Jade by Sarah Jayne Carr

Author:Sarah Jayne Carr [Carr, Sarah Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CHBB Publishing
Published: 2021-02-14T06:00:00+00:00

“I wondered,” I flipped my hair over my right shoulder, “if you’d be my date.”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, Barry studied my face like I was a complicated algebra problem. “You want me,” he paused, “to accompany you at Annelies and Eli’s wedding?”

“Yep.”

Barry leaned back in his chair and slouched a little as if I’d delivered bad news. “Why?”

Yeah, Jade. Why? My answer flowed quickly, “To be honest? My original date in the wedding party got into an accident. He’s not gonna make it.”

“He’s dying?” Barry exclaimed.

“No! I didn’t mean… he can’t fly.”

“Oh. That’s far less tragic.” Barry looked mostly shell-shocked and a little relieved.

BUTT didn’t need to know I’d told a white lie. Even if Nate ever came back to town, I’d never be his date again.

Barry’s hesitation in answering me came as a surprise. For the love of... What’s wrong with me? Do I have a third eye? I can’t even score a night out with accountant BUTT and his trusty metal detector. Being turned down, even without a verbal “no”, left me self-conscious. “You know what? Don’t worry about it.”

I practically saw the hamster wheel running in his head as he grabbed for my hand when I started to stand up. “Wait. I’ll go.”

Deal sealed.

Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck. “Perfect!” He smelled like cheap muscle rub. A whiff of camphor, menthol, and wintergreen made me hold my breath over his shoulder. Maybe it wasn’t so perfect.

Barry lightly patted my back, and I cringed at the gesture I hated. “But I have a condition,” he said.

I pulled away and sank down onto the chair.

“I get to take you out for coffee first. A pre-date date. Let’s say, tomorrow morning?”

Tomorrow. Cautiously, I waited a few seconds for him to assume I’d planned on going home with him that night, a question on how I wanted my eggs when I woke up in his bed, or some other sleazy line. None of it happened.

“Deal.” I reached out to shake his hand, feeling like I’d closed on a business transaction.

“Great. I’ll text you the address and time,” he said before waving at his friend who’d walked through the front door and up to the bar.

With our hands still connected, the soon-to-be bride and groom approached, Paige stomped in tow, angrily typing on her cell phone. Eli’s unyielding glare hadn’t tapered, which left me feeling unsteady all over again.

“Hey, guys!” I said with fake enthusiasm.

Miles noticed the group uniting and hurried to cut off Sienna midway. They argued while Miles gripped her upper arm. Maybe Sienna saw him with blondie, after all.

“I’d like to introduce you to my date for the wedding,” I said.

“Barry?” Bo stared while everyone else whispered. “Jade, can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked quietly. “Over there?”

“Sure.” I excused myself and trailed after Bo toward the jukebox. “What?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me. You can’t stand Barry,” he said. “Don’t tell me one drink slapped beer goggles on your face.”

“For your information, I didn’t drink the beer.

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