“Emotions are complicated.” She shrugged and gave me a look that saidget it together, idiot. “Do you love him? Look at how messy you are.”
My shoulder deflated. The fight left me. “I hate when you’re correct.”
She beamed, the words clearly going to her head. “I love hearing it from you, your brother. Does the ego well. So, tell me, why not appreciate a few more nights with him if youlovehim? Enjoy every second you can. Life’s super short, girl. Y’all already talked about it not going anywhere, right?”
My cheek twitched.No. I’m avoiding him because my poor heart.I swallowed down the ugly reality check and insteadfocused on her words. Enjoying a few more nights with him would be… mm.
My body hummed at the idea of sleeping with him again. To feel his arms around me and his mouth. To experience his intensity in the bedroom. I squeezed my eyes shut, my pulse racing. “So, I go up there and saysleep with me?”
“No.” She frowned. “I’m suggesting that you’re the one making it weird between you. You’re the one more invested and upset. Not him. He probably knows something’s off with you, but this was his MO. To be friends. To go to the NHL. To not get involved. You’re talking like you’re cutting off all ties with him, like a breakup. You’re not breaking up. You just fell for a guy who doesn’t love you, but hedoesfeel something. The gifts show that. Everything he does shows that.”
“Ugh, it makes me sound pathetic. I should know better.” I fell onto my back, hitting the couch and groaning. “I suck.”
“You don’t suck, and we can’t help who we develop feelings for.” She patted my leg. “I didn’t want to get feels for Gabey Baby, but I did.”
“Yuck.” I cringed at the nickname girls from high school called my brother. It was horrendous. “But he had them back.”
“True, but I knew it was gonna hurt when it was done, and I dove in headfirst. To me, it was worth the pain because being with him was everything. Are you happy around Cal? Does he get you to smile?”
Yes.“Maybe.”
“Liar.” She pinched my elbow, causing me to yelp. “You gotta do what you feel is right, and if that’s cutting him out of your life, then great. If you want to make the last few days longer, do it. Plan to remain friends when he goes to the NHL? Or not? That’s your choice. But I wouldn’t want to miss any time with the person I loved.”
“He’s leaving and didn’t even tell me.”Andprobably slept with someone else.
But how would you know, dumb-dumb, because you’re avoiding him?
My conscious was being a dick to me.
She chewed the side of her lip. “You technically don’t know that’s true. He could’ve planned to tell you, but you never gave him the chance. You saw a text that sure, is suspicious, but from everything you shared about him, he cares about you as a friend. Friends don’t leave without telling each other. And those gifts are really nice. I love you, but I think you’re letting your feelings for him cloud what’s going on.”
“I hate that you might be right.” I rolled off the end of the couch and fell to the floor. “He’s called a few times.”
She arched a brow. “I understand you’re hurting, but he might be too? In his own way? His circle is small, Elle, from everything you said. You avoiding him isn’t cool.”
She’s right, goddamnit.Yet, I still fought it. “I wanted sympathy and to cry.”
“You have it and can, but I’d be an asshole to not point out some things. You need to talk to him. Whether you share what you’re going through or not, you owe him a conversation.”
“Yet you told me I should sleep with him again.”
“I’m saying…enjoy your time with him and don’t ice him out. He doesn’t deserve it. Take care of yourself, but when or if he even leaves, your pity party can’t start until then.”
I ran my fingers through my hair a few times, the curls still there from earlier, and I glanced at my phone. He’d be at Charlie’s until midnight, and it was only ten. Icouldgo there to talk to him. He’d called four times and texted more. Apologizing, asking to see me. I owed him this.
Dani was right. His small circle of people included me, and that was precious. I’d never take that for granted, and even if it ripped my heart out, he deserved me always being on his team.
His team.An idea struck. A goofy, romantic,heroine in a love storyidea.
“I’m heading to Charlie’s.” I dusted off my shorts and adjusted the hem of my yellow tank top. ”He’s working, and that way I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“Seems less fun but good.” She grabbed my hand, her gaze getting intense. “I feel like our roles reversed right now, and it’s weird. But don’t count him out yet, alright?”
“Is it dorky that I daydreamed about us having heart-to-hearts living together?”
“Not at all. I love this!” She grinned hard.
“I don’t know what I’ll say when I see him, but I can at least thank him for the gifts.”
