Revenge(23)

I chase after Amanda, cursing to myself about how I don’t have time for guys in my life, especially jerks like Dylan Wolf.

I have to stay focused on my career.

Being here in LA is my chance to get away from a small life in a small town. I love my hometown, and the people there, but I don’t want to be one of those people who always wonders what might have been.

If things don’t work out here, I can always cash in that plane ticket. I can go home.

But if I leave, it means the rest of my life won’t have any surprises. I’ll probably marry my best friend. I wasn’t planning to, but who else is there?

My best friend practically proposed to me in the bus station on the day I left.

He asked me if I loved him, and I said I didn’t know.

It was so crazy. We grew up together. We’re practically brother and sister. We’ve never even kissed, but something changed when I said I was really leaving. He didn’t believe me, but he still drove me to the station.

My heart felt like it broke into a million pieces that day.

First I said goodbye to Nan, and then I said goodbye to the other person who means the most to me.

Now I’m thousands of miles from home, chasing after my new crazy roommate. And I think I’m falling for Dylan Wolf, who may or may not hate me.





Chapter 11


Amanda leads the way into a dim cafe. This place is bigger than the one where I had coffee on Sunday.

A waitress with thick makeup caking in her wrinkles greets us. She says, “Anywhere you like, ladies.”

We take a seat by the window. The only other customers are guys in steel-toed boots.

Amanda looks over her menu for a moment, then says, “Riley loves this place. I guess she gets bored of all the fancy places she goes to for her job.”

“I’d never get bored of fancy places.”

Her blue eyes jump up with interest. “Maybe your rock star boyfriend will take you on tour.”

“That guy? Dylan Wolf? He doesn’t even like me.”

“What’s not to like?”

The waitress returns with two cups of coffee. She didn’t even ask, and she gives me a look like she’s daring me to say I didn’t want coffee.

Amanda orders french toast, so I order the same.

After the waitress walks away, Amanda says, “That guy does like you. When you weren’t looking at him, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. I got a bit jealous. He was giving you major sex vibes with his sexy brown eyes.”

I shrug and pretend I don’t care. “He’s all yours. You touched him, so you’ve got dibs.”

“But he wants you. Keep up that innocent act. Some guys love the whole innocent thing. They want to do filthy things to a girl while she acts horrified.”

Some of the guys at the table near us look up from their meals. They tilt their heads to hear better.

“Thanks for the advice, but I need to focus on work.”

“You said your company is interested in Dylan Wolf? You think they want to sign him? Maybe you can do your work and do Dylan.” She laughs at her joke. “Get it? You can do both.”

“Was he really staring at me?”

“Like you were butt naked.”

“Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

She bats her eyes innocently. “Who would I tell?”

I snort and take a sip of my coffee. I forgot to put in cream and sugar, and it’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever tasted.

Amanda turns around on her chair and starts talking to one of the guys nearby. “Hey, aren’t you Chad?”

He answers, “No, but I could be. What does Chad do for you?”

The two of them talk while I check messages on my phone.

When the food arrives, Amanda gulps her food down like a hungry dog. She could probably win a competitive eating challenge if she wanted.

After we’re done, we split the bill and she walks me to the bus stop.

As I step onto the bus, she calls out after me, “Think about what I said! Think about having your cake and eating it!”

I take a seat and ignore all the eyes on me. When I glance up, people look away quickly. I guess I’ve only been in the city four days so far. It will take a few weeks before I blend in better.

When I get to work, the security guards have my permanent keycard waiting for me. I don’t know if I’m happy or sad. This means I officially work here… in the basement.

In the elevator, I push the unmarked button and travel down.

The doors open at the basement floor.

Nick is standing in front of me, wearing black clothes from top to bottom. Did he always wear black, or is he in mourning since he got sent to the basement?

In his usual flat voice, he says, “I’ve got good news and bad news, Jess.”

“Bad news? No kidding. How much worse can it get? Have they found a way to get even more dust into those archives boxes?”