Free Paradise Island: Complete Edition by DD Cooper

looked her straight in the eyes. “That’s none of your business, Lucy.”
    I made a move to get the hell out of there but she moved too, blocking my exit.
    “Why are you doing this, Sophie? You told me yourself you didn’t even like the guy. And now you’re actually living with him? Who are you?”
    I had to admit that she had a point. I didn’t know who the hell I was at that moment either. I did not know why Jack made me feel safe, even though I knew, I even saw with my own eyes, what he was capable of.
    “I don’t know, Lucy. All I know is that I deserve a better friend than you.”
    “But you’re the one who told me you didn’t care what he was up to!”
    “Yes, but that doesn’t mean that I wanted you to fuck him. God, Lucy, why’d you have to go and do that? You couldn’t stand the fact that he was interested in me and not you. Is that it? Is that all it was? To show me that you could have him just like you’ve had half this whole fucking town?” Tears started to fall down my face and I didn’t know why. I quickly wiped them away with Jack’s jacket.
    “Oh, Sophie, that’s not it at all. I honestly thought you wouldn’t care. You knew how much I wanted to shag him, I told you myself! So when I saw him at the bar I frequent, of course I came on to him. I don’t know why you’re acting all high and mighty all of a sudden, though.”
    “I don’t know either, Lucy. There’s just something about him...”
    “Wow,” Lucy said. “You really haven’t fucked him yet have you? I can see it on your face! Do you want me to tell you how he was?”
    “Now you’re just being a bitch. Stop it.”
    “You started it.”
    “No I didn’t.”
    “Yes you did, Sophie, and you know it.”
    Exhausted by the exchange I sat back down on the bed, feeling like a fool. The truth was, I had overreacted to the whole affair. And moving to Jack’s? That was just the epitome of stupid.
    “I’m sorry, Lucy. I really messed up, didn’t I?” I was genuinely sorry that I had alienated my best friend, my only friend really, over a guy I barely knew, and that I knew nothing could happen with.
    “I messed up, too. I think I sensed you liked him, but I just wanted him so bad for myself. You don’t know how depressing it can be to live in this shithole of a town, always dreaming of Prince Charming to come along and rescue you. I thought he was my way out, but I know now that he doesn’t see me that way. But I think he does genuinely care about you.”
    “What should I do, Lucy? Please help me make sense of this.”
    “I think you should take your luggage and wheel yourself over back to Jack’s place and get to know him a bit better. Then you can come back and tell me all about it.”
    “You really mean that?”
    “I do.”
    “I feel like such a fool,” I said, my face in my hands. “It’s just when I saw you guys together. And the coke, it was just a bit too much. Too real.”
    “Oh, Sophie, the coke was definitely his idea. You know I’m not a fan of drugs.”
    Lucy walked me out and offered to walk with me, but I saw she was tired and I told her to get some rest. She said she’d keep things moving at the diner, and that I didn’t have to worry about it. She’d already told the owner that I had vacation days saved up. I thanked her and I felt like a weight had been lifted. The huge wedge between us was gone, but now something even scarier was in its place: confronting whatever it is I really felt about Jack. I felt like a fool wheeling my stuff back to his place when I had made up with Lucy. I wanted to turn back and forget about Jack and go back to a life that was safe and tidy, where the only excitement came from the stories Lucy would tell me.
    A crunching noise snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned back. “Lucy,” I said uncertainly, my heart almost beating out of my chest. “Is that you?”
    And again.
    And again.
    It was coming closer and I stood frozen in the darkness, not really sure what