“Can I ask you about Elodie now, or will you still get pissy?” Rhonan leans toward me, whispering in my ear as we stand in front of the windows of the suite, watching the game below.
“You can ask, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to answer.”
Elliot clears his throat while widening his stance, his eyes remaining on the field. “I don’t think you need to ask him anything, Rho. Him kissing her head was pretty telling.”
It’s the beginning of the third quarter, and the Carolina Thunder are only up by a field goal. I can see the frustration on Fletcher’s face every time the camera pans to him. The New York Liberty’s defense is all over him, making it almost impossible for him to complete a catch. He’s still managed to put up six points, but he should have had at leastthree touchdowns by this time in the game. New York is a dogshit team compared to the Thunder.
“I think he’s ignoring you on purpose,” Elliot says, bringing me back to the conversation that I’m literally standing in the middle of, pretending like it’s not happening.
“I am.”
Rhonan shrugs. “If Fletcher were here too, he’d make you talk. Remember, we agreed not to hold shit in anymore.”
Rhonan’s mention of our new pact makes me relent.
When we were teenagers, the four of us made a pact to always have each other’s backs, not let girls between us, and never date any sisters. Well, given that Fletcher is now engaged to Laney, it was necessary to revamp our naïve agreement this past summer. So now, the first two points still apply, but we added not to hold shit in anymore, and to ask for help when we need it.
Rhonan’s father, George, revealed to us during an intervention that his group of friends is the reason he was able to move forward after losing Rhonan and Laney’s mom. His friends even convinced him to go to therapy, which none of us—including Rhonan—ever knew about. So now, over the past few months with Fletcher’s pressure, of course, we’ve all decided that it’s time to face shit that we’ve been avoiding.
And Elodie was the catalyst that made me finally agree.
Sighing, I turn to face Rhonan. “Look, all I decided was that I was tired of ignoring the way she makes me feel. She admitted that there’s something there for her too, so we’re taking things day by day. That’s all I can really tell you right now.”
Rhonan’s eyebrows are practically at his hairline. “Wow. And you’re not freaking out?”
“Oh, I’m plenty nervous about a lot of shit. Like the fact that we’re sharing a room tonight, for starters.”
Elliot grumbles around the rim of his beer. “Yet again, at least someone is getting lucky.”
I turn to face him now. “No luck trying to move on from Tori then, huh?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. I tried going out with someone else last week and I just…couldn’t.”
I clasp my hand on his shoulder. “I thought trying to find another woman would make me admit that what I felt for Elodie was just because I hadn’t gotten laid in a while, but it didn’t work either.”
“Give it time,” Rhonan interjects. “I still feel guilty sometimes for moving on after Sarah.” He takes a sip of his beer as the three of us grow silent. “Well, besides being alone with Elodie later, how are you feeling about not having Remy with you? This is your first time leaving her overnight, right?”
“Yes, and now that we’re here, I feel a little bit better. But driving away from Carol and Nick’s house earlier was tough. Dilynne was the one that suggested we take the night away, though.”
“Really?” Rhonan asks.
“Yeah, she said Steven told her it was important that Elodie and I get breaks. My sister has never wanted kids, but she’s been surprisingly supportive of me having Remy. She even told Elodie to keep an eye on me and make sure I wasn’t spiraling.” I laugh at the reminder. “Like I need a babysitter, but the concern was appreciated.”
“That’s just because she doesn’t know how to mind her own business,” Elliot mutters.
“Look, I agree she can be pushy sometimes, but she always means well. Why? Has she been checking on you too?”
“No comment,” he says, bringing his glass tohis lips again.
Rhonan and I share a look, and for a moment, I debate pushing Elliot further on the matter, but then Fletcher makes a catch and runs the ball in for a touchdown, and the entire stadium goes wild.
“Hell yeah!” Rhonan shouts, high-fiving Laney as Dilynne does a victory dance beside her.
I find Elodie next, our eyes meeting at almost the exact same time, and a surge of need rushes through me. Like I told Rhonan earlier, I only booked one room for the night. Even though I have no intention of pushing anything with Elodie, the thought of being away from her made my stomach lurch.
In two and a half months, she’s become someone in my life that I actually crave, that I appreciate being there, and not just because she’s letting me kiss her lips and other places now.
No.
