Great. Here we go.
“So. Brody.”
There it is.
“What about him?”
“How are things? Really?”
I set down the cupcake. Act natural. “They’re good. Great, actually.”
“Really?” She walks into the kitchen. Leans against the marble island like she’s settling in for a long conversation. Like it’s the sort of thing we do all the time. “Are you sure? Because you’ve been acting weird all week. Distracted. And Derek says Brody’s been off lately…”
My chest tightens. “He’s dealing with a lot. His dad just went through—” I stop. I don’t know what about Brody’s personal life is public knowledge. “He’s been stressed.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad about his dad’s accident. Derek told me all about it.” She’s watching me carefully, her gaze piercing. “I’m glad he has you.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. I never was great at lying.
“Yeah. Well, I’m glad I have him too.” I’d be even more glad if I had himhere. I could really use some backup right about now.
Maya tilts her head. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“What?” Nervous chuckle. “I—of course. We’re together. Obviously I like him.”
“No, I meanreallylike him. You’re falling for him.”
I swear, if there were anything flammable nearby, my face could set fires. “I—yeah. I guess. Maybe.”
“Listen, Chloe, I don’t want to butt into your love life, but I feel like you’re not getting the whole truth about Brody.”
I freeze. “What about him?”
She takes a breath. Glances toward the living room like she’s making sure we’re alone. “Well, Derek’s known him a long time. They played on the same team back in college?—”
“I didn’t know that.”
“It was only for a year. Derek transferred after that. But while Derek was there, he saw a different side of Brody.”
My lungs seem to tighten, waiting for her to drop whatever terrible bomb she’s dangling.
“Apparently, there was this girl they both liked—I know, drama—but she chose Brody, who supposedly wasn’t even all that interested. It rubbed Derek the wrong way.”
Losing to Brody?I want to say. Who would have thought?
“And he got it in his head that Brody’s some sort of womanizer. So when that thing between Brody and Derek’s cousin happened?—”
“What thing?”
Maya pauses, her head tilting. “You didn’t hear about that? Derek’s cousin, Ashley, is this wannabe influencer. Honestly, she comes off a little desperate for attention to me, but Derek’s got a soft spot for her. So he got her this social media job at a Blue Ox charity event a few months ago, and that’s when she met Brody.”
My stomach drops.
Ashley Morrison.
The girl with the viral post about Brody.
“Ashley got Brody’s number—said it was for work, social media stuff for the team. She started texting him. I’m not sure if Brody led her on or what?—”
