The Third Kiss (Love's Mortal Coil #1)

Chapter 3 - Jonas

Jonas

After Aunt Helena's speech, I did what any other guy in my situation would have done: I hid in the bathroom. My motivator wasn't embarrassment—although some of those slideshow photos had a date with the delete button. No, I needed space to think. And the bathroom was the only room in the house with a lock.

Someone pounded on the door. I ignored it, lowered the lid, and parked myself on the throne. In the den, the stereo cranked out a screeching guitar riff. Not exactly music to calm the nerves, but I took a steadying breath and focused on slowing my racing thoughts.

So Cora was back. But she seemed...normal. Everything seemed normal. Which was good. Normal was good. I needed things to be normal between us because other than Beth— and now maybe Leo—Cora was one of the few people I could wear my own skin around.

Over the last six years she'd somehow become a major thread in the fabric of my life, and I didn't need the complication of anything other than normal between us. I needed her friendship. She saw past what everyone else saw and called me on my bullshit. Most of the time it annoyed the hell out of me, but if she weren't around to do it, I'd probably suffocate breathing all the methane. Apart from Aunt Helena and Beth, Cora was all I had. All I allowed myself to have.

So when she'd gone and spun normal off its axis that night a year ago, I did what any other guy in my situation would have done—I freaked.

And hid in the bathroom. This very same one.

My reflection mocked me from the mirror on the opposite wall.

You're pathetic. It's all good. Get out there and talk to her. Add value to the friendship, you drip!

More pounding on the door. I knew I couldn't stay in here all night.

"All right. Don't rush me!" I heaved to my feet, flushed, and washed my hands to make it sound like I'd come in here for legitimate reasons. Then I opened the door.

And came face-to-face with Ashley.

Shit. With Cora's early return, I'd all but forgotten about her.

"Look, I'm not sure what's going on with you, but I'm giving you one last chance to come good." She twined her arms around my neck. "How about we meet up tomorrow? Maybe without the party and all these people around we could—"

"Yeah, I don't think that's going to work." The idea held even less appeal now than it had back in the gazebo, but when I extricated myself out of the circle of her arms, her mouth did that pouty lip thing. Guilt nudged me to give her something. I mean, it'd been my spread-the-love reputation that had led her down the gazebo path in the first place. And as much as I lacked the feels, a hookup with Ashley would send Cora a clear message that nothing had changed since that night a year ago. We were just friends. Good friends. The best of friends. But that was all—just friends.

Right?

Right.

So...Ashley. The girl had added a frown to her pouty lip thing. Okay, she was only in town for a week and all her hints screamed of "holiday hookup." I could do that, couldn't I? Hell, a few months ago that would have been my dream scenario but now...

Enough already! Get with the program.

Apparently, Ashley had the same thought. She leaned in, her lips going for the kiss she'd been after all night. I should have let her. I should have done the kissing myself. But my stupid body wasn't just disinterested, I flat out didn't want her.