Read Online Pulse - Part Three (The Pulse Series) by Deborah Bladon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Deborah Bladon
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was going out for a beer with a buddy, my mind has been playing tricks on me. I don't want to get caught back in a hotel room rummaging through his things when he walks in with yet another member of his family.
"His sister?" The amount of sarcasm dripping from the comment is palpable.
"That was his sister." I try not to convey too much 'I told you so' in my tone.
"He says it was his sister, that's different."
"Actually, last weekend, we did a video chat when he was away and I met them all." I hadn't mentioned it to her because I knew that she still didn’t trust him and she'd have wanted to lurk in the background to make sure I wasn't having the proverbial wool pulled over my eyes yet again.
"All of them? How many are there?" She tilts her head to the side in mock surprise.
"Just four." I smile. "His sister, her husband and the two kids."
"The perfect family." She picks up the empty bowl and I swear for a minute it looks like she's going to lick it clean.
"No family is really perfect, are they?"
"No," she almost spits the word across the table at me. "They aren't."
"So, a movie?" I offer. "I got paid yesterday so it's my treat."
"I'll grab my coat."
***
"I ate way too much popcorn." I loop my arm through Rebecca's as we step out into the busy pedestrian traffic. Manhattan never seems to slow down and as much as I missed the quiet, breezy, still air back home, I was beginning to relish in the fast pace and vibrant nature of this city.
"I want a beer." Rebecca pulls me to the left so abruptly I almost fall off my heels into her.
I follow her lead while I check my phone and see a message from Nathan.
I miss you, Jessica.
Simple, sweet and to the point.
"Did Fingers text you?" Rebecca calls over her shoulder as she scans the storefronts across the street. "Where can a girl get a beer in this neighborhood?"
"There's a pub a few doors down from the restaurant. Everyone says the beer on tap there is great. We can go." I offer, even though I'm ready to climb into my bed and sleep the night away.
"Did he text you or not?" She points to my smartphone. I know she's just being protective. I don't have all the answers I want from him yet but I have enough for the moment.
"He said he misses me." I feel giddy just from repeating the words. It's just a simple text, Jessica. You can't invest too much in him yet. One day at a time.
She stops to stare at a pair of designer shoes in a window. "I should come back tomorrow to get those."
"I think you should." I pull on her arm to egg her along. I just want to have one beer and then get both of us in to a taxi so we can get home. I know she has an early morning tomorrow.
"The new job is great." The half-smile on her face suggests otherwise.
"It's always an adjustment when you start something new." I steer us to the left so we whip around the corner. "Just up the block here." I point.
"I haven't said this yet." She stops in the middle of the sidewalk and people curse, as they have to weave their way around us. "I'm happy that you're here. I'm happy that you moved to New York, Jess."
"It was the best decision I ever made." I pull her into an embrace. "You're the one who convinced me to do it."
"Just think." She turns sharply on her heel as we near the entrance to the pub. "If you hadn't come here you never would have met Fingers and his dick."
I giggle as I push the door open and walk through into the crowded space.
***
"Just one more and then we'll call it a night." Rebecca waves one finger in the air over her head. "Please, Jess. This is like our own private celebration of my promotion."
"If you put it like that…" I laugh from the slight buzz I got from my own glass of beer. Rebecca is already on her third, heading towards her fourth. I don't know how she stays awake. I'd be under the table by now.
"We should totally go back to Connecticut." She slams her hand against the table. "You could show Josh what a cosmopolitan woman you've become."
I
"His sister?" The amount of sarcasm dripping from the comment is palpable.
"That was his sister." I try not to convey too much 'I told you so' in my tone.
"He says it was his sister, that's different."
"Actually, last weekend, we did a video chat when he was away and I met them all." I hadn't mentioned it to her because I knew that she still didn’t trust him and she'd have wanted to lurk in the background to make sure I wasn't having the proverbial wool pulled over my eyes yet again.
"All of them? How many are there?" She tilts her head to the side in mock surprise.
"Just four." I smile. "His sister, her husband and the two kids."
"The perfect family." She picks up the empty bowl and I swear for a minute it looks like she's going to lick it clean.
"No family is really perfect, are they?"
"No," she almost spits the word across the table at me. "They aren't."
"So, a movie?" I offer. "I got paid yesterday so it's my treat."
"I'll grab my coat."
***
"I ate way too much popcorn." I loop my arm through Rebecca's as we step out into the busy pedestrian traffic. Manhattan never seems to slow down and as much as I missed the quiet, breezy, still air back home, I was beginning to relish in the fast pace and vibrant nature of this city.
"I want a beer." Rebecca pulls me to the left so abruptly I almost fall off my heels into her.
I follow her lead while I check my phone and see a message from Nathan.
I miss you, Jessica.
Simple, sweet and to the point.
"Did Fingers text you?" Rebecca calls over her shoulder as she scans the storefronts across the street. "Where can a girl get a beer in this neighborhood?"
"There's a pub a few doors down from the restaurant. Everyone says the beer on tap there is great. We can go." I offer, even though I'm ready to climb into my bed and sleep the night away.
"Did he text you or not?" She points to my smartphone. I know she's just being protective. I don't have all the answers I want from him yet but I have enough for the moment.
"He said he misses me." I feel giddy just from repeating the words. It's just a simple text, Jessica. You can't invest too much in him yet. One day at a time.
She stops to stare at a pair of designer shoes in a window. "I should come back tomorrow to get those."
"I think you should." I pull on her arm to egg her along. I just want to have one beer and then get both of us in to a taxi so we can get home. I know she has an early morning tomorrow.
"The new job is great." The half-smile on her face suggests otherwise.
"It's always an adjustment when you start something new." I steer us to the left so we whip around the corner. "Just up the block here." I point.
"I haven't said this yet." She stops in the middle of the sidewalk and people curse, as they have to weave their way around us. "I'm happy that you're here. I'm happy that you moved to New York, Jess."
"It was the best decision I ever made." I pull her into an embrace. "You're the one who convinced me to do it."
"Just think." She turns sharply on her heel as we near the entrance to the pub. "If you hadn't come here you never would have met Fingers and his dick."
I giggle as I push the door open and walk through into the crowded space.
***
"Just one more and then we'll call it a night." Rebecca waves one finger in the air over her head. "Please, Jess. This is like our own private celebration of my promotion."
"If you put it like that…" I laugh from the slight buzz I got from my own glass of beer. Rebecca is already on her third, heading towards her fourth. I don't know how she stays awake. I'd be under the table by now.
"We should totally go back to Connecticut." She slams her hand against the table. "You could show Josh what a cosmopolitan woman you've become."
I
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