That would have been crazy.”
As if what he and Jasmine had gone through wasn’t crazy enough.
“I’m not going to skirt around this. Kenzi told me what Jasmine told her.”
“I figured she would. They would. Are you giving me the girl’s big brother speech or her dad’s?” Joey took the break shot.
Chaz set down the chalk cube and picked up his cue. “Do I need to do either? I’m not picking sides here. I just want to be sure you’re okay with Jasmine coming around. I’m not going to tell Kenzi she can’t invite her along.”
Joey hit the cue ball so hard, the eight ball bounced off the table from the collision. “We talked it out. We’re fine.”
“I know what Kenzi means when she says she’s fine.”
Joey just glared.
Chaz raised his hands. “Hey, just sayin’. I believe you. If you talked it out, everything’s good. I’m glad to hear it. Now we can concentrate on having fun tonight.”
~*~
By seven thirty, Joey couldn’t stand the restlessness he battled. “I’m going out for a minute,” he told Kenzi. He had no idea where he’d go on New Year’s Eve when his friends expected to spend it with him, he had no.
Joey dreaded seeing Jasmine again.
He couldn’t wait to see her again.
He hoped to be casually polite.
He longed to beg for a second chance.
He shouldn’t have come, but he’d spent every New Year’s Eve with the guys since they were on their first national tour. He had no problem missing Christmas with his family—they didn’t make a big deal of the holidays anymore—but the guys were his family these days.
A second chance. She’d never give it to him, but his life would be so screwed without her in it. Incomplete. Like the Walking Dead without zombies.
Okay, that was dumb. Luckily he didn’t say that to her. No wonder he couldn’t trust anyone to survive a relationship with him. He wasn’t mature enough to be doing more than going steady.
Could he grow up enough in the next four hours to be able to tell Jasmine what he felt?
He seriously doubted it.
Chapter Eight
“I’m so glad you decided to come.” Kenzi hugged Jasmine and brought her into the living room where a few of the band members and their dates mingled with drinks in their hands.
“I don’t know why I’m here.” Her stomach tightened as she looked around. “Couples. Everyone is part of a couple.” Except me.
“But you know everyone. Don’t worry, the guys will head to the game room and play pool or video games. I’m surprised they aren’t there already. Come on, let’s get you a drink.”
Jasmine accepted the glass of wine and forced herself not to down it. She didn’t need fortification to see Joey again. They’d parted friends, so meeting up with him again shouldn’t be awkward.
Yeah, right.
Devon and his girlfriend arrived. Joey was the only band member missing. Bree and Ash hadn’t arrived yet, either.
Had Joey decided to skip the night after all? If he did, Jasmine could pretend this was a girls’ night, like she, Bree and Kenzi used to have before Bree and Ash got together. They still got together just the three of them, but hanging out wasn’t the same with two of them married.
Drawing in a breath, Jasmine smiled. She refused to mope around and ruin everyone’s night.
Chaz walked to the middle of the room. “Who’s up for some pool?”
Following the others into the game room, Jasmine reminded herself she was going to have fun. No, she was having fun. If necessary, she’d remind herself until it was true.
“What, you started the party without me?”
Jasmine turned at the sound of Joey’s voice, her knotting stomach squashing the butterflies. It was nearly eleven o’clock. Had he been reluctant to come, as she was?
Why did he have to look so good? That sexy, one-sided smile and a twinkle in his eye. Black jeans and a black shirt, with a black hat, of course, and a beer bottle in his hand.
She bit back a grin. Had he needed to replace that poor soaked
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