Down for Her by Melissa Chambers (best e books to read txt) 📗

their couch.” I glance at the dance floor and realize they’re gone. “Where are they, by the way?”

Jack looks around. “I don’t know. They were on the dance floor a minute ago. Maybe they’re in the restroom.”

Easton, who has been hanging with us, steps up to the table. “They left.”

My chest fills with panic. I really was planning to ask them if I could crash on their couch. I can’t imagine going back to Tori’s right now with Janelle as pissed as she was.

“Are you sure? Maybe they’re in the bathroom,” I say out of desperation.

“No, they’re gone. In fact, I think Bailey said something about hoping Jack would fuck completely off.”

Jack pinches the bridge of his nose. “Shit.”

“What did you do to her?” Easton asks.

“I don’t know. She might have been pissed that I was hugging Kylie before.”

I wince. “Really? You think that would set her off that easily?” I ask Jack.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but I saw her look at us, and the expression on her face wasn’t good.”

“Crap,” I say, imagining the situation from her point of view. She doesn’t know me that well. For all she knew, that was my way of going for Jack the second things went sour with Brett. I look up at Jack. “I swear, I wasn’t—”

He waves me off. “I know you weren’t. I wasn’t either.”

Easton holds out his hand to Jack. “I’m out, too, man. See you Monday. Good to meet you, Kylie.”

I force a smile and a wave.

Jack bites his lip, looking around. “I wish I wasn’t such a fuckup all the time.”

“Actually, this one is all my fault.”

“I like Bailey, a lot. But we aren’t together. I haven’t even kissed her or anything.”

“So you know she’s into you?”

He gives me a look. “It’s kind of hard not to notice. I liked hanging with her last night and thought I’d try again tonight in another group, but it’s just not happening for me. I’m not trying to hurt her.”

I squeeze his forearm. “You’re allowed to hang with people to see if there’s a spark. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I still feel like an asshole.”

“You’re an asshole, and I’m homeless again. We’re not a good duo.”

“I know how this is gonna sound, but you’re more than welcome to stay at my place tonight.” He tosses up both hands. “A hundred percent platonically. I’ve got a spare bedroom. Clean sheets on the bed and everything. It’s all yours.”

I remember Janelle and how pissed she looked at me. I think of Brett and how he has still not sent me a text since he walked into that room with Tori and shut the door. The idea of going back to that street makes my stomach swirl. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t mind?”

He picks up his water bottle. “I’ll take us home.”

22

Kylie

When I wake up, I’m completely disoriented. I wonder if I’ve stepped into a Restoration Hardware showroom. With a jolt and a sickening in my gut, I remember I’m at Jack’s condo.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Jack or his condo. Both are lovely. But I slept here. Being temporarily homeless, I have very few options, but this can’t be good for whatever I have going on with Brett.

I find my purse in the bed with me and fish my phone out to see if he’s called, but it’s completely dead. I really should’ve found a charger last night, but I was too irritated and too fluffy to care if Brett texted or not. I definitely care now.

I go to the bathroom and check myself. I haven’t looked this rough in a while, with makeup dragging down my face and my hair frizzy and tangled. My looks match the way I feel perfectly.

I clean myself up and then open the door to the bedroom to find Jack sitting at his kitchen table with a mug of something and a tablet.

He looks up at me. “Hey. I was about to come and check for proof of life.”

I put my hand to my forehead. “My phone died. What time is it?”

“Ten fifteen.”

I slide into a chair at the table with him. “I’m so sorry. I feel like such an idiot. I can’t believe you’ve had to sit here all morning while I slept the day away.”

“I’ve just been up a couple of hours. I’ve actually been getting caught up on some work.”

“Do you ever stop working?”

“It’s not like I have anything else to do,” he says with a smile, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t drink coffee, but I can make you a green tea?” he asks.

“You’re one of those healthy people, huh?” I ask, but it wasn’t so long ago that I was one, too.

This makes him chuckle. “I guess you could call me that. I have fruit, too, if you’d like some.”

This is where I need to refuse the offer and get out of his hair, but in my financial state, I will take any food that’s offered to me right now. “That would be great. Do you have a charger I can borrow?”

“Sure,” he says and brings me one.

I put my phone on the charger and then meet Jack at the table, where he gives me a bowl of pineapple, strawberry, blueberries, and mango. He sets down a container of yogurt and a box of granola, and I feel like my old self—the good parts of my old self, that is.

“How are you not married yet?” I ask him.

He sits down at the table. “You and my mom share the same concern.”

“I’m serious. You’re an eligible bachelor. This place is impeccably decorated, you’re healthy, you’ve got a great job, and look at you.”

He lifts one eyebrow.

“Oh, please. You know you’re gorgeous.”

“Are you interested?”

I glance up at him and then look down at my bowl. “I’m way more intrigued by this breakfast right now.”

“That’s what I thought.” He goes back to his tablet, and I feel like we’re an old married couple who has