I choke. “Excuse me?”
Blakely laughs softly, cheeks pink. “She means you look…distracted. Maybe by a certain football player.”
I groan, covering my face. “I hate both of you.”
Jade beams. “No, you don’t.”
I drop my hand and glare at her. “I do.”
Jade leans in, voice lowering like she’s sharing state secrets. “Is it weird because he’s Cameron’s best friend?”
My stomach flips.
“Yes,” I say immediately.
“And because you’ve hated him for two years,” Jade adds.
“I don’t hate him,” I say automatically—then freeze.
Jade’s grin goes slow and wicked. “Oh.”
Well, shit. Didn’t mean to let the inside thoughts outside.
Blakely’s eyes widen slightly. “Sloane…”
My cheeks burn. “Shut up.”
Jade laughs, triumphant. “You don’t hate him.”
I grab a pack of gum off a shelf and toss it into the cart like I’m punishing them. “I hate him.”
Jade smirks. “Sure.”
Blakely’s voice is quiet, gentle. “What do you feel then?”
My throat tightens.
The honest answer is too messy.
Because it’s not one feeling.
It’s anger braided with longing. It’s resentment braided with comfort. It’s the ache of old jealousy and the shock of realizing he still sees me.
It’s the way I’ve spent two years convincing myself I was over it.
And then he kissed me, and my body said,Nope. We were never over it.
“I feel…” I start, then stop.
Jade and Blakely both go still, waiting.
I exhale. “I feel like he’s going to ruin my life.”
Jade’s eyes sparkle. “That’s romance.”
“That’s a problem,” I correct.
Blakely smiles softly. “Sometimes it’s both.”
