A few minutes later, we get a call from the lobby, announcing that Jamie is on her way up. Gracie jumps up from the couch to meet her at the door, and I hear the two women talking in hushed tones before they enter the living room.
“Mr. McPherson,” Jamie calls me with a smirk on her face.
I roll my eyes. “Drew, Jamie. Call me Drew.”
She snickers and Aaron laughs.
“And you know Aaron,” Gracie says, not introducing Aaron.
“What’s up?” Aaron asks with a chin lift.
“Oh, nothing much, just coming to see my friend that your brother has kidnapped out of my life,” Jamie jokes. Gracie elbows her before they both start laughing. “Show me around this place,” she tells Gracie and they take off down the hallway.
If those two weren’t polar opposite in appearance, I’d swear they were related. Same sense of humor, same wit. I now understand why they get along so well.
“She’s fucking hot,” Aaron says, adjusting his crotch like a Neanderthal.
“Aaron,” I warn.
“I’m just sayin’.”
We turn our attention back to the football game, but I don’t like when there’s tension between us. “You staying here tonight?”
He shrugs. “If you’re cool with it, it’d be nice.”
I chew on it for a moment. “You’re always welcome here.” I’m surprised that I actually mean it.
Twenty-Two
“This place is fucking insane,” Jamie shrieks when I take her out to the terrace. “I can’t believe you live here.”
I can’t believe it either, and while it’s technically not my home, I really do feel at home here with Drew. I feel like it’s our home. We’ve fallen into domestic routines like an old married couple, and on one hand, it’s comforting, and on the other, it’s scary.
“It is,” I remark, and we sit down on the chaise together, the same one I share with Drew when we’re out here.
Jamie loops her arm through mine and rests her head on my shoulder. “If anyone deserves this, it’s you.”
“Stop it,” I tell her.
“No. Gracie, you deserve the best this world has to offer. I’ve never had a best friend, hell, I’ve never even had a friend as loyal as you. You have my back, you support my crazy-ass ideas, and I trust you like a sister.”
This makes me tear up. I never had a sibling, and Jamie is a sister to me as well.
“Jamie,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“Don’t go getting all emotional on me.” She turns to look at me just as I swipe a stray tear from the corner of my eye and take a deep breath. She frowns, her eyes concerned. “What’s going on?”
I sniffle. “Everything is happening really fast. Him moving me in here, all the new clients at work, us. It’s been the craziest month of my life.”
Jaime sighs. “Life doesn’t always happen at a snail’s pace. Sometimes things happen fast and furiously. Don’t let a timeline dictate how it should happen.” She squeezes my arm supportively. “Gracie, that man loves you like you deserve to be loved. I can see it. It’s hard to believe it, someone like him and you’ve only known each other for this short amount of time, but he’s the real deal.” Her voice turns soft. “Let him care for you. Let him love you.”
I smile, because dammit, Jamie is always right. “It’s scary,” I admit.
“The best things always are.” She winks at me.
I sigh and let it go for now, then I fill her in on the California trip. Even though we’ve been back for a week, I dove headfirst into those client pitches and we never really got the chance to catch up. I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent with Drew, but tonight, spending time with Jamie has been good for my soul. I need her, and I need to be better about making sure I get time alone with her. There is nothing more important than genuine female friendships.
We occasionally hear the guys inside yelling at the TV and we both giggle at their latest outburst.
“What is it about dudes and football?” Jamie asks before breaking out into another fit of laughter and before her tone turns more serious. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, anything.”
“I know you mentioned you were sick in California…”
“Mmmhmm.”
She hesitates before looking at me. “Have you seen a doctor yet?”
I scoff, “I don’t even have a doctor.”
“Grace—”
“I know. I have an OB/GYN, but I don’t have a primary care doctor. I’ve always hit the Minute Clinic if I needed anything.”
She swallows hard. “I’m worried about you…you know, with your mom’s history and all.”
That hits me hard for a second. My mom was diagnosed with colon cancer at such a young age, and I shared my concerns with Jamie that maybe I was susceptible to cancer at an early age.
But it can’t be.
“I don’t have cancer.” I smile at her. “I’m positive it’s the flu or some lingering virus—”
“Gracie,” she warns, ignoring my nonchalance.
“I mean it,” I promise. “I slept all day and I feel so much better already. I think I just wore myself down. Everything has been on high speed since the day I met Drew. We dove headlong into it, then work has been insane, and the long hours…” I pause. “I think I just haven’t been taking care of myself. But it’s a priority now. I promise. Sleep, eating better, and maybe even exercise.”
Jamie laughs. She knows my aversion to exercise.
“What?” I shrug. “I mean, there’s a gym right here in the building and I don’t even have to pay for it.” Now we both laugh. Because there could be a gym in this damn apartment and I’d probably just look at it and never actually use it.
She nudges me with her elbow. “Come to yoga with me. It’s exercise, but I promise it won’t kill you. It’ll be our date night.” She grins.
I make a face. “How much is it?”
“Gracie…” She sounds exasperated.
I smirk. “I have to ask.”
“It’s cheap. I promise.”
She’s lying, but I need my time with her, so I will make this work. “It’s a date.”
Aaron and Drew join us on the terrace when they’ve finally had enough football. “What are you two doing out here?” Drew asks, taking a seat on the plush outdoor couch next to the chaise.
“Girl talk,” Jamie answers with sass. “And you don’t have a vagina, so you’re not invited.”
“Whoa!” Aaron exclaims as he approaches. “I heard the word vagina and I’m a big fan of those. Whose are we talking about?”
“Jesus,” Drew growls.
I laugh while Jamie rolls her eyes exaggeratedly at Aaron, who sits down next to Drew on the couch.
“Done watching those cavemen beat each other up?” Jamie asks, and Aaron rolls his eyes back at her.
These two act like toddlers around each other. Maybe they should date. That would be interesting. The thought makes me chuckle.