Chapter 13

Jessie knew she could not stay in the room forever – actually, she could, but it was going to be weird. She walked to the living room slowly, dreading seeing Gracie with her arms around Theo again.

Gracie was still there, and they were laughing about something. It stung, but Jessie knew she had no hold over Theo. And even if she did, was she going to stop him from being with his friend? When he looked so genuinely happy? She shook her head to clear her thoughts, put a smile on her face, and said lightly, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”

Gracie and Theo turned toward her with smiles on their faces and shook their heads quickly, clearly wanting to go back to their conversation.

“I was thinking of making lunch. Anything you’d want to have?” she asked, the smile still in place.

“You can cook?” Theo asked with mock shock, a playful smile playing around his lips.

“I wasn’t talking t