned to the wall behind me, my mouth open in shock as a rhythmic thumping started. The female moans grew in frequency and volume as it continued.

Holy-mortifying-shit.

“
Yes, Grey. Yes.”

No. No, no, no, no. I was not listening to Grey and Kelly have sex.
I was not.

A bang hit the wall as that damn thumping picked up speed. The moans were turning to screams as my head began to shake. This could not be happening. My face felt like it was on fire as I shamelessly sat in my bed listening to my neighbor have sex with his girlfriend.

The neighbor I’d just spent the whole evening thinking about.

Kelly’s scream sounded through the wall as she shouted his name. A moment later I heard a deep groan that could have only been from
him.

Wow.

That was…incredibly humiliating.

I pulled the covers back over me, lying back in my bed with it tucked under my chin. I didn’t move, afraid they might actually hear me on the other side. Oh God, what if he knew I could hear? How was I supposed to face either of them?

Why the fuck did he have to sleep with her?!

Uh, because she’s his
girlfriend!

Right.

Actually, I thought, slinking down lower under the covers, this was exactly what I needed. This was the reality slap that would make me get my head back on straight. Grey and I were never going to be anything, and I needed to remember that.

Rolling over, I pushed away the distinct ache in my chest, and closed my eyes again, ignoring the burn in them. We were just friends. Just friends. I needed to remember that. Now that I’d heard just how unattainable he was, I could finally wipe Grey from my mind and get some rest.

Or, at least I thought so, right up until I heard Kelly’s giggle once more. Not five minutes later that damn thumping started up
again.
What was this guy, superman? Who recovered after that short amount of time?

Pulling my pillow over my head, I squeezed my eyes shut, praying for sleep to relieve me from this waking nightmare.

***

Anger. That was the first emotion to wash over me when I woke up. I whipped my eggs for breakfast as if they’d done something to piss me off. I’d eaten them and had my coffee with a permanent scowl. I’d brushed my teeth and looked at my reflection with narrowed eyes, brows low over them.