Chapter 11
"No, Agnes, hold on," Jenny said hurriedly into the phone as she ran across the apartment to the door, pulling it open and stopping the incessant knocking.
She blinked in surprise. "Vanessa!"
Vanessa smiled at Jenny. "Hey, Jen. Is Dan home?"
"Who is that?" Agnes demanded on the other end.
"Agnes, I'll call you back."
"No, Jenny! Wait—"
Jenny snapped the phone close in the middle, terminating the conversation. She looked at her brother's best friend and shook her head. "No. Dan's out … with Nate."
Vanessa's expression shifted subtly and she ducked her head. "Oh. Hey, how's that going?"
Jenny could feel her heart beat harder in her chest. "How's what going?"
"Nate … Him being here."
Jenny forced herself to shrug, clasping her hands in front of her to keep them from shaking. "It's good. Nate's … good. He seems happy here."
"You know, it's really cool of your dad to let him stay here."
"It is cool of me, isn't it?" Rufus chimed in from the doorway with two bags of groceries under his arms.
Vanessa turned, smiling, and extended her arms to take one of the brown sacks.
"Thank you." Rufus smiled at her and they both entered the apartment. Jenny closed the door after him and followed them into the kitchen, watching as Vanessa immediately started helping put the groceries away alongside her father. It seemed so natural and so disconcerting all at once.
"You staying for dinner, Vanessa?" Rufus asked casually.
"Depends on what's on the menu."
"My world famous spaghetti," Rufus boasted with a small bow.
"Well, how can I resist?" She grinned over at him.
"Good. Dinner should be ready in an hour and a half." Rufus turned to Jenny. "How was your day, kiddo?"
Jenny nodded, plucking a banana from the bag and starting to peel it, trying to steady her nerves. "Good."
"You talked to your brother or Nate?"
"Um … yeah. They'll be home for dinner." She snuck a look at Vanessa and almost winced when she saw the pained look cross Vanessa's face. Her breakup with Nate must still be a sore subject.
"Sounds good."
Jenny took a few steps back. "I should really get back to the dress I'm working on." She finished the banana in a few bites and tossed the peal into the garbage. She walked around to the sink to wash her hands, not wanting the stain the fabric of the dress she currently had on her desk.
Vanessa smiled at her. "Can I see? It's been a while since you showed me your new stuff."
"Sure." Jenny shrugged, her stomach in knots. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with boyfriend's—was he her boyfriend now?—former girlfriend, who also happened to double as her brother's inquisitive best friend.
Vanessa walked in a slow circle around Jenny's room, occasionally touching an article of clothing, looking at the details. Her eyes widened appreciatively before turning back to Jenny. "These are incredible, Jenny."
"Thanks." She couldn't stop the proud smile that spread across her lips whenever someone complimented her work.
Vanessa sank onto the edge of the bed, lifting the fluffy, oversized pink dog Jenny kept on it. She hugged it to her lap, not looking at Jenny. "So … how's Nate doing?"
Jenny kept her expression placid. "Fine, I guess. Why?"
"Just … wondering," Vanessa said slowly. "I know it's hard for him. I mean, his dad's gone and his mom's living in the Hamptons … Now he's living with you guys."
Jenny took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "Can I ask you a question, V?"
Vanessa looked up, her expression clouded and contemplative. "Sure."
"Do you still … have feelings for Nate?" She held her breath, terrified of the answer.
"Honestly?"
Jenny managed a quick nod. Talking wasn't an option at this point.
Vanessa looked away. "Yes."
Jenny could literally feel the world slip out from beneath her. Everything suspended in time as she tried to figure out what to say next, but there was nothing. Her mind couldn't form a single coherent thought.
"How could I not?" Vanessa went on, oblivious to Jenny's panic. She picked at the magenta fur on the dog's back. "Nate's an amazing guy. He's sweet and kind … He's not stuck up like all those other guys Dan goes to school with. He's genuine, and I really think we had something."
This was a nightmare. Jenny felt blindly behind her for something to grab, her fingers closing around the edge of her work desk. She leaned against it heavily as he legs buckled.
Vanessa still has feelings for Nate.
"But I don't think we can get past what happened. Not now." Vanessa sighed softly, dejected.
"What … what happened?" Jenny stammered.
Vanessa sniffed and blinked rapidly. "He was …" She sighed loudly and shook her head, laughing bitterly to herself. "He was sleeping with this older woman. Catherine."
Jenny's eyes slid shut. She didn't want to hear the rest.
"Anyway, Nate told me he was sleeping with Catherine because she was basically blackmailing him. So, me being me, I decided I had to step in and help." Vanessa rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "I made a mess of things and suffice to say, Nate now hates me."
Jenny pressed a hand to her mouth. She was going to be sick. It was that simple. She was going to lose it any minute now.
Vanessa finally looked at Jenny. "Hey, are you OK? You look really pale." She got off the bed and went to Jenny.
"I … I, um, feel kind of sick. Must be a bug or … something," Jenny stammered, breathing hard.
"You want me to get your dad? A glass of water?"
"No, no … I'll be OK, I think," Jenny assured her, waving her off.
Vanessa pressed a cool hand to Jenny's forehead. "You're really clammy, but you don't feel warm. I don't think you have a fever."
"I've been staying up late to work on the dresses," Jenny mumbled, shaking off Vanessa's hand, her shaggy blonde hair falling to obscure her face. "I just need to sleep."
"Are you sure?" Vanessa pressed.
Jenny opened her mouth to answer when she heard voices in the entryway of the apartment. She swallowed hard.
Nate and Dan were home.
She let out a hard breath, still trembling even as she tried to get control of her body.
"OK, you're really freaking me out here," Vanessa hissed, keeping her voice down. "Let me get your dad—"
Jenny's hand shot out to grab her arm as Vanessa tried to leave. "I'm fine." She took a deep, cleansing breath and straightened herself. She could do this. She faked a bright smile at Vanessa and extended her stilled hands. "See? I'm good. Just tired."
Vanessa didn't seem convinced, but she relented. "OK. If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
"Sure about what?" Dan asked, appearing in the doorway with Nate.
"Nothing," both girls answered quickly, glancing at each other.
Nate frowned and looked hard at Jenny, trying to catch her eye. The frown lines deepened as she studiously worked at not meeting his gaze.
"OK," Dan drawled, amused. "Sure."
"You know, Dad might need help. I'm going to go … help him. Excuse me." Jenny brushed past Dan and Nate, ignoring when Nate subtly touched her hand on her way by.
"So what brings you here?" Dan asked Vanessa, smiling.
She shrugged, not looking at Nate. "Just in the area. Your dad invited me for dinner."
"Great." Dan grinned at her.
"Yeah, great," Nate echoed, distracted. He glanced once at Jenny, now in the kitchen and helping her father and then back at Vanessa who offered him a small smile.
This was going to be an interesting night.
