PART 4–CHAPTER 164
JESS
I had Laura on speaker as I paced the kitchen, idly stirring the pasta simmering on the stove. She was rambling about life in Paris while I half–listened, staring out the window at the quiet street below.
“…and seriously, Jess, you should just move out here. Get away from all the crazy back home.” Laura’s voice buzzed in the background.
I snorted. “Right, because running away to France fixes everything?”
“It might. You’d get to eat all the croissants your heart desires.”
“Tempting,” I muttered, grabbing a fork to check if the pasta was done. “But actually, L.have some news.”
“Oh, please tell me it’s spicy. I need a distraction from these pretentious Parisians,” Laura teased, her voice dripping with
sarcasm.
I bit my lip, hesitating for a moment. “I met someone.”
There was a pause, then a gasp from Laura. “Shut up! Are you serious? Who is it?”
“Well, technically… I met him again. But for me, it’s kind of like the first time.”
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“Okay, now you have my full attention,” she said, the excitement in her voice evident. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“His name’s Eric.”
“Eric?” Laura’s voice was thoughtful. “I don’t remember anyone named Eric. Not from school, at least. Where’s he from? Work?”
“No, he said we met in my first year of college,” I explained, fidgeting with my phone. “He helped me with economics, apparently. He was a senior, so I guess that’s why you don’t know him.”
“Well, I still don’t remember any Eric,” Laura said, sounding skeptical. “Do you have a picture? Let me put a face to this mystery man.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’ll get one next time I see him.”
“Wait–why do you have to take one? Just find him on social media. Facebook, Insta–something.”
“That’s the thing,” I said, absentmindedly twirling the fork in the pasta. “He doesn’t have any. No social media. He doesn’t believe in it.”
“Seriously? Who doesn’t have social media in this day and age?” Laura asked, incredulous. “What, is he off the grid?”
“Kind of,” I admitted, leaning against the counter. “He lives out in a cabin, somewhere in one of the nature reserves. Only comes into the city a few days a week for work.”
“Okay, so he’s a nature guy… cool, I guess. What kind of work does he do?”
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“He’s in finance. Manages Investment portfolios or something,” I said, shrugging. “We didn’t really get into the details.”
Laura was silent for a second, clearly trying to piece things together. “Where did he say he met you again?”
“At school. First year. Like I said, had economics, and apparently, he helped me out with it at some point.” I sighed. “Honestly, it feels like another life, I don’t remember any of it.”
There was another pause, and then Laura’s voice turned sly. “Okay, but… is he good–looking?”
I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah. He’s really handsome. Like… dimples, big muscular build, kind of like he could play football or something
“Ooh, football player material. I like it.”
“But,” I added quickly, “he hates sports. Not his thing, apparently. It’s kind of a waste if you ask me.”
Laura groaned dramatically. “Ugh, what a shame! But now I have to see him. Hot, anti–sports finance guy who lives in a cabin? Get a picture, Jess. I’m thinking lumberjack. Have you seen those guys chop wood?”
“I will, I will,” I laughed.
“So…” Laura’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “Think your might dip your toe back in the dating pool again?”
I hesitated, biting my lip. “I don’t know. I still get those dreams…”
There was a brief silence before Laura jumped in. “The hot ones with you and Luke?”
My face flushed, heat rising to my cheeks as I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah.”
Laura sighed, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “Jess, babe, I say this with love: either call Luke and tell him you two need another shot, or give this Eric guy a chance. Even if it’s just to, you know… scratch an itch.”
I winced, stabbing at my pasta with the fork. “I am not calling Luke. It’s been years. He’s a Super Bowl champion now, dating some model. He’s probably forgotten all about me. And if he hasn’t, it’s only because he feels guilty or responsible for what happened. That’s all.”
“Jess,” Laura said softly, “I know you don’t want to hear this, but… it was more than that between you two. I just wish you could remember…” She trailed off, leaving the thought hanging in the air.
I stayed silent, feeling the weight of her words. But before I could respond, she broke the tension with her usual playful tone. “Anyway, go get a picture of Eric and–oh, also–find out if his dick’s big, would ya?”
I snorted, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“Gotta go, bitch. Love you!” Laura chimed before hanging up.
I stood there, still holding the phone, Laura’s words echoing in my head – not the ones about Eric’s dick, but the ones about Luke.
