Chapter 198
**Sara**
"Speaking of adventures," Emily chimed in, wiggling her eyebrows. "Remember that guy from the coffee shop last week? The one who couldn't stop staring at your ass?"
Jessica's eyes lit up. "Oh my god, yes! He was cute, wasn't he? Those biceps..." She fanned herself dramatically.
"Did you get his number?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Better." Jessica leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I got his Instagram. Let me tell you, those gym selfies..." She bit her lower lip.
Emily groaned. "Please tell me you didn't slide into his DMs."
"Not yet!" Jessica winked. "But I might. A girl's got needs, you know?"
"Trust me, we know." I rolled my eyes. "You never let us forget."
"Hey, at least I'm honest about it." Jessica stretched like a cat. "Unlike Emily here, who pretends she doesn't check out every guy at the gym."
Emily's face turned red. "I do not!"
Jessica scoffed. "I've seen you nearly drop weights when that personal trainer walks by."
"Can we change the subject?" Emily buried her face in her hands. "Like, I don't know, actual adult stuff?"
"Fine," I said, seizing the opportunity. "How's the job hunt going, Jess? Have you been applying?"
Jessica's playful expression faltered slightly. "Ugh, don't remind me. I've sent out about fifty applications this week alone. My inbox is full of those automated 'thank you for your interest' emails."
"Any interviews?" Emily asked, looking genuinely concerned.
"Had three last week." Jessica slumped deeper into the couch. "One was a disaster - the interviewer kept staring at my chest instead of my face. Another one, I thought, went great until they told me they were looking for someone with ten years of experience. For an entry-level position!"
"That's ridiculous," I said.
"Right? And the third one..." Jessica rolled her eyes. "Let's just say when they mentioned 'competitive salary,' they meant competing with minimum wage. So yeah, back to square one."
"At least you're trying," Emily offered. "That's more than some people can say."
"Yeah, well," Jessica sighed, then immediately perked up. "But hey, at least I've got my vibrator collection to keep me company while I write more cover letters!"
"Jessica!" Emily and I exclaimed in unison.
"What?" She grinned innocently. "Sometimes a girl needs stress relief between rejections."
Jessica's ability to turn any conversation into something about her sex life was both impressive and exhausting.
"Maybe you should include that in your cover letters," I suggested. "Dear Hiring Manager, while I am fully qualified for this position, please be aware that I might occasionally need to take a break to de-stress."
Jessica burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Can you imagine their faces? I'd either get hired on the spot or banned from the industry forever."
Emily shook her head with a smile. "Honestly, Jess, you're one of a kind."
"Thank you, darling," Jessica said with a mock bow. "I take that as the highest compliment."
I leaned back on the couch, feeling warm and comfortable with my friends. Despite everything going on—the breakup with Matt, the complicated relationship with Tom, the job hunt—moments like these made it all bearable.
"You know, Jess, I wouldn't be surprised if you end up seducing the hiring manager or HR during your interviews," Emily teased, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
I had to stifle a laugh - it was exactly the kind of thing Jessica would do, whether intentionally or not. Her natural charisma had a way of winning people over, even in the most professional settings.
Jessica's eyes widened in mock offense. "How dare you? I have standards."
"Yeah," Emily smirked. "They're usually somewhere around 'breathing and employed.' I can see it now - you in some office bathroom having a quickie with the HR rep while your interview's still going on."
Jessica laughed. "You give me too much credit! But seriously, office bathrooms are too cliché for my taste. And a little too germy."
"Oh really?" I chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "So, where's your preferred venue for these escapades?"
Jessica thought for a moment. "I'm more of a conference room kind of girl. You know, big table, lots of space... plus those swivel chairs can be pretty fun."
"Jessica! Please tell me you haven't actually..." I sputtered, feeling my cheeks flush at the mental image now permanently seared into my brain.
"What? Conference rooms are perfect!" She sat up straighter, getting into lecture mode. "Think about it - soundproof walls, blinds you can close, and those ergonomic chairs? Heaven for reverse cowgirl."
"I'm never going to look at the office furniture the same way again," Emily muttered, her face a mix of disbelief and amusement.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the mental images Jessica had planted. "Can we please not discuss office sex? Some of us are trying to maintain professional mindsets for our job searches."
"Oh, come on!" Jessica wiggled her eyebrows. "You can't tell me you haven't thought about bending over a desk-"
"Stop!" I held up my hand. "Focus. Jobs. Careers. Professional development."
Emily nodded vigorously. "I really need to find something soon. I should start looking for my own place, too; get out of your hair."
"No!" Jessica wrapped her arms around Emily's waist. "You can't leave me! Who will judge my life choices and make disapproving faces when I bring guys home?"
Emily tried to pry Jessica's arms off. "It's not like I'm moving to Mars."
"Not like you're going to Mars?" Jessica tightened her grip. "That's exactly what someone planning to move to Mars would say!"
I watched as Emily struggled against Jessica's octopus-like embrace. "Jessica, I can barely breathe!"
"Good! Maybe if I cut off your oxygen supply, you'll forget about leaving." Jessica buried her face in Emily's hair. "You're stuck with me forever."
I watched as Jessica continued to cling to Emily like a determined koala.
"Let. Me. Go!" Emily squirmed, trying to break free.
"Never! You're my emotional support roommate. I need you!" Jessica wailed dramatically.
"I'm not your emotional support or anything!" Emily finally extracted herself from Jessica's grip, smoothing her ruffled hair. "And I pay rent, remember?"
Jessica's eyes lit up with mischief. "Oh, about that... If you want to leave, you'll need to pay up first."
"Pay what?" Emily asked suspiciously.
"Just a hundred years of rent. Nothing major." Jessica examined her nails casually.
"A hundred years?" I sputtered in disbelief, wondering if Jessica had finally lost what remained of her sanity.
"This isn't even your apartment!" Emily threw her hands up. "You're renting it too!"
"Details, details." Jessica waved dismissively. "I got here first, which makes me the supreme overlord of this domain. Therefore, I decree that leaving requires a century's worth of rent."
Emily crossed her arms. "I pay my share every month, same as you."
"Exactly!" Jessica pointed triumphantly. "You've already established a payment plan. Can't back out now. It's basically a contract for life."
"That's not how contracts work," Emily protested.
"Says who? I've seen your browser history - you spend too much time watching legal dramas to be a reliable source." Jessica smirked.
"Those are completely different-"
"Ah-ah!" Jessica held up a finger. "Payment plan or no escape. Those are the rules I just made up."
I couldn't help but laugh at their ridiculous exchange. "And what happens if she doesn't pay?"
Jessica's eyes gleamed. "Then she has to stay and listen to all my sexcapades in vivid detail. Every. Single. One."
"That's torture!" Emily gasped.
"Exactly." Jessica grinned wickedly. "So what's it gonna be? A hundred years of rent or a lifetime of hearing about my adventures with-"
"Stop!" Emily covered her ears. "I'll stay! Just please spare me the details."
"Victory!" Jessica threw her arms around Emily again. "I knew you'd see it my way."
"I hate you," Emily mumbled into Jessica's shoulder.
"No, you don't. You love me and my stories about that time in the elevator with Blake-"
Emily slapped a hand over Jessica's mouth. "I will move out just to spite you."
Jessica licked Emily's palm, making her shriek and pull away. "Too late! No takebacks!"
I shook my head at their antics, grateful for friends who could make me laugh even during the stress of job hunting and life changes.
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