PART 5–CHAPTER 185
JESS
The sand felt cool under my toes as Josh and I strolled along the beach, waves rolling gently in the background. This spot was a small blessing, tucked away and private, with the salty breeze making everything feel a little lighter. Josh looked around, nodding to himself as if approving of my life choices. “Not bad, Jess. Nice place to live–so close to the beach. It suits you.”
I smirked, giving him a little nudge. “Yeah, it’s not bad at all. I can’t wait to run again, though. Finn says maybe a few more weeks before we can try, but the walking hasn’t been bad. I can get a few miles in before it starts hurting.” I shook my leg out to prevent my calf from cramping.
He chuckled, then hesitated, glancing over at me. “So… the memories. They’re all back, huh?”
“Oh, yes,” I said with a mock sigh. “Unfortunately for you, I remember everything. Like what a complete dick you were in school.”
Josh laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “I guess I deserve that.”
“I still owe you an ass–kicking for what you did to Laura.”
Josh’s expression shifted, and he looked away, guilt darkening his face. “Yeah. I know. Laura… she deserved better.” Josh said,
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and I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Ugh, the -it’s not you, it’s me- bullshit. I swear you and Luke are the exact same with the exact same bullshit excuse. You were afraid of committing. She would have stayed, you know, for you.”
He didn’t offer any excuses, which was probably a good move. “How’s she doing? I just saw her that day. She flew out to see you at the hospital, and when I tried to talk to her, she literally ran away.” Josh asked without looking at me.
“She’s good. Actually, she’s amazing. She loves Paris and goes. on about the incredible and inspiring art scene. She’s really found her place there.”
“Good for her,” Josh said, but I wasn’t sure it was genuine. “I always knew she’d make it big.”
“Guess not. And hey, she’s getting gallery attention–there’s one place even interested in buying some of her work,” I said with pride. My best friend was going places, and the only places I seemed to visit consisted of different hospital wings.
“She always had it in her,” Josh said softly, more to himself than
to me.
We kept walking, silent for a moment as a wave splashed onto the shore, sending a burst of salty mist into the air. But as we walked, there was one question lingering in my mind, one I couldn’t quite ignore anymore.
“Have you… spoken to Luke?” I asked, trying to keep my voice. casual, but I needed to know. My body craved him, and my dreams were filled with him, enough to wake me up in the middle of the night with this insatiable need–one my trusty purple wand just doesn’t seem to fix.
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PART 5–CHAPTER 195
Josh’s face flickered, his mouth tightening just a bit. He shrugged, looking away. “He’s been… you know, around. Off- season, so he’s pretty busy.”
“That doesn’t really answer my question, and I know that’s a bullshit excuse.” I slowed down, watching him carefully. “Has he asked about me?”
Josh hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Look, Jess, he’s… he’s just got a lot on his plate right now.”
The vague answer was too much, I’d waited and been patient, but all I’d gotten from Luke was silence, and I needed more. “Josh, just be straight with me; you know something. Just tell me already. I can take it,” I said, folding my arms. “Is he serious about that model?“” Luke hates models and brainless girls, and now what? He plans on staying with one. I don’t believe that for one second.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking at the waves instead of at me. The longer he stayed silent, the more uneasy I felt.
“Josh?”
He let out a frustrated sigh, finally meeting my eyes. “Jess, if you want to know why Luke isn’t here, you should ask him yourself. He’s… he’s the one who can give you an answer. I don’t want to be in the middle. Please don’t put me in the middle.”
Josh was hiding something. The last thing Luke told me was that he would wait for me.
My chest tightened at his words. I’d been holding back for so long, afraid to push, hoping Luke would come to me. But
maybe… maybe it was time I got
“Okay, fine. Don’t tell me. Then jus go and ask him myself,” I told Jos his face was screaming at me to why… why he didn’t come rescue
TART & CHAPTER 183
