We’re leaving the diner two hours later when someone calls my name. I glance over my shoulder and see Jessica standing a few feet away, clutching the strap of her purse against her chest.
Jessica’s wearing the same loose-fitting black coat she wore at the party a few weeks ago.
“What the hell? How did she know where to find you?” MJ asks in an irritated voice.
From the look on Jessica’s face, she either wants to pick up where we left off the last time we saw each other, or it’s just her resting bitch face. It doesn’t matter, though. If she tries anything, I’m ready.
I square my shoulders, then turn the rest of my body to face her. “What do you want?”
“Um, can we talk?” Jessica asks. Her gaze darts over my shoulder before sliding back to mine. “Alone?”
Behind me, Zulakya asks, “Who is she?”
“Her name is Jessica,” MJ replies in a hushed whisper. “Levi’s ex.”
“Oh,” Zulakya says. “Should we be worried?”
I glance at my two friends and shake my head. “I’ll be fine. Could you please give us a few minutes?”
MJ opens her mouth to say something, but whatever she sees on my face stops her. She tugs Zulakya’s coat and says to me, “We’ll be waiting in my car.”
Once they leave, I focus on Jessica and cross my arms. “Talk.”
She clears her throat. “First of all, I’m not following you. I was walking by the restaurant and saw you and the others leaving.”
“Whatever. Just tell me what you want.”
“I’m sorry about what happened at the party. It was wrong of me to say what I did.” Her apology sounds like words she’s been practicing; there’s no feeling in them.
“Um, thanks,” I reply. “Is that all?”
She sighs, anchoring her hands on her hips, which flattens the coat, accentuating her stomach. It’s not just a normal bump like the one I’m sporting right now after all the food I consumed.
This one is more—
“Are you . . .?” I point at her tummy, then pull my coat tighter around my body, suddenly feeling cold as the thought sinks in.
“Pregnant? Yes.”
I breathe through the lump in my throat, processing her words. How the hell didn’t I notice this before? Like during the party? God, I could have hurt her.
Shit.
Also, is it Levi’s is what I want to ask, but I’m afraid of her answer. Levi said they broke up months ago, so it can’t be his. Unless they hooked up after that and—
“It’s not Levi’s,” she says as if reading my mind. My gaze shoots to her eyes, and I see the truth in their blue depths.
“It isn’t?” Even I hear the relief in my tone. She shakes her head. I’m confused about her admission, which prompts me to ask the next question. “You could have lied to me and told me it’s his. Why tell me the truth?”
She shrugs, her shoulders sagging tiredly. She averts her gaze to her brown boots and says, “Because I still love him.”
Wait, what?
“I don’t want to lose him as a friend. I cheated on him, which was a huge mistake. The fact he can still look at me or even talk to me . . .” She shakes her head. “Levi has been my anchor during the past few months. He likes you.” She says the latter with a pained look. “So I have to make peace with that and put aside whatever feelings I have toward you.”
“How nice of you,” I mutter under my breath.
I mull over her words. Levi sounds like a saint, really. The fact he’s still her friend after she dumped him for another guy, well, that’s proof that he’s either really sweet or still in love with her.
My stomach churns. Is he still in love with her?
Her gaze snaps up to meet mine. Gone is the bitchy face from before, replaced by one of resignation and exhaustion. For some stupid reason, my heart softens a little for this single college girl who’s probably only a year older than I am.
“Does the baby’s father know?” The words slip out without my permission, much to my horror. Her eyes widen in surprise before glancing away. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s not,” she shoots back with anger in her voice. “I just wanted to apologize.”
“Well, thank you.”
She spins around, shoves her hands inside her coat pockets, and starts walking in the opposite direction with her shoulders curved as if she’s protecting herself. Despite her tall stature, she looks so small.
“Hey, Jessica,” I call out, and she stops in her tracks and faces me. “I know we’re not friends or anything, but if you need help, or I don’t know—”
Her shoulders pull back, her spine straightens, and she looks at me as if I’ve offended her. “I’m fine.” She swivels around and marches down the walk until she makes a turn and disappears around the corner of the next building.
Sliding my hands inside my coat, I head in the other direction. MJ and Zulakya are waiting outside the car and stop talking, shifting around to watch me approach.
MJ steps forward first, concern filling her features. “What happened? What did she want?”
“She wanted to apologize for what she said at the party,” I answer, moving to her car and leaning my shoulder against it. Zulakya looks at me, clueless. When I was telling her about Sol and me at brunch, I omitted any parts about my mom and how I was conceived, as well as what she had to do to survive to provide for both of us.
“Um, it’s a long story, Zulakya, and not a very pleasant one. And frankly, I don’t want this changing our friendship. I’ve never really had many friends before. I like you too much to lose you.”
Her expression turns gentle, and her voice softens as she says, “I’m not good with people, so I don’t really have friends. I plan to keep the ones I have. If it’s not too weird for you, I have time.”
I glance over at MJ, and she shrugs as if to say, It’s your story to tell. I’ll be here no matter what.
“Okay,” I breathe and inhale through my nervousness. “Are you heading to Ivan’s?”
MJ shakes her head and pulls out her phone. After unlocking the screen, she begins tapping on it fast. Then she looks up and smiles. “Done. I’ll see him tomorrow.”
“Okay, let’s meet at Beckett Hall. We definitely need ice cream for this. I’ll grab some from the store, then meet you there.”
MJ and Zulakya jump into her car, and I head to mine parked near the diner’s entrance. Once I’m seated inside, I dig out my phone from my purse and pull up the text box to message Levi. His relationship with Jessica intrigues me. I need to know what’s going on before allowing myself to get carried away with my feelings for him.
Me: Lunch together at the dining hall tomorrow?
I hit send before I change my mind. My phone buzzes in my hand with a text.
His reply pops on the screen immediately.
Levi: Hell yeah. 12 good for you?
Me: Yeah. See you then.
Levi: Ok. FYI, can’t wait to see you.
I glance at the screen for several seconds, take a deep, fortifying breath, and type, “Me too,” then send it.
By the time I start the car, I’m wearing a big smile on my face.