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JESS
I tried to focus on anything but Sarah as she emerged from the house. Still, my eyes betrayed me, flicking toward her as if on autopilot.
adjusted the strap of her bikini casually, her expression calm and unbothered.
I half expected her to walk right up to me and call me out for intruding. I paused, waiting for the shoe to drop the closer she got to the pool.
I was so distracted that as I set the plate down, I missed the table entirely. The crash and shattering of glass pulled me out of my thoughts. My stomach churned at the thought, shame burning its way up my throat.
But she didn’t.
“Babe. You okay? What happened?“Lue was next to me within seconds, taking both my hands, flipping them over, and inspecting them. “You feelin‘ light–headed? Maybe the sun and all the swimming were too much for you today. It’s my fault – I should have checked that you were drinking water…“Luker ambled off, but I shook my head.
“No, babe. I’m fine. I promise. I just got distracted. Super clumsy of me.
Instead, she walked over to the drinks cooler and rummaged
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through it, pulling out a bottle of water and twisting off the cap with a lazy flick of her wrist. No sideways glance. No sharp- edged comment. Nothing.
The guilt bubbled up, relentlessly gnawing until I couldn’t stand it.
Before I knew it, I was on my feet, my legs carrying me toward her even as every part of me screamed to stop.
“Sarah,” I said, my voice shakier than I’d hoped.
She looked up, startled for a second, before flashing a polite smile.
“Hey, Jess. What’s up?”
I swallowed hard, the words tangling on my tongue as I tried to figure out how to say I saw you in the bathroom without sounding like a complete idiot–or worse.
“I–I need to apologize,” I blurted out.
Her brows knitted together, a flicker of confusion passing over her face. “For what?”
“I didn’t mean to–I mean, I don’t know what was wrong with me.” My voice faltered as I stammered on. “I wasn’t trying to–l just… I walked into the house, and I heard something, and-”
Sarah’s expression softened, and to my surprise, she let out a small laugh, cutting off my rambling.
“Jess, it’s fine. Don’t even worry about it, really,” she said, her tone light and easy. She tilted her head, studying me for a moment before adding, “It’s not a big deal.”
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Her smile seemed sincere–disarmingly so–and I felt my shoulders relax ever so slightly.
“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly
She nodded. “Positive. We’re good, okay?”
I nodded back, feeling like I’d just been let off the hook for a crime I hadn’t even realized I was committing. But as Sarah turned and walked away, not to the football player who was just railing her against the cabinet – but to a different one.
Laura walked over as I stared after her. “Jess. You okay? What’s up?”
I turned to her and dragged her to the other side of the pool, where the music was too loud for anyone to hear us.
“I just walked in on Sarah fucking Ryan in the guest bathroom right, and then I walked over to apologize to her because -well, it was fucked up…” I rambled off, but Luara stopped me. “Wait. What the fuck? I just had those painted.“She wined, but then reality set on what I really said.“I whispered as low as possible. I watched as Laura’s jaw went slack and her eyes wide. “Okay. Backtrack. You what?”
I shook my head. “I was in the kitchen – heard a noise, so I went up to look for – you know, a raccoon or something, but it wasn’t. It was Sarah, and she was being… anyway. She saw me see her. Or I saw her see me see her or.. whatever, you know what I mean. I need to go more my corneas now.” I groaned, and Laura laughed.
“Why are you laughing?“I folded my arms, and Laura held me by the shoulders.
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“This is good. Like, I got a vibe that she might have a thing for Luke, but if she’s letting someone else, you know… put it in, maybe she doesn’t after all. It’s good news!”
Then why did I have a hollow pit in my stomach…
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