Chapter 223
Chapter 223
Joy returned to Stonebridge on the third day after the Christmas, and she and Selina decided to meet directly at the local pub.
Leanne joined them after finishing her shift. Since it was the holidays, both college students and part-timers were off, making every place packed, especially the pubs which were brimming with the energy of youth.
From afar, Selina waved, “Over here!”
As Leanne sat down, she noticed Joy’s heavy-hearted expression.
“Weren’t you out of tickets? How’d you make it back?”
“I hitched a ride,” Joy confessed, cradling her face, her eyebrows knitted together, “Drove for about six or seven hours.”
Selina, already in on the secret, teased, “Guess who was the driver?”
Leanne guessed, “Austin.”
“How did you know?!” Both Joy and Selina exclaimed in unison.
“Call it intuition,” Leanne’s gut feelings were often spot on, “He seems kinda into you.”
Joy sighed, “Hit the nail on the head.”
Despite her usually unrestrained manner, Joy’s romantic experiences were limited and far from deep, having had quick and somewhat vague relationships.
“Remember how I ate garlic on the day of my blind date? Barely spoke a few words. When leaving, he asked why I was so quiet today, and I told him I ate garlic. He wondered why, and I said to poison you.’ He laughed, saying ‘You’re too far to poison me.’ My brain just froze, and I said, ‘You’d be poisoned when you kiss me.”
Leanne was taken aback by her brazenness, even in front of her boss, “… Maybe you should put a lock on that mouth of yours.”
Selina gave a thumbs up, “You do know how to flirt.”
“Flirt my ass.” Joy’s brows twisted even more, “Then today, on the way back, I kept talking to him so he wouldn’t fall asleep. My life was in his hands, after all. Maybe I was too funny because he laughed like he’d struck gold. At the rest stop, I went to use the bathroom and came back with a pack of gum, offering him one…”
“And you say you’re not flirting?” Selina played the stern judge, “You do know sharing gum hints at wanting to kiss, right?”
“That’s just your dirty mind!” Joy, for once, was calling others out for their thoughts, “I eat gum because I want to, that’s all!”
1/2
Chapter 223
Leanne sensed Joy’s unusually high agitation and ventured a guess, “And then you guys kissed?”
Joy deflated like a balloon losing air, covering her face.
“I kissed my boss. Oh no!”
It was then Jeremy arrived.
After the Christmas Eve, Joy and Selina hoped for some progress between them and had specifically invited him over.
However, the interaction between Leanne and Jeremy was even more awkward than before, despite clearing the air previously.
Selina teased, “Bro, why so shy?”
“Stop it,” Jeremy glanced at Leanne before offering, “Have you eaten? There’s a great Italian place nearby. Should I order some food for you?”
Leanne was about to decline when another voice chimed in.
“I’m in, dude. Hook me up with one too.”
Jeremy greeted Devin with a warm smile, “You guys here to hang out?”
Devin wasn’t one to hold back, revealing Curtis intentions without a filter, “Hanging out is secondary. Mainly, we’re here to create a ‘chance encounter’ with Leanne.”
Hearing Devin, Leanne had a hunch that Curtis would be around too.
But as she looked up, only Devin and a few of his buddies were there, along with Skyler and Grace, but no sign of Curtis.
Devin, however, caught her quick glance, “Curtis is just taking a call, will be right in.”
212