I don’t know how to survive any other way.
And throwing Blakely into the mix as my roommate? That will mess everything up.
I can feel it already.
“You wouldn’t have ever asked her out,” Silas says, arms folded. “Sorry, but it’s true. I usually don’t agree with Posey and his shenanigans, but I kind of agree with this move.”
“Thank you.” Posey bows like a moron. “Just doing the heavy lifting over here. I’ll take thank-yous whenever you want to toss them my way in forms of cash or bologna.”
“The only thing you’re getting from me is a trip to the plant store. You got me into this mess, and you’re going to help me get out of it,” I say.
“Get out of it?” Posey shakes his head. “Oh no, we’re going to find a way to make this permanent. Mark my words, you and Blakely are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend by the end of the season. There will be so much kissing in your future that you’ll beg me to clue you in on what kind of lip balm I use to keep things so fresh.”
“You’re an idiot,” I say, blowing by him and heading straight to the restroom where I might dry-heave because, holy shit . . . Blakely will be living with me.
Chapter Two
BLAKELY
“Surprise,” I say, holding up two pints of ice cream and plastering a smile on my face.
Penny stares me down and deadpans, “I’m not happy with you.” Then she turns around and heads into her apartment with me following her.
She’s angry with me because she had to hear from Eli that Perry and I broke up a few weeks ago. I should have told him not to say anything, but I was so thrown off and relieved by Halsey’s offer that I blacked out for a moment. The next thing I know, I’m getting a text from Penny about my breakup.
Since she was still on maternity leave, the Agitators gave her an extended leave, which is so freaking amazing, so I told her I’d explain everything after the game. The ice cream is to soften her up, although I’m not sure the tactic will work.
She takes a seat on the couch and folds her arms while staring me down.
I laugh nervously. “Is Holden asleep?”
“What do you think?”
“I’m going to assume yes. Such a shame he doesn’t get to see the she-beast his mother turned into tonight.”
“She-beast?” she asks as I offer her the pint of ice cream I got her—mint chocolate chip. She swats it away and takes my pretzel caramel that I’ve been looking forward to on the way over here. “You’re lucky I didn’t kick you right in the crotch when I opened the door.”
I grab spoons for us from the kitchen, hand her one, then take a seat on the couch as well. “A kick to the crotch seems a bit extreme for the circumstances, don’t you think?”
“No,” she says. “I had to hear from my boyfriend—”
“Fiancé, technically,” I say for God knows what reason, and that only pisses her off more.
“I had to hear from him that my best friend broke up with her boyfriend that she’s known since college. How do you think that makes me feel?”
“Sad?” I ask with a wince.
“Pissed,” she replies.
“Ah yes, I can sense the anger.”
“Blakely, stop joking around. This is serious.” She leaves her ice cream unopened, and I swear to God, if she just lets that melt and doesn’t eat it out of spite, I’m going to be the one who’s pissed. “Are we not close anymore? I know I had a baby, but I feel like I’ve still been a good friend. Am I not there for you like you need me to be?”
“What?” I ask. “No, that’s not it.” I sigh and leave my ice cream unopened as well. “I didn’t tell anyone. I think I’m still trying to make sense of it all. I loved him, and I thought we were going to get married, but then it just . . . ended.”
Her expression softens, and she says, “What happened?”
Needing ice cream now, I pop off the lid, and she does as well. Together, we each take a large scoop and stick them in our mouths. Mint is okay. It’s not my favorite, but it will do for now.
