Magnolia Parks: A Novel by Jessa Hastings

Author:Jessa Hastings [Hastings, Jessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780593474860
Amazon: B0C6NBLBL2
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-07-13T00:00:00+00:00

23:54

Christian

Why did you say that?

Because it’s true, Magnolia.

Which part?

All of it.

You did and I do.

Are you trying to hurt me?

Nope.

Are you trying to hurt him?

Which him, Parks?

Wow.

Are you and Daisy having a row?

Fuck you

Oh that’s so funny–

I was under the impression you already had.

THIRTY-ONE

Magnolia

I’m lying out by the pool—Tom’s gone for a run. BJ’s not awake yet. Gus is by me, but his headphones are in and he’s not paying attention to me, which means my new Sole embroidered, seer-sucker, triangle, halter-neck bikini top from Marysia that I’ve paired with her Broadway reversible, scalloped bikini briefs is being completely wasted on the inattentive gay man next to me.

A shadow falls over me, and with one eye open I peer up.

Christian Hemmes is staring down at me in the black and white Palm Angels, logo-print, short-sleeve bowling shirt, all undone with the logo-print, drawstring swim shorts from Balmain. Face as serious as ever. Brows kind of knitted into a frown. Jaw set—but his jaw is always set.

“What’s your face so serious all the time for?” I asked him once when we were together, and he held my chin between his fingers, and for a second his whole face lit up.

“It’s a serious business, loving you.”

But that wasn’t why—I knew that even then. It’s whatever he does. All the things those boys keep from me, all the whispers about the Hemmes they think I don’t know about, all the whispers that are true, those are why he’s serious.

Christian kicks me gently with his big toe, nodding at the bed next to me.

“Can I sit here?”

“Oh, of course.” I wave my hand dismissively. “However, you must be careful as I have been known to orgasm spontaneously in public—oh wait, no—you know what that looks like. You’ll be fine.”

His head rolls back to the sky and he sighs. “Don’t be a bitch.”

I look over at him, eyebrows arched. “I beg your pardon?”

He turns to me. “I’m sorry.”

I give him a sharp look, folding my arms over my chest. “I should think so.” He groans, leaning back onto the sun bed. I watch him for a few seconds, then shake my head. “Why would you do that?”

He shoves his hands through his hair as he grinds his jaw. “I don’t know.”

Yes, he does, and so do I. These little flare-ups of his aren’t anything new. He never really forgave me. He might have been the one who ended it, but it was my fault and he’s held it against me ever since.

“It’s fun”—he shrugs—“to fuck with you.”

“Oh.” I nod, wide-eyed. “Excellent.”

He gives me a look. “You know what I mean.”

I glare over at him. “No, Christian—I actually don’t. I don’t like fucking with people.”

“Really?” He blinks. I tilt my head and he stares at me, a bit incredulous. “You don’t like fucking with people?” His brows are up, eyes dark, and I can tell before he starts he’s about to come in swinging all over again. “You’ve dated, like, five guys in the past two

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