Chapter Six
“Gorgeous.”
“It is pretty nice,” I say, admiring my new ink. I’m standing in my room glancing in the mirror above my dresser. Jodie’s in the doorway.
“I’m not talking about the tattoo,” she says. I look over in time to see her signature wink.
“Don’t,” I say, knowing what’s coming.
“Don’t what? Come on. He had his hands all over your shoulders. Don’t tell me you didn’t get a little hot and bothered. He’s damn gorgeous.”
I feel my face redden. I put the bandage back in place, and readjust the strap on my tank top gingerly. I head toward the kitchen, brushing by Jodie to get a bottle of water from the fridge. Looking into the living room, I see that Henry’s dead asleep on the sofa, drooling, Sebastian sleeping in the crook of his leg. I smile, but Jodie’s words quickly melt it off my face.
“At least admit he’s pretty cute.”
“Why? Why does it matter, Jodie? I told you. I’m done with men. Not interested. Been there, done that, and been burned.”
“Listen. I’m not saying marry the guy. But I am saying the best way to get over what Chris did to you is to find someone else. Have some fun. Jesse could be fun for you. God knows he could stand to live a little, too.”
Grabbing my water from the fridge, I take a seat at the kitchen island. “What do you mean?”
Jodie stands across from me, leaning on the counter. “Rumor has it he’s had a rough few years.”
“Really? He seemed okay to me. Joking and laughing.”
“Of course. Because you’re beautiful. Plus, I told him all about you when I called.”
“You didn’t.”
“You really think I sent you to J & J’s because of their tattooing skills?” She rolls her eyes, smiling. “You said you came here to break away from your old life. What better way than a supersexy tattooed hunk who has nice, strong hands and a sense of humor? He’s attractive, he’s business savvy, and he’s super nice. I knew he’d be just the thing to get your mind off old what’s-his-name. And I knew you’d never pursue it. You just needed a little shove, right?”
I’m appalled. I exhale audibly. “Glad to know I trusted you. So he could’ve been the worst tattoo artist ever and you’d have sent me?”
She shrugs. “I mean, relax. He isn’t the worst, obviously. But hell, even if he had jittery hands, I’d probably take the risk to have those sexy hands all over me. Admit it. It was heavenly.”
I dodge her question, shaking my head. “Maybe you and Jesse should date,” I say. “You two would be a good pair.”
She laughs. “Please. Not my type.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. He’s just too… serious for me? Too responsible, maybe? I need a wilder man.”
“You said he’d be perfect to help me live it up.”
“Yeah, he would. But you’re a little more… shall I say, traditional than me?”
“So you’re saying I’m boring?”
“No. I’m just saying you and Jesse would be a good match. You’re both responsible and mature but you need to spice things up. You need to break free from the past. I think you could do that together.”
“And how do you know so much about Jesse? You must’ve had quite the heart-to-heart during your tattoo session.”
Jodie’s smile widens. “I mean, we did talk a little. But I mostly know him because Brett and I banged a few times last summer.”
My jaw drops open. Jodie doesn’t look bothered or embarrassed in the slightest. She just shrugs. “A girl has her needs,” she says.
I do the only thing I can.
I laugh.
“What happened?”
“He wasn’t my type, either. Brett was a little too giggly in bed. He had this weird habit of—”
“Enough,” I interrupt, tossing my hands up in front of me. “Please. I don’t need to know any more details.”
“See what I mean? You’re very straitlaced, conservative. Jesse said the same thing when we were talking about it during my tattoo.”
“You talked about it during your tattoo? While Brett was there?”
“No. He was off that day. And why not? It’s not like I’m embarrassed. Why are we so closed-off about sex? We’re young. We should be exploring, having fun.”
“So your type is what, a sex addict? A swinger?”
She finds this uproariously funny. “I don’t know about that. But maybe just not someone who is so uptight. Someone who isn’t afraid to have fun. And being rich might not be a bad thing, either, you know? I’ll take a sugar daddy, maybe.”
I laugh a little. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But at least I’m honest. Unlike some people who won’t admit it when they find a man worth letting go of a few principles for.”
“Okay, look. He seems like a nice guy. And yeah, he’s mildly attractive. But I told you. I’m here for me, not for love or even lust. Plus, it’s not like I’ll see him again anyway. It was a one-time thing. I’m not planning on getting a full sleeve done or anything.”
Jodie sort of skips toward the living room to get her laptop, probably to work on her book. “You never know,” she yells over her shoulder, giggling a little bit.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, worried about what she has up her sleeve.
“Oh, I think you might see him again. It’s a small town,” she says, scooching Henry over just a smidgen so she can sit down with the two laziest animals I’ve ever seen.
“It’s not really a small town,” I retort.
“Don’t worry. You’ll see him.” She turns toward me and winks conspiratorially, but I just shake my head.
It doesn’t matter, though. She’s wrong. She’s just excited to play matchmaker. Nothing will come of it.
And even if it does, I’ll make sure to stomp out the fire before it incinerates me this time.
I head to my room to take a nap and think about how crazy life is… but how crazy simple it is, too.