When I walked into Jeff and Ari’s place, Jeff was sitting at the kitchen island. He looked like shit.

“Hey, dude, how is Ari feeling?”

“I think she’s feeling better.”

Fuck. “Jeff you need to talk?”

“It’s my fault this happened, Josh. It’s my fucking fault. I walked away from her…the one person I vowed to never walk away from. I just left her while I ran after some damn lying bitch. If I had just given her a few minutes of my time, I don’t think I would have left. I would have stayed, and.”

“Jeff, stop doing this to yourself. You can’t change what happened. It all happened for a reason. I know you want to place the blame on yourself, but, dude, you can’t. You didn’t know Ari was going to tell you she was pregnant, and you didn’t know Rebecca was playing you for a fool.”

Jeff snapped his head up. Oh shit, I should really choose my words more carefully.

“A fool? Is that what everyone thinks I am?”

Motherfucker. I didn’t need this. “No, Jeff, that’s not what I meant. You were torn, and I get it. I would have probably done the same thing, Jeff. How were you supposed to know that she was plotting against you? It’s all going to work out. I know it will. You and Ari are meant for each other, Jeff. Y’all will find a way to fix this shit. I promise.”

Jeff put his head in his hands and let out a sigh. Man, this guy needs to just catch a break.

“Hey, um…I was going to head back to Austin tonight. I figured y’all need your privacy, and with Heather leaving…”

“What the hell is going on with you and Heather, Josh? I feel like I’m looking at an earlier version of Ari and me, dude. Just get it the fuck over with and tell her you love her.”

I started to laugh. “I already told her that I loved her. She seems to think that I’ll never be able to stay true to her. I guess I can’t blame her, but fuck…what does a guy have to do to prove he can change?”

Just then, my cell phone went off with a text. Lynda had texted me with a picture of her in a fucking blue lace bra and matching panties. Fuck me.

“Actually change, Josh.”

“What?” I looked back up at Jeff.

“You want to prove to her that you’ve changed? Then you’ve got to actually change, dude. I’ve seen that look on your face before. You’re gonna hook up with someone tonight, aren’t you?”

“I don’t need a lecture from you, Jeff. Heather’s made it very damn clear that she doesn’t want to be with me. Shit, she’s on a date tonight for Christ’s sake! What I am supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for her? Fuck that. I’ve waited long enough for something I’ll never have.”

“Wait. How do you know she’s on a date? She just left a few hours ago.”

“I called her. I wanted to make sure she got to Austin okay, and she told me she was on a date. I even heard her talk to the guy.”

“You don’t think she might have just been saying that to get you fired up?”

“Why the hell would she do that? Listen, she’s moved on, and now, I am, too. I gotta go, Jeff. Lynda is waiting for me.”

“Oh fuck, dude. You’re gonna sleep with Gunner’s cousin? The man code, bro.”

“It’s his cousin, not his damn sister. Fuck the man code.”

***

I packed up my shit and headed back into the kitchen. Ari was sitting at the table while Jeff was pouring her some tea. I walked over and kissed her on the head.

“How are you doing, babe?”

“Fine, thank you. Why are you leaving? You don’t have to leave, Josh. Please know that.”

“I know, hon. I need to get back to Austin. My dad is making some office furniture for a lawyer’s office, and I really want to help him with it. I can’t waste my whole summer away. Time to get a real job, ya know?”

“Okay, come back this weekend if you want.”

“Thanks, y’all. Take it easy and let me know if you need anything.”

***

By the time I picked up Lynda and we headed into Austin, my head was pounding, and my heart was racing. Lynda was talking away like a nervous Nellie. She didn’t even hesitate when I asked if she wanted to go back to my place.

The sooner I fucked her, the better I would be…..

And the faster I would get over Heather.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

HEATHER

Jerry just kept talking and talking until he finally asked if I was even listening to him.

“Oh yeah, I’m so sorry, Jer. One of my best friends lost her baby yesterday, and I guess I just have her on my mind. I kind of walked out left her. Not the best thing for a friend to do, but.”

“No worries at all, Heather. You’ve seemed a little upset since you took that call. Was that her?”

The moment I ran into Jerry at Starbucks, and he asked if I wanted to grab a late dinner, I knew I was doing the wrong thing. I needed to get Josh out of my head though. Then he called, and I’d just blurted out that I was on a date. I guess having dinner with your cousin’s best friend wasn’t really a date, but Josh didn’t need to know that.

“No, it wasn’t her. It was a guy. A friend who just wanted to make sure I got back to Austin okay.”

“Do you call all your guy friends assholes, Heather?” Jerry asked with a smile.

I let out a laugh and shook my head. Jerry went back to eating his burger while I took a good look at him. He had blond hair and green eyes. They were nothing like Josh’s eyes though. His height was about five-eleven and he was built. He played baseball for UT, and he was dressed in a UT T.shirt and shorts. He was wearing his UT baseball cap backwards. If Ari were here, she would probably say he looked very fuckable. She loved it when guys wore their caps backward. I hated to admit it, but I loved it, too, especially when Josh did it which was damn near all the time.

I let my eyes travel up and down Jerry. He sure was attractive, and he had a killer smile that made my stomach drop.

Jerry wasn’t as good-looking as Josh, he was damn near close to it.

We talked for a few hours about nothing and everything. It was nice having a simple conversation. I also didn’t have to worry about if he was going to check out the waitress or if she was going to slip him her number. Josh had never done that though. At least, I’d never noticed it.

Josh. I wondered if he was with Lynda. I decided I needed to check up on Ari. I looked at the time, and it was almost ten.

I sent her a text message: How are you?

Ari: I’m reading. Jeff is passed out with his head on my lap.

I had to smile to myself. Thank God Jeff was not the father in that whole Rebecca-baby drama. I sent her another text and asked if I could give her a quick call. I excused myself as I walked outside of Mighty Fine Burgers to call Ari.

“Hey, girl. How was the trip back to Austin?” Ari said.

“It was fine. I ran into an old friend. Do you remember Jerry Ross? He’s my Cousin David’s best friend. Plays baseball for UT.”

“Oh yeah, the one who always wears his damn baseball cap backward. Yeah, I remember him!” Ari said with a small giggle.

I was sure she was trying not to hurt her side or wake up Jeff.

“I’m having a late dinner…well, burgers with him.”

“Really? Huh,” Ari said.

I heard her tell Jeff to go back to sleep.

“What do you mean, huh? I’m not allowed to have dinner with anyone?” I knew I sounded like a bitch. What is with the attitude from her?

“I don’t mean anything by it, Heather. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, between you and Josh, I swear.”

“What about Josh? Is he there or still out to dinner with Lynda?”

When Ari didn’t say anything, my heart started to pound.

“Is he there Ari?”

“Um, no. He actually left a few hours ago to head back to Austin.”

“Really? Did he go back to Austin alone?” Why I even cared was beyond me. I did this to myself. I pushed him away one too many times, and now, I had a feeling I was about to pay for it.

“I’m not really one hundred percent sure on that.”

“I can always tell when you’re not being honest, you know.”

“I overheard Josh telling Jeff that Lynda was going back to Austin with him.”

Oh. My. God. I put my hand up to mouth when almost threw up. He’s coming back to Austin with Lynda.

“Heather, baby, are you okay?”

“I have to go.”

“Heather, wait! Talk to me. I’m so damn confused with what’s going on between you two. You told him to move on. Baby. Did you mean it? If not, Heather, call him. Call him right now before he does something I know you’re both going to regret.”

“No, you’re right. I told him to move on, and clearly, that is what he’s doing. I can’t blame him for that. Listen, sweets, I just wanted to check up on you and see how you’re feeling. Take it easy and give Jeff a hug and kiss for me, will you? I’ve got to run. Jerry is waiting on me.”

“Heather, please call me if you need to talk, and please call Josh, baby.”

“There’s no reason for me to call Josh. I’ll talk to you later.”

As I leaned up against the building, the tears were building in my eyes. I felt so sick to my stomach, and all I wanted to do was scream. Am I really going to just let him go that easily? Looking down at my phone, I found Josh’s number. I looked back into the restaurant, and Jerry was cleaning off our table while talking to the girl who had been working behind the counter. It looked like she was handing him something. I was sure the place was fixin’ to close any second now.

I looked back down at my phone and hit dial.

Then, she answered.

“Hey, Heather! Is everything okay? This is Lynda.”

I was so stunned that I couldn’t even think of any words to form in my mouth.

“Um...”

“Heather, are you okay?”

I could hear the satisfaction in her voice, knowing she had caught me off-guard.

“Yes, I am. I must have dialed Josh’s number by mistake. I was trying to…trying to call Ari to see how she’s doing.”

“Oh, okay. Well we literally just walked into Josh’s apartment, and he’s taking a shower. So should I let him know you called?”

What a fucking bitch. I hate her. “Ah, no. Like I said, I meant to call Ari, so no, that’s fine. Thanks, Lynda. Enjoy yourself.”

“Oh, believe me, we intend to have fun tonight…if you know what I mean.”

I just hung up. I leaned over, and the next thing I knew, I felt Jerry’s hands on my back.

“Heather! Oh my gosh, are you going to get sick?”

I couldn’t breathe. He’s going to sleep with her? Oh god. I pushed him away, and now, he was going to sleep with her. I. Can’t. Breathe.

I looked up at Jerry. His face was filled with concern. He truly seemed to be worried about me. Maybe he’s the one? I didn’t think I’d ever have to worry about him leaving me. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who would play around.