Light My Fire by Jessica Ruben

Author:Jessica Ruben [Ruben, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JessicaRubenBooks
Published: 2019-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

Saturday night is here.

Today was spent primping. Natalie helped re-dye my naturally mousy-brown hair to black and iron it flat. It’s shiny and pin-straight. The outfit looks amazing, too. My makeup looks effortless, but the truth is, it was painstaking. Black liner lifted on the ends like a cat. Lots of bronzer to chisel out my cheekbones and to turn my pasty-white skin into something that looks alive.

Unfortunately, there aren’t enough cigarettes on earth to calm my nerves. Natalie forbid me from smoking once I showered and did my hair because she said it isn’t classy to smell like cigarettes.

She walks over to her dresser and pulls out her favorite pair of diamond studs. “My mom bought them for me when I graduated the eighth grade. I never wear them, obviously, but tonight feels like a good time to wear them.”

“Oh, no.” I shake my head.

“Oh, yes,” she replies, smiling.

I put them in my ears, and she looks at me approvingly.

“So, we never discussed Jack.” She plops back onto her bed and scrolls through her phone.

“What about him?”

“Well, Nico forbid other men, and yet you and Jack are still seeing each other…”

“I mean, we made out the night we met and in the van to New York City, but that’s all. He’s great, and I like spending time with him.”

“Does Jack know that you have no intentions for more?” She raises her brows. “Because Scott told me the other night that Jack’s totally into you.”

“Scott?” I turn around, smiling.

Natalie flushes. “Yep. God bless the man. He’s the best sex I’ve ever had. And cool, too. We’re never going anywhere serious, but it’s fun.”

I shrug. “I don’t know what Jack knows or what he thinks. But a few coffees and listening to him practice … oh shit. It does sound more serious when I say it out loud.”

“You should just tell him.” She lies back on her bed, adding a few pillows behind her to prop herself up.

“What should I say?”

“Just that you are seeing someone else. An old friend.”

“Come on—”

“I’m just saying, Jack is a decent guy. And he’s definitely going places in life. If you want something with him for real one day, after all this Nico shit is over, you’re going to have to come up with some kind of story to put him off until then. Otherwise, you’ll end up lying constantly about where you are and where you’re going …”

“I’ll figure out something. Can’t I just friend-zone him for the time being?”

Natalie wants to say more, but the doorbell rings. My heart pauses. What the fuck am I doing? I can’t go through with this!

Natalie excitedly points to the door. “I’ll get it!”

“Wait! No!” I whisper-yell, but she ignores me.

I hear her say hello, followed by his deep voice reply.

Should I go outside to the living room? Make him wait a minute? Oh, who am I kidding? I can’t leave Nico alone with her!

I exhale and open the bedroom door. At once, Nico and Natalie turn toward me.

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