There’s nothing fair about this. Brooke goes first then I go next, a part inside of me pleading internally with Everett to realize it’s me but it’s when sequin dress girl goes that he grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles. His smile bright and confident before he removes the blindfold, immediately recognizing his mistake.
Luca makes sure to be a royal ass and rubs it in. “Right in front of your face for your entire life and you couldn’t find her. Just like I said.”
“Will you stop it?” I scream.
“Don’t get mad at me because yourbest friendfailed you.”
“Stop calling him that.” It’s not what he’s saying, it’s how he’s saying it. Everett is my best friend. And that has always been enough until this idiot come along.
Luca methodically ties his blindfold on my wrist, his thumb rubbing over the fabric where my scar is. “What scares you more? That the boy who’s been around your entire life doesn’t know you, or thatIdo?”
Everett storms off as I shove Luca away. “I hate you.”
His gaze drops to my mouth when he asks, “Then why are you still here with me and not chasing your little buddy?”
The question grates across the slight sanity I have left. “Because I’m a fucking fool, but I can fix that.”
I walk away and don’t find Everett until I’m out front, watching him march down the street. He’s about to get in his truck when I yell for him. He stops but doesn’t turn to face me, his hand still on the door handle. “Go back inside with your boyfriend.”
“I didn’t want to do that.Yougave into his pissing contest, so don’t take it out on me.”
Everett shuts the truck door before he rotates and moves in front of me. His shoulders tense, his voice strained as he asks, “Do you want him or me, Ivy? Tell me right here, right now. Pick one of us. Because I won’t be your backup choice.”
“You’re my best friend,” I tell him, not understanding the fury he’s aiming at me. I’m used to it with Luca but not Everett. This is the guy who cried with me for my mom and said he cared about me, but who is looking at me like he hates me.
“And you know I want more. You have to. I’ve been at your side, waiting until we were ready so we wouldn’t screw it up and throw it away like some juvenile crush. What we have is real, not some party trick of an asshole who just wants to screw you.”
“Everett,” I breathe. The first thing I hear in my mind is my mom’s voice telling me that Everett felt more for me than friendship. I’d told her she was crazy and seeing something that wasn’t there. Everett and I were just friends, and we didn’t think of each other that way. I was wrong. She was right.
“Okay,” Everett interrupts my thoughts. “At least I understand now.”
“Wait? What?” I never made a choice. I was lost in my head. “I never said anything.”
“Exactly. You shouldn’t even have to think about it.”
“How can I not? Why won’t you give me a freaking second to think because this is news to me. I didn’t realize, Everett. You’ve been my best friend forever.”
“Friend zone. I know. Even Oliver said I’d sat in it too long. Guess he was right.” Everett grabs his door handle again.
“Will you stop? I can’t even form a coherent thought right now, and you’re assuming you know what I’m thinking.”
“You’re right.” He pulls the door open and drops in the seat. “Obviously, I don’t know you at all. Not like he does.” The door slams and he drives away.
What the actual fuck just happen? And why is the only thought I can muster up about how I want to punch Luca. Because he’s right. He destroys everything he touches.
34
LUCA
It takes every morsel in my body not to follow her. Make sure she doesn’t beg the pussy to forgive her for his lack of awareness. He thought she was his. She’s never been. She’s mine. The sooner they both accept that the better.
Brooke rushes back into the room, slapping at the bottle that I have to my mouth. “Why did you do that? She’s pissed. She’s walking home and won’t come back to the party.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“If you really care about her, you’ll stop being such a dick. She’s really angry at you right now.” Brooke drops down on the sofa, pulling out her phone as she pouts, “I can’t have any friends without you or your ignorant brother ruining it.”
“You were never her friend.”
