Page 133 of Good For Me

River

There’s something wrong with Jas.

I don’t know what it is, and she insists that she’s fine, but I can tell. I know her. Maybe better than I’ve ever known anyone. And I’m sure there’s something wrong.

She’s much quieter than normal. I catch her staring off into the distance, unconsciously rubbing her belly. She’s been spending more time at Brie’s or the diner and less time at home, with me. It doesn’t help that I’ve been busy at work. One of the label’s new artists has their debut album dropping in a few weeks and the PR department is slammed.

Can she sense my frustration with work? Is that the thing putting distance between us?

One night, about two weeks after Thanksgiving, I come home to an empty house. First I think she must be out somewhere with Everly and Bodhi but all three of their cars are gone so that doesn’t seem likely. She hasn’t called or left me any messages. I change and am just getting out my phone to call her when the front door opens and she walks in.

“Hey,” I say and she startles a little, looking up.

“I didn’t think you’d be home yet.”

I frown. Not exactly the welcome I was hoping for. I walk over and press a kiss to her forehead. The door is still open behind her and I see Brie’s car pulling away from the curb.

“Where’s your car?”

“Wouldn’t start after class,” she mumbles. “Brie picked me up.”

I look down at her, frowning. “Why didn’t you call me?”

She shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “You were at work.”

I bite down my frustration. Why is she acting like this? She’s felt closed off for the last two weeks and I can’t figure out how to get through. “Did you call a tow? Should we drive over there so I can take a look?”

“Chris is going to take care of it.”

A fresh throb of annoyance goes through me. I’m glad she has her cousin and her best friend, but that’s the kind of shit I’m supposed to do for her, damn it.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask cautiously, running my hands over her belly. She relaxes a little at my touch and I feel marginally better. At least I still have that effect on her.

“My feet hurt pretty bad,” she admits.

I want to tell her that she needs to stop taking shifts at the diner. She’s cut her hours way back, but there’s no reason for her to be working there at all. She has enough on her plate with school and the job at the bank.

I pull her into my chest. “Why don’t I run you a bath?”

She sighs, her body relaxing into mine. “That sounds like heaven. Thank you.”

I want to thankher. This is the first time in too long that she’s seemed truly comfortable with me and fuck, I missed it.

But when I go to shut the door behind her, I see a truck pulling into the drive. A moment later, her uncle steps out. “What’s he doing here?” Jas asks from my side.

“I don’t know.”

She waves to him as he starts up the walk, but even from here, I can see that there’s something wrong. Jas must see it too—her body goes right back to being tense.

“Hey, Dave,” I say, opening the screen door for him. “Come on in.”

He nods at me but doesn’t make eye contact with Jas as he passes, increasing the disquieted feeling growing in me. Something is wrong.

“You want something to drink?” I ask, as Jas fidgets next to me.

“Nah.” He takes a seat on the couch, running his hands over his thighs, then finally looks up and meets her eyes. “Your mom showed up at Chris’s house today.”

Jas freezes next to me, her face going so white I instinctively reach out to grab her waist, afraid she might faint. “She…what?”