Page 65 of Let's Be Forever

I’m smiling like a fucking idiot because I think she still wants me too.

27

ANNA

I don’t want him.

And I definitely don’t want to…kiss him. Well, maybe—no. I have no desire to do that. Last night was a lapse of judgment. I was exhausted and not thinking clearly when I let him put his lips on me.

It definitely had nothing to do with how he smelled, how he felt against me, how the heat of his body set me on fire, how he sounded both restless and desperate for me.

“Anna.” Clementine singsongs my name and sets a plastic cup that I know is an iced americano with coconut water next to our planner. “You good?”

I glance at the calendar in front of me and the pen in my hand. I opened it almost ten minutes ago and didn’t realize I had zoned out until now. Knowing I don’t have the energy to fill it in now, I shove it away and pick up my cup.

“Yeah, I’m—” I break off at the sound of the door clanking shut. “Thanks for the drink. I’m fine. Go.” I shove her away, flashing her a smile as she looks over her shoulder at me.

I know she doesn’t buy it, but I don’t want to talk about Sylas.

She’s only taken a step backward when I hear a familiar voice drawing near. I’m sidestepping Em, but she’s already in the back room.

My daughter happily skips in with my best friend and sister in tow. I’m not too shocked Maya and Rosie are here, although they usually appear later in the day. What shocks me is seeing Jenny. Last I knew, she didn’t have any PTO left.

I know she was dumbstruck when I told her I was moving in with Sylas.

Clementine had offered her place, but she lives in a studio. There is no way we’d all fit, and while she stated several times she didn’t care, Rosie would have caused havoc at her place. I know how much she loves her, but sometimes even I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the mess and noise.

“What are you doing here?” I gape at her and crouch to pick up Rosie.

“Mama, mira.” Rosie jumps into my arms, and a giddy smile stretches wide on her face as she holds up a clover and yellow dandelion.

“Que bonito. Tienes una flor?” I sniff it as she brings it to my nose, which is something I taught her to do. We’re still working on her not ripping out flowers from places she shouldn’t.

“Si.” She bears a toothy grin and squirms against me, letting me know she wants down. “Ya, quiero bajo. Down.”

“Okay, but behave and stay here,” I warn her, setting her down and looking up at three pairs of expectant eyes. “Uh, Jenny, this is Maya, my sister, and Maya, this is Jenny, my best friend. The girl I lived with in New York when I was at KYU,” I introduce them.

We may have lived together for four years, but they never met. Maya awkwardly waves at her, I’m sure feeling uncertain about how she’s going to treat her.

The thing about Jenny is, she’s a sweetheart. She has a hard time staying angry and an even harder time holding grudges. While she’d been mad at Maya on my behalf, once I told her she was back, she was happy for me. She said it was good that we were talking again.

“Hi,” my best friend says, and her eyes rake over Maya’s figure. “Like wow, good genes run strong in your family, huh? You’re carbon copies of each other, except your hair is curly?”

“Oh, yeah.” She touches her hair. “I got this from our mom’s side. They all have curly hair.”

“I love your hair. I wish mine was curly.” Em scrunches her nose, running her palm over her straight locks.

“It’s a pain in the ass to maintain, and don’t get me started on all the products I have to use.”

“But talk about volume,” Jenny says in awe. “I’d kill to have that.”

“And—wait, I love your hair, I really do, but let’s talk about it later?” Em starts apologetically but darts her attention to me. “I assume you’re all here to talk about Sylas and Anna? I know you’re both nosy bitches, as am I.”

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have work?” I ask Jenny, ignoring what Em said. “And you, why are you guys here so early? I thought you were taking Rosie to the park?” I ask my sister.

“What are we doing here?” Jenny stares at me as if I’ve asked the most ludicrous question. “What do you think! We want to know what is going on with you and Sylas.”

I take a sip of my drink, drifting my gaze to where Rosie is sitting on her chair. She’s plucked the leaves off the clover and has moved on to the dandelion.