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“I didn’t say there was nothing going on. I said, I knew what I was doing,” I reiterate.
“Compelling. Is that why you haven’t been here ten minutes and have already looked at her four times?”
CHAPTER 40
FIA
“Get to talkin’.”
Sienna latches onto my elbow, guiding us past Jett’s mom, and around Duke’s large kitchen. Being back with her feels fucking amazing. In college, we were inseparable, but once she started working for Duke, and I got so busy with dance, some days we were hardly able to get in a few texts after a long day.
“What do you want me to tell you?”
She stops the food she’s preparing, an annoyed stare plastered on her face.
“Let’s start with how he was practically glued to you when you guys walked in, and you’re living with him,” she whisper-shouts, and I can’t help but giggle. “More than that, he hasn’t stopped looking at you since you go here. This is more than just help, Fia.”
“He really is helping me out. Haven asked me to choreograph her new single.”
Her eyes bug, jaw dropping open at the surprise I wanted to wait to tell her until I saw her in person.
“No freaking way!”
I feel a small smile creep up my face. “Way. None of the other dancers have as much hip-hop experience as me, so she asked me, but it’s been a secret.”
“You’re losing the plot. What does this have to do with Jett?”
“I needed a way to get away from the other girls, time on my own to choreograph without anyone knowing, so he’s been helping me with finding spaces, and being my alibi.”
Busying myself with plating food, I put some space between us. I didn’t think I’d come here and drop the bombshell of our secret, but the more I’m with Jett, the more it feels like this shouldn’t be a secret. Even though we’re on a time limit, and we’re just test driving what a relationship may feel like, maybe this is how it should always feel.
“Okaaay…so now he’s your boyfriend?” Confusion understandably crosses Sienna’s face.
“Well, it started off fake, but now… It feels weird when you say it out loud, but I guess so, yeah.”
“Oh, my sweet friend, there’s nothing to guess about what I just saw.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s just a trial run; I don’t like relationships anyways. You know that,” I reply, remembering why all of this felt so hard in the first place.
“You’ve never even tried.”
Because running is easier. Keeping men at bay is much easier than having to tell someone about the one that hurt me.
“This is me trying.” I try to mask the heat with humor.
With a sincere smile, I let the option float around in my mind.
Could this really work with Jett and me?
“With the right person, all of those worries will feel weightless.” She beams, and it hits me deeper than I thought it would.
It’s not a Jett problem. He’s great. I hate how great he is.
It’s me. I’m the broken one.
Sneakily, I peer over my shoulder, my eyes locking with the man who’s slowly creeping into every inch of my life. Leave it to me to have a one-night stand with a man, just for him to later convince me that maybe the parts of me I don’t have figured out, the ones I’ve yet to find, he’ll hold my hand as I find them—even accept them, love them.
“It’s nice to see you all mushy,” I lovingly respond.
