Free 10 Weeks by Jolene Perry Page A

girl, but his definitely deserves watching. I need to figure out what nights he has off so I know I can go to the bar without feeling inept.
     
     
    The girls and I are heading to the Minnow again tonight, and I have no idea how I feel about it—especially since I didn’t check Liam ’s schedule. I did spend more time than I should have getting ready, but for what, really? I don’t have it in me to flirt with Liam whether he means it or not. And probably dressing up puts me in an even better position to make an ass out of myself.
    “Hey, Jo Jo, ” Jeff says as soon as I step outside my cabin.
    I freeze, suddenly angry that he feels like he can just walk over here and be friendly. Why is he here? “Don’t call me that.”
    He sighs, shifting his weight, but this is a Jeff fidget thing, so I’m thinking he’s nervous. “Come on. Are we really going to do this?”
    Instead of giving him the argument he’s so obviously after, I turn and continue toward Sam ’s cabin.
    He grabs my arm , warm and familiar, forcing me to wait. I don’t want him to touch me, but also don’t want him to stop. I hate this. Why couldn’t he just disappear after breaking up with me? Seeing him all the time is throwing me, and I hate to be thrown.
    Jeff’s eyes are safe. His hair is safe. His job is safe. Everything about him is comfort and all the things that I know, that I’m used to. Things I don’t need to be afraid of. But maybe I want to be afraid.
    “My parents are swinging through town on their way to Alberta and want to have dinner with us.” He doesn’t have to ask, because I know what he wants from me.
    I choke, and then cough. “Wait. With us ?”
    He suddenly won’t meet my eyes. “They don’t know we split.”
    I step back. I’ve been dealing with parental backlash for two weeks. I’m half amazed our parents haven’t spoken about it yet. “We didn’t split. You split.”
    He sighs and flips the phone over in his hand. This is classic Jeff—fidget when the conversation turns to something uncomfortable.
    When he doesn’t say anything else, it’s like a rejection all over again. No comfort of “we’re still good friends,” or “I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” or “we were both moving on,” even though I wasn’t. Silence.
    I’m done here. I can’t look at him. There’s too much history. Too much us .
    “Jo, wait!” He jogs to catch up. “Please. One dinner. That’s all.”
    “And when did you plan on telling them?” I cross my arms, feeling stronger than I have since he told me we should break it off. A little bit back to my normal self—less thrown .
    “I…” He shrugs. “I don’t know.”
    I know right now I’ll do the stupid dinner , but there’s this small sadistic part of me that wants to make him sweat. “Let me know when it is, and maybe I’ll come.”
    His whole body relaxes in relief. Why hasn’t he told them?
    “Thanks, Jody. Really. I owe you one.” He nods with this look of sincerity that I’m not sure I buy before turning and jogging off.
    I take a few deep breaths trying to push all the Jeff-tension away when Kay-Kay leaps on my back and knocks it out of me.
     
     
    Sam and I are at the Minnow alone— Kay-Kay bailed on us, which means she’s definitely after Alex. Nothing keeps her from this place.
    “No bullshit, Jo. He’s already looked at you twice. If you don’t take advantage of this pretty ideal situation, I migh t be tempted to kick your ass.”
    I just nod, having no idea what to make of anything she’s just said.
    Sam’s pocket buzzes. She pulls out her phone. “Oh, hell…” Her body slumps. “ It’s my brother. I gotta talk to him .”
    And now I’m alone.
    Liam gave me an odd smile when I came in, but I don’t know if he’s being polite and noticing me, or if he’s offended that I didn’t chat with him more the other day. If I wasn’t dying of thirst, nothing could drag me to the bar—not even Sam ’s threat to kick my ass.
    After