Chapter-3,part-1

"I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE WHAT A GOOD FRIEND I AM. " JULES

yawned as we tromped across our front yard toward Josh’s house.

“For waking up at the butt crack of dawn to help your brother

clean and pack when I don’t even like the dude.”

I

laughed and looped my arm through hers. “I’ll buy you a

caramel mocha from The Morning Roast after. Promise.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She paused. “Large, with extra crunch

toppings?”

“You know it.”

“Fine.” Jules yawned again. “That makes it somewhat worth it.”

Jules and Josh were not fans of each other. I’d always found

that strange, considering they were so similar. They were both

outgoing, charming, smart as hell, and total heartbreakers.

Jules was a human version of Jessica Rabbit, all shiny red

hair, creamy skin, and curves that made me look at my body with

a sigh. Overall, I was happy with how I looked, but as a member

of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, I did wish for an extra cup size or

two without having to resort to plastic surgery. Ironically, Jules

sometimes complained about her double-Ds, saying they were

hard on her back. There should be a Venmo for breasts that

allows women to send and receive cup sizes with the press of a

button.

Like I said, I was happy with how I looked most of the time, but

no one—not even supermodels or movie stars—was immune from

insecurities.

Besides her grievances with her breasts, Jules was the most

confident person I’d ever met—aside from my brother, whose ego

was so large it could house the entire East Coast of the United

States with room left over for Texas. I suppose he had reason to

be, considering he’d always been the golden boy, and though it

pained me to admit it because he was my brother, he wasn’t bad

looking either. Six-foot-two with thick black hair and razor-sharp

bone structure, which he never let anyone forget. I was convinced

Josh would commission a sculpture of himself and display it on his

front lawn if he could.

Jules and Josh never divulged why they disliked each other so

much, but I suspected it might be because they saw too much of

themselves in each other.

The front door was already open, so we didn’t bother knocking.

To my surprise, the house was pretty clean. Josh had put most

of his furniture into storage last week, and the only things left to

pack were the couch (which someone would pick up later), a few

stray kitchen items, and the weird abstract painting in the living

room.

“Josh?” My voice echoed in the large, empty space while Jules

sat on the ground and pulled her knees to her chest with a grumpy

expression. If you couldn’t tell, she wasn’t a morning person.

“Where are you?”

“Bedroom!” I heard a loud thump upstairs, followed by a

muffled curse. A minute later, Josh came down holding a large

cardboard box. “Shit I’m donating,” he explained, setting it on the

kitchen counter.

I wrinkled my nose. “Put a shirt on. Please.”

“And deprive JR of her morning eye candy?” Josh smirked.

“I’m not that cruel.”

I

wasn’t the only one who thought Jules looked like Jessica

Rabbit; Josh always called her by the cartoon character’s initials,

which pissed her off to no end. Then again, everything Josh did

pissed her off.

Jules lifted her head and scowled. “Please. I’ve seen better

abs at the campus gym. Listen to Ava and put a shirt on before I

lose last night’s dinner.”

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” Josh drawled,

slapping a hand against his six-pack. “The only thing you’ll be

losing is—”

“Okay.” I slashed my arms through the air, cutting off the

conversation before it went down a path that’d scar me for life.

“Enough chitchat. Let’s get you packed up before you miss your

flight.”

Fortunately, Josh and Jules behaved for the next hour and a

half while we packed up the remaining items and loaded them into

the SUV he’d rented for the move.

Soon, the only thing left to pack was the painting.

“Tell me you’re donating this too.” I eyed the massive canvas.

“I don’t even know how it’ll fit in the car.”

“Nah, leave it there. He likes it.”

“Who?” As far as I knew, no one had taken over Josh’s lease

yet. But it was still July, and I expected the place to go fast closer

to the start of the semester.

“You’ll see.”

I didn’t like the smile on his face. At all.

The low purr of a powerful engine filled the air.

Josh’s smile broadened. “As a matter of fact, you’ll see right

now.”

Jules and I exchanged glances before we ran to the front door

and pushed it open.

A familiar Aston Martin idled in the driveway. The door opened,

and Alex stepped out, looking more gorgeous than any human

had the right to look in jeans, aviators, and a black button-down

shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

He took off his sunglasses and assessed us with cool eyes,

unfazed by the mini welcoming party on the front steps.

Only I didn’t feel particularly welcoming.

“But…but that’s Alex,” I stammered.

“Looking miiiighty fine, might I add.” Jules nudged me in the

ribs, and I scowled in response. Who cared if he was hot? He was

a jerk.

“Hey, dude.” Josh slapped hands with Alex. “Where’s your

stuff?”

“Moving company’s bringing it later.” Alex side-eyed Jules, who

assessed him the way one would a shiny new toy. Besides Josh,

Alex was the only guy who’d never fallen for her charms, which

intrigued her more. She was a sucker for a good challenge,

probably because most guys fell at her feet before she even

opened her mouth.

“Wait.” I put my hand up, my heart slamming a panicked

rhythm against my ribcage. “Moving comp—you’re not moving

To be continue

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***