Chapter 28

JENNIE: THEN

Seven years ago

Pittsburgh

SUBJECT: HEY.

Did you forget about our date today?

—Jennie

SUBJECT: WHERE ARE you?

I'm sitting in Highland Coffee waiting for you. Are you still coming?

—Jennie

SUBJECT: CALL ME LATER :)

It's been an hour and you still haven't shown up or responded, so I guess you're still in that meeting.

Call me later.

—Jennie

I SIPPED THE LAST OF my latte and left the café. Ever since Lisa signed with Seulgi, her schedule became packed with endless advice sessions, training preparation, and mock media interviews. Our alone-time was now relegated to Tuesday night coffee sessions, the occasional date, and late-night talks whenever she finished her day.

She was unable to pick me up for classes in the mornings, but she let me drive her car since the campus police always let me out of speeding offenses whenever they realized it was her car. And even though she couldn't hang out with me as much, she made it a point to have flowers and donuts delivered to my dorm a few times a week with sweet notes. She insisted that I "didn't need to worry," and to be honest, I didn't. I was happy she was getting everything she deserved, and I was looking forward to seeing her hard work pay off.

Checking my phone one last time to see if she'd responded, I crossed the street and headed toward the law library. When I approached the student union crosswalk, I saw Lisa through the bookstore windows.

Looking exasperated, she sat across from Seulgi and spoke as she typed on her keyboard. Mid-sentence, she leaned back in her chair and waved to someone I couldn't see.

Seconds later, a blonde walked over to her and smiled. She took a seat next to her and rubbed her shoulder—whispering something into her ear. She managed to get three seconds of words out before she grabbed her wrist and pushed her hand away.

I wasn't the best lip reader, but I could definitely make out her annoyed "Don't fucking touch me like that. You know I have a girlfriend."

I laughed and called Seulgi's phone, watching as she held it up to her ear.

"Hey Jennie!" she said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Are you with Lisa?"

"I am," she said. "Hold on." She handed the phone to her and mouthed, "It's Jennie."

"Hey," she said. "I apologize in advance if you've called or texted me today. I left my phone in Rosé's car at lunch, and she's still downtown."

"I figured there was a good reason. Did you forget about our date today?"

Her face fell. "I did...I'm sorry, Jennie. Where are you right now?"

"Across the street."

She looked out the window and ended the call, returning Seulgi's phone. She grabbed her jacket and left the café, walking over to me.

"I'm so sorry." She wrapped her arms around my waist. "Let me make this up to you."

"It's okay. You don't have to."

"I do." She kissed my forehead. "I feel like we've been off a bit lately and I don't want you getting ideas."

"Ideas about what?"

"Us not being together when I go to the league. Tell me three things I can do this week to make tonight up to you."

I smiled. "You can watch a Friends marathon with me at your place over donuts and coffee."

"Can you try to pick something a little less painful?"

"Nope." I laughed. "You can also let me paint you this weekend. Oh, and you can give me a massage—with my clothes on."

"Why do your clothes need to be on?"

"Because every time you give me a naked massage, you flip my body over halfway through it and fuck me."

"Okay." She let go of my waist and clasped my hand. "I'll wait until after I'm done with the massage this time. Let's do that option first."