Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love (Jessica) BBW Bear Shifter Menage Romance (Hope Valley BBW Dating App Romance Book 8) Read Online Free

close?” Jessica shrugged.
    “We were friends, yeah.” Something was stopping her from telling Tamika how close they’d been. Maybe she still felt a little betrayed. It was silly, really. She knew their parents hadn’t given them any alternative to walking out of her life the way they had, but the pain was still deep inside her, and it would take a while to heal. 
    “Then it’ll be great to rekindle your friendship, widen your social circle, won’t it?” Jessica smiled at Tamika, loving her for her generous, positive attitude.
    “Yes it will,” she said.
    “They must be nice guys since they’re friends of yours, so I’m sure it won’t take long before they find their mates too.” Jessica’s stomach tightened again.
    “Yeah, they’re both good guys. I’m sure they’ll get high compatibility ratings,” she replied. “We’re catching up tonight. Where shall I meet them?”
    “There’s a new shifter-owned bar that’s just opened, on the road to the national park. It’s kind of rustic but cozy. Mismatched furniture and a bar made from beer barrels. I think you’ll like it.”
    “Sounds good. What’s it called?”
    “Rusty’s. You won’t find it on the internet, so you’ll have to send them a dropped pin. I’ll forward it to you now.” 
    “Thanks, I’ll do that.” Jessica sent the pin to Lucas, and he messaged her right back, saying how much he was looking forward to hanging out. She smiled at his message. He and Christian were so different from all the other guys she’d met since them. They were so much more in touch with their feelings, and not afraid to express them. English guys, in particular, were guarded and uptight, as if there was something unmanly about having emotions. Several unsuccessful relationships with emotionally stunted guys was a big part of the reason why she’d jumped at the chance to move to the US.
    She felt a rush of affection for the two guys. Her mysterious, intense Christian and her laidback, jokey Lucas. They were each other’s perfect counterpart, and they complemented the different sides of her personality perfectly.
    She spent the afternoon working on some code, but her usual fierce concentration wasn’t there, and she had to keep going back and checking her work, as her tummy fluttered with anticipation for the evening ahead.

Chapter Two
    Christian and Lucas couldn’t stop grinning all the way back home.
    “Jessica!” Lucas exclaimed as they drove along, the roof of their cabriolet open to the fresh summer breeze. “I can’t believe it. I literally can’t believe it!”
    “Did you recognize her right away?” Christian asked.
    “I thought it was her as soon as I heard her voice on the intercom, but it was so out of place that I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.”
    “Yeah, it took me a little longer. I picked up on the English accent, but that was all. Then when I saw her standing there, I totally did a double take. She hasn’t changed much, has she?”
    “Looks-wise, not really, I guess,” Lucas said thoughtfully. “Same hair, same glasses, same kooky style. But she’s grown up a lot.”
    “As we have too.”
    “God! –” Lucas slapped his hand on the dashboard. “I can’t wait to hang out with her, find out what she’s been doing all these years.”
    “Me too!”
    “Do you think she hates us?”
    “For disappearing from her life without a word?” Christian said.
    “Do I detect some sarcasm?”
    “I’m sure deep down she’s a little mad at us. And I don’t blame her. I mean, I often thought about looking for her, but something always stopped me.”
    “I think it was The Book,” Lucas said. “I mean, officially, our vow not to look for her hasn’t expired. But I think I also felt like I didn’t have the right to go and disturb her life. I figured she’d forgotten about us by now, and that it would be weird to pop up like a blast from the past. You know?”
    “Yeah. I thought the same. I imagined her being a