“Dude, you look ready to kill someone.”
“I might.” I nodded at Zade. “You just get back from throwing?”
“Yeah. ’Bout to head over to Callie’s for some grub before the Bears play. You wanna come?”
I froze. I could go and see Greta. “Would they care? I wasn’t asked to come.”
“Hilly, it’s G and C. When have you ever asked?” he scoffed, motioning toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Zade rambled on about the season and the speed he’d increased with his pitches. I wasn’t selfish. I was beyond happy for him, but my mind wasn’t in the right place. I mentally cringed at myself. My dad was getting better, my sister and I were closer, the scouts, my stats, everything was on the upexceptfor Greta. “Hilly, what’s going on?”
“Ah, nothing. Sorry. It’s great to hear about your increased speed, though.”
“I asked how you were doing since the fake relationship ended.” He glanced at me, worry in his eyes. “You haven’t announced it yet, right?”
“Nope. Next week.” The smallest, tiniest flicker of hope filled my chest.What if I can convince her to keep it going?
“It’s not my place, man, but you guys seemed good together.” He parked the car, not letting me respond. He got out and headed up the stairs two at a time.That used to be me.Now— I regretted coming. I was dying to see her. Talk to her. But if she looked at me with cold eyes, I would break.
And I couldn’t do that.
“Hilly, you coming?” Zade’s voice sounded so hopeful. I shrugged.Fuck it. Pain can’t get worse.
I trudged up the stairs to their apartment and the familiar smell hit me. Callie had to be cooking something delicious. I spied her in the kitchen and she gave me a quick hug. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes like it normally did.What the hell?
“Cal, you made enough for all of us, right?” Zade asked the most important question. If I had to suffer through a football game, then I deserved a good meal. I relaxed when Callie nodded.
“Greta’s in her room.”
I knew she’d spoken to me. But I ignored it for three seconds until Zade gave me an odd look.He has no idea. Tanner never opened his big-ass mouth.“Okay. Thanks.”
And so I went into the living room and fought the urge to run.This sucks. Fuck this. God. Why did she have to meet someone else?
But, I knocked on the doorframe. “Hey.”
She sat on her bed, her face lighting up for the briefest of seconds. It was worse than a sucker-punch to the gut. She was so fucking beautiful. But the joy left her face just as quickly. Her hooded eyes were downcast. Every little thing about her made me crazy. Made me want to do things I never imagined. “Aaron.”
No Ronnie. Hilly. A-A-ron. Kick me in the heart, Greta. Do it.
“It’s been a while.”Seven days. Seven days since I touched her.“How’ve you been?”
“Busy.”
“So you’ve said.”
“Yeah. So I’ve said.”
I gripped the back of my neck. Fuck. This was awkward. And miserable. “This sucks ass.”
She chuckled and pulled on the end of her hair. “Yeah. A bit.”
“Are we not friends anymore?” I snapped. “Because this shit wasn’t supposed to end like this. You avoid me. You look like you’d rather be anywhere but here because I’m here. So what gives, Greta? Are we not friends anymore because…” My voice broke a little. “I don’t think I can handle that. I need you in my life.”
Her bottom lip trembled, enough for me to see, but she turned away. “Yeah. We’re friends.”
“Then why ignore me? Why look at me likethat?” I pointed at her. My anger, hurt and misery built up inside me. “You decided to walk away. Not me. You.”
Her brown eyes widened. A flicker ofsomethingcrossed over her face. But she just sucked that bottom lip into her mouth and gnawed it. “It would’ve ended in a week anyway. I got it over with.”
