Free Fall: A Seaside Novel (The Seaside Series) by Rachel Van Dyken Page B

diminished into nothingness.
    My only excuse for reaching across the table and shaking her damn hand, was because for once in my life…
    The sacrifice was worth the reward.
    If I didn’t agree to it, I’d lose her.
    And I wasn’t ready for that.
    “Sure.” I gripped her small hand in mine. “Friends.”

Chapter Fourteen
     
    Priscilla
     
    Jaymeson refused to let me pay even when I offered. Then he said something about how the least he could do is pay for my lunch… as a friend. Only the way he said friend made my entire body go into shock mode.
    I swear he said the word like an expletive.
    As if it was poison he needed to eradicate from his body.
    I only hoped it was the word, not the meaning behind it. A guy like him would never be interested in a relationship. It seemed the only smart thing to do was to let him know where I stood. I could be a friend. Friend meant safe. Friend meant I could date and not think about him anymore.
    Besides, he apologized.
    Which meant, he was successfully off my radar as a romantic interest. It was only the hurt feelings that kept my brain mulling over our kiss on the beach and his rejection of me.
    That was it.
    “Pris…” Jaymeson stood. “I’m going to use the restroom then I guess we should go back to the boxes?”
    “Sure.” I offered a smile and shoved another fry into my mouth.
    He knocked on the table and walked off toward the restrooms. I had to keep myself from laughing. It sounded stupid, but I mean, celebrities? They were just like everyone else. Sure they were mega-talented and good-looking. But they still had to use the bathroom, they still got food stuck in their teeth, which Jaymeson would totally discover once he went to the bathroom.
    That had been my payback.
    I laughed again as my cell went off.
    My dad had sent a text.
    Dad: How you holdin’ up?
    Me: Great.
    I was totally lying but I didn’t want him to know — not yet. He’d been under so much stress lately, and I wanted to see if I could take care of things first. I stared at my phone like it held all of answers to life questions and nearly dropped it when my Facebook messenger went off.
    Jamie Hudson: What’cha doin’?
    Me: Finishing lunch.
    Jamie Hudson: Ooh, what did you have? I’m a huge foodie. Tell me. Every. Detail.
    Me: Fish and Chips, but I TRIED BEER!
    Jamie Hudson: Naughty girl. I should call your parents.
    Me: You don’t know them. Not a solid threat.
    Jamie Hudson: The police?
    Me: The chief goes to our church.
    Jamie Hudson: I’m fresh out of ideas .
    Me: It tasted good .
    Jamie Hudson: Of course it did. It’s alcohol.
    Me: Very funny .
    Jamie Hudson: J I thought so.
    Me: What are you doing?
    Jamie Hudson: I just got done eating and now I’m getting ready for work.
    Me: Oh yeah? What do you do? I mean, other than surf.
    Jamie Hudson: You mean what do I do other than talk to a beautiful girl I’ve never met?
    I felt my cheeks heat.
    Me: Yeah.
    Jamie Hudson: I work in the film industry.
    Me: Doing what?
    He didn’t respond right away. I waited for his message for a few seconds before almost clicking out of messenger.
    Jamie Hudson: Sorry, dog was barking, things like that distract me. Um, I’ve done some directing and screen writing.
    Me: Like writing scripts?
    Jamie Hudson: It’s fun .
    Me: Have you written anything I’ve ever seen?
    Jamie Hudson: I sure hope so! Sorry, gotta run, work calls! See you later, sweetheart.
    “Ready?” Jaymeson said, snapping me out of my smiley gaze. I dropped the phone onto the table.
    “Yeah.”
    “Who was that?” he asked curiously, dipping his hands into his pockets.
    “No one.” I licked my lips.
    Jaymeson rolled his eyes. “Right, and I’m not famous.”
    “Ha ha.”
    “No seriously.” He scooted our chairs in and placed his hand on the small of my back as he led me out of the restaurant. “We’re friends now, friends share with friends. I mean, I don’t want to you to paint my fingernails or put makeup on me or anything, but