𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀

58. Dress of sunshine

 I sat across Jess's lap in the apartment. "I'm so bored," I drawled, leaning back.

He let out a low laugh against my neck. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not as much fun as Lisa."

I let out a groan.

Lisa and her family had been gone for a week in New York City because of some emergency. I never knew how much I needed her company until I was all alone and so, so bored.

"You're fun," I sighed, twirling a finger through his hair, "but in a different way."

His hand started drifting up my leg. I gave him a wicked grin and jumped off of his lap.

He threw his hands in the air. "Hey! It was just getting good."

I put my hands on my hips. "I thought we decided that we're going to do this like civilized beings. Take me on a date."

Jess's eyebrows shot up. "A date?"

I nodded. "Like a normal couple."

Rough hands pulled me down back onto his lap. "Is that what we are? A couple?"

I snorted and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Well, I hope I'm not just your sneaky link."

"You could never be that, Sunshine," he murmured against my skin, just as the front door slammed open and I was thrown off Jess with a squeal.

Luke was in the doorway, looking equally angry and embarrassed. "Keep. Door. Open."

He slip back downstairs again. Jess and I shared a glance and broke out in wild laughter.

That Thursday night, I talked to Lisa. "When are you coming back?" I asked into the phone. "A week is way too long."

"Ugh, I have no idea," my friend replied. "Why? Are you missing your moral support."

"And the person I vent to," I added, rolling onto my back on my bed. "So what's up, anyway?"

Lisa's sigh was loud from the other end. "It's complicated—and a very long story."

I winced. "Tell me about it whenever you want. I'm here for you."

It was quiet on the other end, until my friend spoke. "Yeah, okay."

She hung up and I went out into the kitchen. Rory was doing homework.

"Hey," I greeted, sliding into a seat next to her.

She nodded in greeting. "Hey."

"Find a new boyfriend yet?" I teased. After Dean and Rory broke up, she was seemingly fine, but I knew she was probably lonely.

"No," she gritted her teeth.

I offered a smile. "You'll find someone soon. Now that you're on the market again."

My sister snorted. "Like I'm a farm animal up for auction?"

I slapped her on the shoulder. "Exactly!"

"You. Me. Saturday night. Wear something cute." Jess kissed me.

We were sitting in the gazebo. The sky was cloudy, but it was perfect because it meant no annoying townsfolk bothering us.

I put down the book I was reading. Better Than the Movies. Perhaps a perfect way to describe Jess and I. "What?"

"You wanted a date," Jess explained, "and now you're getting it. I'll meet you at your house."