“Ivy.” His eyes flashed darker. He was pissed.
“It’s not that wild. You’re with a different girl every night. You could hang out with anyone on campus. You have social media fan accounts. I’m proud of who I am, but I’m notthat.”
“You’re unforgettable.”
My body broke out in chills at the intensity of his voice, the way his gaze bored into mine. He looked primed to jump across the table and shake me into belief. I sipped my drink as a temporary barrier. “Okay then.”
“Ivy.”
“Hm?”
“If we’re going to do this, please ask me directly instead of assuming anything. I’ve played into my playboy role well. It’s what the team needs.”
“It’s what your family needed too.” I smiled, a little sad. “You’re always adjusting to the wants of others. Even me. I promise I’ll ask you things directly instead of letting gossip or posts inform me. To be fair, I don’t track this down. I end up hearing it.”
“I’m sure.” He gripped the back of his neck, the tension evident in his shoulders.
“I’ll agree to that only if you promise something too.”
“Anything.” He leaned onto his elbows, his expression open just for me. That was always my favorite part about our friendship.
I got to see this side of him when no one else did. They all got the party guy, the playboy, the goofball. I got the real him,and I was selfish and wanted it again. “Be real with me. Don’t be who you think I need. Be you. I always lovedyou,not the guy everyone else wants you to be.”
“What if I forgot who I was?” he asked so quietly I wasn’t sure I heard him.
“Then I’ll help you find him.”
He closed his eyes, his lips slightly turned up as he relaxed into his chair for the first time since we arrived. When he blinked them open, he seemed lighter, happier. “Okay so we covered that I’m a mess, my dad is a piece of shit, and you’re more mature and amazing. This seems unbalanced.”
“Ah, don’t go too fast. My parents are messy as hell and tolerate me. I still have plenty of mom and dad issues we could sort through if you want.”
Like the fact they thought it was cute I wanted to be an athletic trainer. It pissed me off and motivated me all at the same time.
He laughed the deep, infectious laugh I grew up with. “God, I missed that mouth of yours.”
I knew what he meant by the comment: my verbal responses. But my body still heated. It was unfair how attractive he was, objectively of course. He made it clear that we’d never cross that line, and honestly, it was foolish for me to even react to him.
We were barely friends again, and I had zero business entertaining that thought. I smiled, forcing myself to find my anger. It was easier to stay mad at him, to remember the hurt of three years than to feel this weird, zing toward him.
Becausethatwas not an option.
10
CALLUM
My phone buzzed about a thousand times before I silenced it.Damn group text with my sisters.They were those people who didn’t send paragraphs when you texted. They relayed each thought, feeling, and vibe they had in separate lines and then each one reacted to every single message. It was a freaking bomb in my pocket.
I pulled it out and huffed. My dad wanted to make amends with the four of us badly.
Right on cue, a different number texted. Dear ole cheating father.
Curt O’Toole: Hope senior year is going well, son. I miss you. Can we please meet?
I changed the contact from Dad to Curt once he moved in with the mistress, and just like the last ten messages, I ignored it. Left him on read. I chose to leave read receipts on because I liked how it messed with people.
“Oh, if you need to get that or go, I get it.” Ivy waved her hand, her green eyes shielded by her glasses. “I could catch up on homework.”
“I don’t need to go.” I frowned, not loving how fast she assumed I’d a) want to leave or b) that I’d rather be anywhere but here. “It’s my sisters.”
