“Perfect,” I say, shrugging out of my jacket and tossing it onto the growing pile by the door. “Wouldn’t be Friendsgiving without us screaming at Seb on national television.”
Miles grins, bouncing Rosie on his lap until she squeals. “He better throw at least two touchdowns. I’ve got money on him.”
Quinn gapes at him. “You bet on yourbest friend?”
“Technically, I betforhim,” Miles argues. “Big difference.”
Finn tips his beer toward Miles. “I’ve got money on the other team. Keep it interesting and all.”
Miles groans, clutching Rosie dramatically to his chest. “Traitor.”
Quinn laughs, then glances around like she’s only just realized. “Wait, where’s Liv?”
I scan the room, realizing she never walked in with me. “Oh, uh, kitchen maybe?”
Quinn nods and goes to find her, and I hope like hell she isn’t hiding from me.
Chapter thirty-eight
Liv
Daphne’shalfwaythroughpeelingwhen my phone buzzes against the counter. I wipe my hands on a towel and glance down.
Subject:Campus Housing – Move-In Information.
My stomach dips. Right. That’s still happening. I’d forgotten.
I should feel relieved. Excited to have my own space again.
But the thought of packing everything up, of leaving the apartment, this version of my life, makes me homesick for something that’s still within my grasp.
I lock the screen and slide the phone face down beside the cutting board. It can wait.
“What’s with you today?” Daphne asks, frowning at me while she preps potatoes, her knife working fast against the cutting board.
My stomach lurches. She knows. She has to know. I’ve never ever been able to keep a secret from my best friend, and right now it feels like I have a thousand ants crawling under my skin keeping this from her.
“Before you say anything,” I blurt, stepping closer to the counter, hands twisting together, “I need to tell you something.”
Her brows pinch.
“I slept with Jay.” The words explode out of me, and then the floodgates open. “And not just once, which makes it worse, and I know you’re going to freak out, and start planning our wedding, but I swear it wasn’t supposed to happen, except maybe I kind of wanted it to because have youseenhim? And it’s not like we planned it, it just… kept happening. Specifically last night and this morning… and almost the morning you guys surprised us. And I know this is literally the worst timing, andIknow that it’s temporary because we’re not living together forever, and you’re probably going to hate me for not admitting you were right, I have a crush, but I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else, so—”
“Liv.” Daphne’s voice slices through, enough to shut me up.
I clamp my mouth closed, heat rushing to my face. Oh god. I actually just said it. Out loud. “I slept with Jay.”
“I’m getting that.” She sets the knife down and turns to me. “Why are you freaking out?”
“I’m not freaking out, you are.”
She snorts a laugh. “Liv, be real.”
I groan, burying my face in my palms. “I can’t because you’re about to tell me I’m insane or that I’ve made a huge mistake, right?”
“Nope.” She leans a hip against the counter, arms crossing. “I’m about to tell you I’m happy for you. You like him, don’t even try to deny it. I could see it.”
My head snaps up. “I—” The word sticks in my throat.
