Chapter 144

“I haven’t been on an actual date in years!” Jess panicked, pacing back and forth in Emma’s apartment. Sabrina had made the trip to Lyncrest foe Jess’s coaching session. Damian and Lizzie played together in their playpen while the three friends talked.
“Not much has changed,” Sabrina said. “Men are still the same.”
“That’s easy for you two to say! You have attached men. You caught them.”
“I’m pretty sure you caught Spencer already,” Emma said.
“Yeah?” Jess’s eyes lit up. “You think so? He said something to you?”
“He said something like you make him want to be wild.”
“Girl!” Sabrina squealed. “Sweet little Spencer wants to get wild!”
“When he said that, I said that I never imagined he had a wild side. And he responded that it was, and I quote, ‘specific situations,” Emma said, enjoying her girl time.
“He is going to blow your back out!” Sabrina laughed, slapping Jess’s arm out of excitement.
“Yes, please!” Jess laughed. “I hope so. It’s those sweet, quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for.”
“Speaking of,” Sabrina trailed off, looking at Emma. “You and Will are together officially.”
“Yes,” Emma blushed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“So…” Sabrina waved her hands around. “Details! I know you smashed.”
“And, if you want details about my date with Spencer, I’ll need details about you and Will. Spicy, saucy, juicy details.”
“Damn right,” Sabrina added. “We missed out on all the details from when this nonsense all started. But now, girl I have been dying to know.”
“That man looks like he could destroy someone just by looking at them. Tell us, girl, tell us.”
Emma’s face and neck were bright with a fevered blush. She covered her face with her hands and laughed.
“Oh my God, you guys! You’re so bad!”
“Spill it!” they laughed.
“He’s amazing,” she said from behind her hands. “Like so amazing.”
“How big is it?” Jess asked. Emma moved her hands to simulate her answer. Jess and Sabrina’s eyes went wide.
“Damn! How are you still walking?”
“Sometimes, I can’t walk after. And um… his tongue game is A plus.”
Sabrina and Jess squealed loudly. The three of them devolved into a fit of giggles as they continued pressing Emma for more details about Will. Eventually, the conversation turned to Sabrina, and she was more than forthcoming about the details of her sex life with Alex. After the spilling of some salacious details, Jess took control.
“So, what am I going to wear?”
“Where is he taking you?”
“We’re going to an art opening and then dinner. You know him, Emma. What does he like?”
“He’s not very shallow, honestly. I don’t think you have to worry about impressing him. You already did that.”
“That’s true,” Sabrina added. “He likes how direct you were. Maybe reel it back a touch for the date. He wants to get to know you.”
“Right,” Jess made a mental note. “I want to get to know him too.”
“Well, you already know he’s really sweet,” Emma began. “He’s smart, talented, successful, and protective.”
“And sexy as hell,” Sabrina said.
“So damn fine,” Jess added.
“You two are the worst,” Emma smiled. “So, when is the date?”
“Tomorrow night. I’m so excited. I know I talk a lot of shit, but I really want this to work. I think this could be a real thing with Spencer.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” Emma said. “He wants that too.”
Jess smiled and her heart fluttered like two butterflies in a meadow.
“I made an appointment with a therapist,” Jess said after the merriment had died down. “If I’m going to commit to a relationship, I want to be in the right headspace for myself.”
“Good,” Sabrina said, placing a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You know you can talk to me. Both of you.”
“I know,” Jess said. “Em, I think you should see a therapist too.”
“I was actually thinking about that. I want Will to see one too. Maybe we could see one together.”
“That would be a good idea,” Sabrina said. “I know he won’t say, but what happened with Grace really affected him.”
“I think all of this does. He probably thinks it was his fault,” Emma lamented. “He’s trying really hard to do this the right way, and while I appreciate it, he’s going to throw all of his focus into that.”
“He’s an all or nothing kind of guy, huh?” Jess asked. Emma and Sabrina nodded. “I’ll have to thank him. He really helped me and my dad.” They talked about Jess’s father and how his recovery had progressed. They had met with Will’s attorney, Sam Weaver, and he had informed them that charges had been pressed against Robert Stewart’s estate for the death of the construction worker. Their company had been cleared and they could resume picking up projects as soon as they were up for it.
Will had been generous in paying her medical bills and setting up home care for her father. It was a kindness she’d never be able to repay. Her father was getting stronger and would be able to work soon. In the meantime, Jess would do her best to manage a few small projects. She was still in recovery too, and so she could exert herself too much. She wanted to conserve her energy for more… physical tasks.
“It’s going to an interesting time ahead of us,” Sabrina said.
“It is,” Emma nodded. “But we’re all together now. I think we’ll be okay.”
Jess clung onto those words as she got ready for her date with Spencer. There were dark corners in her mind that didn’t used to be there. When she least expected it, something from those corners would lash out at her. Her sleep was plagued by nightmares, and she flinched at any sudden movements.
She didn’t want her relationship with Spencer to become a crutch, or something she could lean on to get through it. She wanted him to be an enrichment of some kind. A relationship was supposed to enhance your life, not define it. And whatever she and Spencer would become… she wanted it to be an enhancement. An addition to the already great things going on for her.
Via FaceTime, Sabrina and Emma helped her select an outfit. Jess was always the edgier one of them when it came to style. They chose a sleeveless white sheath dress with a slit on the side. Jess paired with all black accessories. Black ankle booties with a block heel, black studded jacket, and matching purse. Her wild curls were out in full force. A smoky eye and dark red lip completed her look. The outfit was slightly ruined by the wrap on her ankle. She probably shouldn’t be wearing heels, but she would pay for that later.
She felt dark and dangerous. Perfect. Is this doesn’t make him feel wild, I don’t know what will.
“Okay,” Emma coached over the phone. Sabrina was also on the line. “You are fierce, tall, gorgeous, Amazonian goddess. But you may want to hold back on the getting in on tonight. Your ribs are still healing.”
“Don’t remind me,” Jess rolled her eyes. “It was a project to do my hair.”
“Maybe you should postpone the date?” Emma suggested.
“Hell no!” Sabrina protested. “Absolutely not! Don’t you cancel this date! So, maybe you have to wait to seal the deal. But you can enjoy yourself in other ways.”
“That’s true,” Emma interjected. “Find out what that mouth do.”
“Emma Skye Wells!” Sabrina gasped. “What did you say?”
“What?” Emma said innocently. “How else is she going to get any pleasure while she’s on the mend?”
“Our little Emma is all grown up,” Jess feigned tears. A knocked came at Jess’s door. “Oh my God! He’s here!”
The three of them squealed. After a few last wishes for a great date, Jess hung up. She took a few deep breaths and opened the door. Spencer stood there with a bouquet of multi-colored roses. His long hair was tied back. Jess had a brief vision of tangling her fingers in that hair. She wondered if it was as silky as it looked. He wore a dark blue button up shirt, with the first few buttons undone, slim fit black jeans and black boots. One of his ears was pierced a small silver hoop hugged his ear lobe. That touch of wildness he spoke with was there. The air around him was charged with it.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi. You look great,” he eyed her up and down.
“So do you,” she said accepting the flowers. “These are gorgeous. Let me put these in water and we can go.”
After getting the flowers situated, Spencer held out on arm for her.
“Shall we?”

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