Free Queen In Play (The Manhattan Tales Book 2) by Willa Thorne Page A

you Jane ’ act.  She’s obviously not buying it anymore. Just drop the bullshit.”
    I wanted to sneer at what she said, but she had a point.  My time with Jillian was spent while she was a teenage kid, then again under the terms of a contract- my terms.  Even now that she was well again, I still tried to force my will upon her because it worked with everyone else, including her- for a time.  I have never taken the time to appreciate the strong and intelligent woman she has become.
    The epiphany hit me like a punch to the gut.  I sat there, allowing it all to sink in.
    “I know that you have been sick with worry about her for the last two months, but she doesn’t know this.  Try to step out of your shoes for one minute and evaluate things from her perspective.”
    “Yes, I get the point.”  I rubbed the bridge of my nose in thought.
    “You’re beginning to get the point,” my cousin agreed partially.
    “What do you suggest I do?”  I finally asked, sounding irritated, but I was actually angry with myself for acting like such a damned fool.
    Piper’s lips curled into a soft smile.  “Just be yourself. You’ve hidden yourself away from us for years.  It’s time you returned.”
    I cast her a dry look.
    “... And ask her how she is feeling.  You’ll know what to do from there.”
    Christ. This session reminded me of an after school program special.  I was still on-edge, waiting and hoping that she would return soon.  The hours seemed like years.  Just as the knot in my chest began to tighten more, I heard a set of keys jingle from the outside hall.  The knob turned and the door opened.
    Jillian was quiet as she entered, seemingly tired.  I was watching her before she even noticed my presence.
     
    Jillian hung her jacket on the hook, and then turned toward the kitchen before she froze. Her brow furrowed as our eyes locked.  Her expression was confused and accusing. 
    “Well, I’m going to bed,” Piper said casually as she stood.
    Jillian looked at Piper for the briefest moment, in slight disbelief, then her eyes turned back to me.  The door to Piper’s bedroom clicked when it closed.
    It was just the two of us.  Time to put Piper’s advice into practice…
    “How are you feeling?”  I asked tentatively.
    Jill blinked, completely distracted from the glare she had been giving me.  My question clearly caught her by surprise.
     
     
     
     
     

 
    5. Jillian Pryor
     
    I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat.  He doesn’t understand how much it hurts to see him right now.  I bit my lip hard, trying to keep myself cool and collected.  Thoughts whirled around in my mind as I gave him a poisonous glare. 
    My date with Ian was fun.  He taught me how to play pool and offered me whiskey.  I had a cosmo instead, once our game of pool was over. Ian was very charming and he made me laugh a lot. We could probably be friends, but there was no spark between us.  There was still a dull ache in my heart from seeing Mason the week before, but I think I did a good job of keeping him out of my thoughts during the date… until now.
    “How are you feeling?” Mason asked, his voice laced with concern. 
    What? I felt myself blink.  I didn’t know what to think of this.  This is not what I was expecting…
    “How are you feeling?”  He repeated the question.
    “I am fine,” my answer was short. I glanced up, and our eyes met.  Even while I was still angry, heat washed over my body at the sight of him. A part of me wanted to forgive him, to let him embrace me, and forget the last five years...
    I could see from the twitch in his brow that he wanted me to elaborate on how I was feeling, but he was not pushing it. He seemed tense, and nervous.
    “I don’t have the pain in my ribs anymore.  I got banged up pretty bad, but nothing was broken.”  It felt awkward standing here.  He was still standing on the other side of the living room, and I was just in the doorway to the