Chapter 25

JENNIE: THEN

Seven years ago

Pittsburgh

SUBJECT: POST GRAD plans.

It's official! I've been awarded fellowships at Stanford, Brown AND Harvard! (I also received offer letters from every art school I applied to, but I'm going to ask for a deferral)

Oh, and to answer the text you sent me a few minutes ago, I'd love to go with you to dinner to meet your agent. (Are you sure you don't want your mom to go with you instead of me?)

Talk to you tonight,

Jennie

PS—I think I'm falling in love with you.

SUBJECT: RE: POST GRAD plans.

Congratulations. I'm very happy for you. I'll take you out to dinner to celebrate this weekend. (I still think you should go to art school first—you clearly love that more than law, but I understand your decision)

Good to know you're coming. (My mother hates agents. She almost killed my father's agent when he played.)

SEE you tonight,

Lisa

PS—I think I already fell.

I KNOCKED ON LISA'S door around seven o'clock that evening, shivering as Pittsburgh's winter winds whipped against me.

"Hey, Jennie!" Rosé opened the door. "I didn't know you were coming up here tonight."

Shit, shit, shit.

"Um." I stepped inside. "Is Lisa here?"

"Of course she's here," she said. "She's throwing my official 'I've signed with an agent' dinner." She ushered me into the kitchen where Lisa, a few other football players, and Rosé' parents were standing around sipping wine. "Want me to get your coat?"

"No, I'm okay." I picked up a glass from the counter and tossed it back. "Which agency are you signing with?"

"Reid Clover. I think they're going to get me everything I want outside of football, you know?"

"I do." I'd spent countless nights listening to her tell Lisa that she wanted to be the face of at least three drinks and a fashion label. I never really paid much attention to her until now.

"Hey." Lisa walked over to me and kissed my lips. "I thought you were painting tonight."

"I was. I'm taking a break so I figured I'd stop by."

"Want me to take your coat?"

"No." I held it closed. "No, I actually just remembered that I left something at home. I'll go get it and come back."

"Would you like me to drive you?"

"I can take the shuttle. I'll be right back." I walked away, but she grabbed my hand and pulled me into her bedroom.

She locked the door and looked at me.

"Why are you really here?" she asked. "Did you leave something last night?"

"No, I—" I felt my cheeks reddening. "It's nothing. I can take the shuttle, Lisa."

"Tell me the truth."

"I wanted to hang out. I didn't know you were hosting a get-together for Rosé."

"You're more than welcome to stay." She looked confused. "It'll probably turn into a party later."

"In that case, I'll come back after I change clothes."

"You don't have to do that." She unfastened the top buttons of my coat and paused when she reached the middle one. She raised her eyebrow and smiled, trailing her finger along the lace of my bra.

"You came up here because you wanted to have sex?" she asked.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Be honest." She was still smiling. "You should be able to be honest with me like I'm honest with you."

"I did not come up here to have sex with you, Lisa. I came up here to study."

"Without any books? In lingerie?" She undid the last button. "You would've worn one of your sweaters if that was the case."

"I just forgot to put on pants, and a shirt."

"It's twenty degrees outside." She pushed the coat off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. "Try again." She kissed my lips. "You can easily say, Yes, Lisa. I'm horny and I wanted to fuck you."

"That's not what I would say."

"It's what you should say, from here on out." She kissed me again and hit the lights. "I'll never turn you down."

"Does this mean you're not going back to the dinner?"

"It does." She pulled her shirt over her head. Then she pushed me back onto her mattress. "Admit that you came up here because you're horny and you wanted to fuck me, first."

"Fine." I smiled. "I came up here because I'm horny and I wanted to fuck you. Happy?"

"Yes."