Just as she was about to push away from her desk, her email alert dinged. Her eyes were begging for a break but she couldn't resist checking it. Secretly, she hoped it was Levi. Between their meetings, he'd sent emails asking about her progress. Any other client doing that would've annoyed her but with Levi...it was different. She found herself looking forward to the check-ins. Most of the time, the emails seemed more like an excuse to chat than seeking answers to sincere questions. For someone who claimed to be in a relationship, he sounded pretty lonely.

To her disappointment, the email wasn't from Levi. It was Jonah. What the h.e.l.l did her ex want? He'd left for Washington without much more than a goodbye peck on the lips. Curiosity compelled her to open the email.

Em, Turns out NASA wasn't for me. I'm back at the University, working as an adjunct and doing some research. I'd love to get together for coffee some time. I think I still remember your order ;) I miss you. I hope you're doing okay.

Jonah She snorted. Hoped she was doing okay? If he really cared, he'd have checked on her before now. Like, maybe some time in the last five months he'd been gone?

Her first impulse was to reply with some excuse not to go, but a picture of Jess and Dani popped into her mind. Their faces pressed close together. The intimacy. It wasn't just that they loved each other she'd never loved Jonah but Jess always had someone to make plans with. Someone to be happy when she accomplished something, to support her when she failed. Someone to cry and laugh with. If Emerson missed anything about being in a relationship, it was that. As it stood, when she made gains in her research, the only person she had to tell was her grandmother. Though proud, she didn't really get it.

Instead of blowing Jonah off, she decided to give it some thought. Maybe he deserved a second chance. He was a nice guy. The quick move hadn't seemed like him at the time. Maybe he'd just been excited for the job offer. Or maybe she was just desperate. Probably so, but coffee wouldn't hurt. She could double-check the connection was truly gone then move on fully.

After closing the email screen, she went to the fridge and grabbed the leftover sesame chicken. She heated it then sat back at the computer with the container and a fork. Her eyes started to burn again so she traded the computer for one of Jess's magazines sitting out on the coffee table.

Coquette was spelled out in big pink letters at the top and an obviously photoshopped woman gave a come-hither look on the cover. She'd seen the magazine in the hair studio during the rare times she went in for a trim. Supposedly, Coquette was the number one source for up-to-date information every trendy woman needed to know. And in their opinion, every woman ought to be trendy.

She scanned the featured articles.

Why your Thighs Touching is a Real Health Concern.

She rolled her eyes.

What Your Astrological Sign Means for your s.e.x Life.

Maybe that'd be interesting, if she had a s.e.x life.

The Twelve s.e.xiest Animals on the Planet.

"Whaaaa?" Jess actually bought this drivel? She popped a piece of chicken in her mouth and read the t.i.tle of the last article.

Ten Ways to Make the Most of Your b.r.e.a.s.t.s During s.e.x.

She snorted. "What if you don't have any?"

Out of curiosity, she flipped to the corresponding page.

Tip #1: Shove them in his face and shake them as much as possible. Men are hunters so they're drawn to the movement.

She choked on a piece of chicken and coughed for several minutes. When she recovered, she scanned it again to double-check she'd read it right the first time. Holy mother. Was this a prank? A spoof of society's ludicrous obsession with s.e.x? After another bite of chicken, she read on.

Tip #2: Attach rhinestones to your b.r.e.a.s.t.s to give them extra pizzazz. The more sparkly the better!

Yeah then shake them in his face and give him a seizure. Good advice. Then for a real bonding experience, he could bandage the wounds left from the glue.

Tip #3: Appeal to your caveman by putting duct tape across each nipple in an X shape. X marks the spot!

She snorted. Then use the rhinestone glue to reattach your nipples after you take the tape off.

Tip #4: Touch the tip of your nipple to the tip of his p.e.n.i.s like a s.e.xy h.e.l.lo!

That made her laugh out loud. Some people greeted each other with a handshake, but okay.

Tip #5: The use of pasties helps fulfill his fantasy of sleeping with a stripper. Do a little strip tease to complete the illusion!

At that, she slammed the magazine shut. Ridiculous. She couldn't believe this s.h.i.t was selling. Didn't women have aspirations higher than pleasing their men in bed? She looked down at her chest. The tips were stupid but it did make her wonder if her a.s.sets were disappointing. Masochism wasn't her thing so she had no intentions of decorating them, and she liked her nipples intact thank you.

Coquette needed a follow-up article for flat-chested women. If you Can't Use your b.r.e.a.s.t.s in the Bedroom, Try Tempting Him with your Personality Instead.

Without the magazine to entertain her, she stared at the wall and contemplated what a real dating article for people with half a brain would look like while finishing her meal.. The door to the apartment opened then shut. She turned to face the entryway.

Jess walked in. "Hey." She looked at the empty Chinese food container and frowned. "You got Chinese without me?"

"No. Levi ordered it last night then put the leftovers in the fridge." She chuckled. "I think he was worried I'd die overnight from starvation." Silly man. Still, she couldn't stop a smile.

Her roommate was quiet behind her. Em rose to throw the empty container away. As she pa.s.sed Jess, still standing in the entryway, she caught an expression that worried her. Amus.e.m.e.nt sparkled in her eyes then a slow grin appeared.

"Oh. My. G.o.d."

"What?" She didn't like this already.

"He likes you!"

"No." Immediately, she pushed the idea away. They were friends, barely. He had a girlfriend he was completely over the moon for. "I'm doing a job for him and he wants me to finish, that's all."

Jess inhaled a deep breath, her smile growing manic.

"Don't squee, Jessica Brown." She started backing away. "Do not squee."

Somehow she managed to hold it in. "But he likes you! It's soooo obvious. He's taking care of you. That is so sweet! And it's about time someone did." She hung her purse on the hook next to the door and walked to the living room.

"I already told you. He's in love with someone else."

She plopped onto the couch and grabbed the Coquette magazine. "We can take care of that little problem."

Emerson followed her into the living room. "Why do I feel like you're about to lay out a plan that includes a roofie and rope?"

She laughed. "That's one way to do it. But I meant you could woo him."

"Woo him? Does anybody even say that anymore?"

She rolled her eyes. "What are you, the style police?"

Em pointed to the magazine in her hands. "It's an effect of reading that stupid thing."

With an exaggerated gasp, Jess clutched the magazine to her chest. "Don't diss what you don't understand, Emerson."

"What do you even get from it? Most of the articles are about giving b.l.o.w.j.o.bs and what the size of your man's kneecaps means."

She shrugged then flipped through it. "It's funny. And I didn't buy it. Dani got it for me as a joke." Losing interest in only a moment, she threw it back on the table. "I want Chinese food. Call your boyfriend over. Maybe he'll buy again."

"You're impossible." Emerson grabbed her phone from the desk then headed toward her room. "Buy your own food, you leech," she called over her shoulder, just before shutting the door.

Pop music blasted from the speakers, drowning out what had been the peaceful hum of the Prius on the highway. Emerson had turned the music on after listening to Jess whine for ten minutes straight about why she wouldn't tell her what she was investigating for Levi. It wasn't really a matter of confidentiality. Emerson just liked to bug her though it was backfiring presently. Plus her theories were entertaining.

After pulling off the highway, she turned onto the street toward her grandma's house. Jess had begged to come with her for dinner. She'd finally guilted Em into it because she'd paid her half of the rent last month so with her reasoning, she'd been forced to starve.

Jess had been to dinner at her grandma's before and it'd always ended in discussion about Em's lack of a love life. She was already preparing for Jess to tell her grandma about Levi, even though she'd made her promise not to.

When she parked in the driveway and reached for the door handle, Jess grabbed onto her arm, stopping her from leaving the car.

Leaning in close, she stared into her eyes. "I'm sorry, but you've brought me to this, Em. Tell me what Levi hired you for or I'll tell Bea about his secret forbidden love for you."

"Seriously?"

Jess pointed to her face. "Do I look serious?"

"No. You look psychotic." When Jess went full on puppy dog face, she broke down. "Fine. Anything to make you shut up about it."

Grinning, Jess released her then sat back in her seat.

"He's in an online relationship. He's never actually met this girl he loves. He hired me to find out if he's being catfished."

Jess seemed to ponder that for a moment then she clapped her hands. "Oh my G.o.d! You know what this means? You stand a chance with him!" Turning to her, she demanded, "What have you found so far? Is this girl real or what?"

"Parts of her are. But she's lying about some things too. He's really broken up about it."

"Excellent!"

"Jess!"

"Well, it's sad too. But I think you're better for him than her."

"You don't even know him!" Emerson didn't either. Not really. "Or her."

"You have chemistry. Trust me. I know these things."

"He's not my type." Liar, liar. "And I doubt I'm his type. I mean, look at him. Then look at me. Guys like him..." She sighed, feeling a tiny bit of sadness creep in. "They don't go for girls like me."

Jess rolled her eyes. "Are we in a high school movie? Seriously, Em, it's not like that anymore. Not past college. People aren't divided up like that. Cheerleaders and band geeks and thespians, and stuff. People like you and me, are just people."

"Like you and me?" She snorted. "You were a popular girl."

Jess flinched back, her brow furrowed. "No, I wasn't."

Emerson arched a brow, skeptical. Pretty face, trendy style, sunny disposition. She had popular girl written all over her.

"I wasn't popular, Em. I went to an uppity private school for girls. The students there were creeped out by lesbians." She fiddled with her hands in her lap. "I managed to hide it for a while, but sometimes I couldn't help but stare. Rumors started. Then I met this girl. Hannah. I thought she liked me." Jess's gaze dropped to her hands. "She flirted with me. It was the first time I let myself like someone. But when girls started talking about both of us..." She shrugged. "I guess she couldn't handle it. She sold me down the river and we never spoke again." Her voice cracked, but after a deep breath, she went on. "After that, I was bullied almost constantly. I dropped out at seventeen. My parents still hate me for it. I was about to graduate with high honors."

"Really?" She couldn't mask the surprise in her voice.

Jess gave her a side-long glance. "Are you shocked that I'm smart?"

"No," she lied, feeling like an a.s.shole. "I just didn't realize..."

"I chose a career in art over money because I wanted to. Not because I wasn't good at anything else. It's my pa.s.sion. Kinda like numbers are for you."

Emerson nodded. She could relate to that. This shed a whole new light on her roommate. How did she not know all of this? G.o.d, she sucked as a friend. Jess radiated confidence and happiness. She never would've guessed she'd been bullied.

They sat in awkward silence for a moment then Jess broke the ice. "Don't worry. I won't tell your grandma." With that, she opened the door and climbed out of the car.

Emerson followed and they waited for her grandma to let them in. The harsh weather had died down and spring was finally showing much-welcomed signs of starting. She was thankful for the sun and mild temperature that day. Her coat had been traded in for a thin hoodie. Though she wasn't the outdoorsy type, it felt good to have her face in the sun.

The door opened and her grandma waved them in. Upon spotting Jess, she smiled and pulled her in for a hug. "You didn't tell me you were bringing your friend, Em." She scowled at Emerson. "I'd have made more stew."

"I didn't come for stew, Bea," Jess said. "I came for your company."

"That's sweet, dear. A lie but sweet."

Jess laughed. "You caught me. But I won't eat much. I promise. How are the crosswords going?"

They trailed behind Bea as she navigated to the kitchen. "Beatrice True, one hundred and seventeen. The Boston Post, zero."

Emerson chuckled.

"Wow. You need to find a way to make money off that talent, Bea." Jess sat at the kitchen table and Em took the seat next to her.

Her grandma shuffled to the oven. "It'll be just a minute."

"Do you need help, Gram?"

"No, no. You girls just sit there and fill me in on life. The stew's cooked already. Just waiting for the biscuits."

Emerson shot Jess a warning look and shook her head slightly. She merely smiled innocently in return. "Same old here, Bea. One of my photos sold at the gallery!"

"Lovely! Which one?" Jess opened her mouth to answer but Bea cut her off. "Let me guess. One of the erotic ones?"

Jess shrugged. "What can I say? s.e.x sells."

Em's grandma clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"Don't get all morally righteous on me now, Bea."

"Oh it's not that. I just wish you girls would pick a more stable career. Selling a photo once a month is not something you can build a life on."

"That's why I work at the gallery. Don't worry about me. I'm doing fine. Even covering your granddaughter's half of the rent sometimes." She nudged Emerson.

Her grandma gave her a stern look. "Emerson True," she scolded. "Now I told you to tell me if you needed money. Instead you have your poor friend paying your bills?"