Something More

Chapter Twenty-Four

A knock on her front door drew Jennie's attention away from the marketing schedule she had been editing for the past hour. With a sigh, she opened the door and found Bella on the other side, holding a bottle of wine.
"What are you doing here?"

"It's New Year's Eve."

"I know that. And I feel like I need to repeat my question. What are you doing here? I figured you'd be out at a club tonight."

"Not this time. They're starting to feel a little overrated. Besides, I'd rather spend some time with my best. friend."

Jen scoffed, moving to reclaim her stool so she could get back to work. "You're better off going to the club. I need to work so I probably won't be great company."

"Why the hell are you working?"

"What else is there to do?" Jennie asked as she made a note to get another mock-up of a magazine ad.

"I don't know. Go out and celebrate? Have a movie marathon? Get shit-faced drunk if you so choose?" Bella took off her coat and draped it across the stair railing.

Jen shrugged. "None of that holds much appeal, I guess."

"Are you okay?"

She heard the sincerity in Bella's voice, but she pretended to look through some papers, afraid she'd lose it again. "I'm fine."

"Bullshit."

She looked up at the stern tone of Bella's reply. "I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Bella threw up her hands and paced. "I don't know. Maybe because you haven't been out for a drink with me in over a month and haven't replied to any of my texts. Or maybe because I know that you're working at least seventy hours a week. Or maybe because your heart is shattered."

"Oh, please." Jennie shook her head and made more notes. One of those statements finally registered and she stopped writing and looked up at Bella. "Wait. How the hell do you know that I've been working seventy-hour weeks?"

Bella stopped pacing and crossed her arms. "Because you're running your poor assistant ragged. They haven't had a full weekend off since you and Lisa broke up."

"How would you know? And why would their weekends off concern you, Bell?" Jennie glared at her friend. She didn't like where this was going. Is she really trying to get with Kate?

"Never mind that. I just know from someone, let's call them a mutual friend, that you aren't treating yourself very well. And we...I'm concerned."

"Friend my ass," Jennie mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing." Jennie got up and retrieved the bottle of wine. "I'm fine. Just leave it alone." She opened the wine quickly and poured herself a glass, but before she could take a sip, Bella snatched it and put it out of reach. Jen threw her hands up. "Hey. What's the point of bringing wine over if I can't drink it?"

"You aren't fine. I know our friendship hasn't been the deepest over the years, but I care about you. Hell, I even love you, for crying out loud."

Jennie snorted and leaned against the island, but she didn't offer the same sentiment to Bella even though it was true. Bella had been the only close friend she'd had in her entire life, but she still had a hard time telling her she loved her. That's sad. No wonder I suck at relationships.

"We're the same, you and me. Keeping everyone at arm's length, never letting anyone in, even each other sometimes. But Jen, don't you miss it?"

"Miss what?"