Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) by Andrea Simonne Read Free Book Online Page B

himself.
    Someone needed to invent a Jeopardy game where all the categories were about Road. She’d break the bank. Of course, Road wouldn’t watch it because he doesn’t like game shows.
    They sit on Tori’s back deck where there’s a table with four chairs and an umbrella set up. She brings out the lemonade and cookies. Eddie and Duff both flop beside them, and Blair reaches down to pet Duff. Tommy Lee trots out to sniff around Tori’s yard.
    The three of them chat for a while. Tori peppers Road with questions about his flight and if his jet lag is bad. They talk about their mom, their mom’s awful new boyfriend, Garth, and all their endless cousins as Tori catches Road up with the latest gossip.
    Road leans back in his chair, eating a cookie. “I have some stuff for you. It’s on the counter at Blair’s. Can’t believe I forgot to bring it. I’ll give it to you at Mom’s on Saturday.”
    “You forgot! What did you get me?” Tori gets up to pour each of them some more lemonade.
    “T-shirt from London and some chocolate.”
    “Yay! I hope it’s the same kind as last time. That stuff was the bomb.”
    He nods. “Same stuff. Remembered you liked it.”
    Blair thanks Tori for refilling her glass. There’s something peculiar about their conversation though and a strange realization is dawning on her. “When was the last time you guys saw each other?”
    Road puts his glass down. “A little over a year ago.”
    “What?” Blair is confused. “But I thought you haven’t been back in five years?”
    “No, course not. Where did you get that idea?”
    “From Tori.” Blair turns to her. “You never told me Road was in Seattle before.”
    Tori’s expression is pained as her eyes flash to Road, who’s feeding one of the dogs a cookie, and back to Blair again. She looks uncomfortable. “My mom and I thought it was best not to tell you. We knew you didn’t want to hear about him.”
    Blair blinks as she takes this in. “How long did he stay?”
    “Not long,” Tori says. ”A couple weeks.”
    “Where did he stay?”
    “I don’t get it. Why would you not want to hear about me?” Road glances up from feeding Eddie the cookie. Duff gets up when he notices it and Tommy Lee comes racing in from the yard.
    Blair and Tori’s eyes meet. Then Blair turns to Road and decides to be honest. “Because I was unhappy with the way you left me years ago.”
    Road is quiet, watching her.
    “And I never heard from you, not even a postcard,” Blair adds.
    “Princess . . .” He slowly shakes his head. “Figured you’d want to put it all behind you, that you were better off.”
    “And yet here you are, staying at my place.”
    A smile plays around his mouth. “Yeah, that’s right. Here I am.”
    Blair doesn’t say anything more. It’s true she didn’t want Tori or anyone else to talk about Road. As obsessively in love with him as she once was, her obsession to avoid anything to do with him ran just as deep. Ironically, none of it worked. I’m still under his spell, even after all this time.
    “Are you moving back to Seattle?” Blair asks him.
    “Looks that way.”
    “Where have you been living?”
    “Various places. I’ve been in London the past year.”
    Blair blinks in surprise. “You’ve been living in the same location for an entire year?”
    Tori is watching her, clearly unhappy with this conversation.
    Blair takes a deep breath and exhales. “At least now that you’re here, we can finally get divorced.”
    “What’s the rush?” He chuckles. “Ironically, our marriage has lasted longer than a lot of people’s.”
    Blair doesn’t want to hear anymore. She stands up. “I need to use the restroom.”
    Tori gets up to follow her.
    “Alone,” Blair tells her pointedly, not that Tori listens. She follows her right into the bathroom and stands there while Blair pees.
    “We were trying to protect you. That’s why my mom and I never told you when he was here for a visit.” Tori bites her