“But why?”
“You and James just got married. I’m already going to be scraping to get time with you. The last thing I need is to get all awkward with Mathew and then never see you again.”
“That would never happen. If you suddenly woke up one morning and didn’t like him, then I wouldn’t like him either. Our entire friendship has been based on agreeing if one of us doesn’t like someone, even without any logical reason, the other will hate them too.”
“Exactly. So then you have to hate your husband’s business partner and best friend. There will be all this cool stuff you’re doing, and Mathew will always be there. It’s just easier if nothing happens between us.”
“Bullshit. You forget how well I know you. Maybe you could feed this weak excuse to someone else, but save us both some time and just tell me. I’m not buying that that’s the real problem here,” Libby challenged.
Damn her. The best part about having a long and deep friendship with an intuitive and empathetic woman was how well she knew you. It happened to be the worst part too. “It’s not the only problem,” Jessica admitted with a sigh. “But even more reason not to do anything. The long list of problems makes the decision even easier.”
“I think I know what the real issue is,” Libby sang in a teasing tone. “This is not history repeating itself. You don’t have to be scared; Mathew is not Pierre.”
“Hey,” Jessica shouted, a flood of anger rolling over her. “You know the rule.”
“Oh seriously, we still can’t utter his name? I thought maybe you were past that by now.”
“No, we can’t. As a matter of fact I don’t even want to hear words that sound like his name. Don’t say pear or pier. None of it.”
“I’ve let this weird mourning and hiding stage go on long enough. It’s not easy to sit back and watch your very beautiful, intelligent best friend sabotage every relationship opportunity that comes her way. The better a man treats you the faster you run in the other direction. I understand how badly Pi—” She stopped as Jessica cleared her throat. “He was a special kind of jerk to you. I know it hurt badly when shit went down between you. But maybe it’s time to give someone else a chance.”
“Mathew is a wealthy, attractive man with nothing in the world holding him back. That’s dangerous. Or at least in my experience it has been. A man like that wants to change your life, convince you everything is better with him. I have a good life; I don’t need to be swept off my feet.”
“There have been some good guys over the years you haven’t given a chance. I think maybe it’s time to hang up the casual dating thing and actually take a risk again.”
“You’re adorable,” Jessica said as a nervous heat rolled over her. That was not the conversation she was hoping to have this morning. “I’m happy with my life the way it is. Casual dating works for me. But it won’t work with Mathew because our lives intersect now that you and James are married. You’ll just have to trust me on this. It’s better if nothing happens.”
“Jessica, from what James tells me, Mathew is an upstanding guy. Sure he is rough when it comes to business, they both are, but he normally dates very sweet girls. I thought that was interesting.”
“Yet he’s still single. What’s he doing to all those sweet girls?”
“They don’t challenge him. They aren’t what he really needs in life. And you’re still single. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with either of you.”
“Like I said, I’m single by choice. I finally have my life together. I’m in control. I don’t want a guy like Mathew thinking he can just sweep me off my feet and that I need to be rescued from my life. I don’t.”
“What’s wrong with just spending time with him? Does it have to be all or nothing? Are you cutting ties with him?” Libby asked, not sounding defeated or convinced.
“No,” Jessica admitted. “We have a charity event on Friday I told him I’d go to. I really feel like I can help him mingle with people, even build some relationships. And if that ends up helping you and James, it’s worth it to me.”
“Of course you can. You’re brilliant at it. I really appreciate it too. The less James has to worry about, the better our honeymoon will be.”
“You know I’ll do anything to help. Your mother is doing really well too,” she said, grinding the clutch of this conversation as she tried to change the subject. “I’ve been by to see her almost every day. That facility really is great to her.”
“I miss her.” Libby sighed. “Not just because I’m away. I just miss who she used to be when she had her memory.”
“She’s proud of you. I talk about you, and she remembers more than you might think. She’d want you to have a great time on your honeymoon.”
“And I want you to have a good life.” Libby wasn’t giving this up without a fight.
“This from the girl who spent the past five years putting her happiness last.”
“Exactly. So you should take it from me that every second you do, you’re wasting your life. My heart is so full right now.”
Warmth spread across Jessica’s chest at the thought of her friend finally finding the joy she’d been lacking for so long. “I hear you,” she acquiesced.
“Just continue spending time with him, and keep an open mind. He might surprise you.”
“Hey Lib, you’re always great at this stuff. What’s the past tense of smite?”
“Smote, why?”
“Just wondering.”
“I think when you start asking these types of questions you need to get laid.”
“I think knowing the answer to those questions means you went a hell of a lot of years never getting laid.”
“Bitch.”
“Dork.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter 5
“I’m going to need you to come with me, Mrs. Thorne,” Jessica heard the man in the dark suit and aviator style glasses order.
“Are you from the IRS? I cleared that thing up months ago.” Jessica
tucked her purse tightly under her arm and considered kicking off her heels so she could bolt if needed.
“I work for West Oil. My name is Ralph. Mr. Mathew Kalling has asked me to pick you up.” He gestured with his stubby hands over to the limousine.
“I have my own car; I don’t need a ride.” She narrowed her eyes at him but was met only with a wry smile.
“You’ll want to come on this ride.” He pulled open the car door and waved her inside. “He has quite the night planned for you.”
She’d just finished a nine-hour shift on the movie set, and her back was aching. The only thing she’d heard from Mathew since their sleepover was a text message asking what her schedule was today. Now as she sank into the back of the limo she wished she’d lied.
“Sit tight and enjoy,” Ralph said as he closed the divider and turned on the music. It wasn’t always easy to explain, but this was Jessica’s worst nightmare. She felt the same way about a giant surprise as most toddlers did about green vegetables. And she was just as willing to throw a tantrum when confronted with them.