“Sappy.” Ivy smacked a palm on the table top. “So sappy. It’s disgusting, I hate you, and I’m happy for you. Atticus has been less of a pain at work since you came into his life. However.” Another palm slap. “We need to talk about this weekend.”
Sammie’s breath caught in her throat. Had Ivy found out about her planned trip back home with Kieran?
Kai grinned. “I’ve got it pre-downloaded.”
Wait, what?
“What’s this weekend?” Both sets of eyes turned toward Sammie.
“I forgot,” Ivy said, patting her on the back. “You’re boring. The new season ofApocalypseis dropping.”
She recognized the name of the game. A post-apocalyptic MMO that she’d heard her friends and brother talk about from time to time. Sammie wasn’t a gamer, and really only played socially, but Ivy and Kai had bonded quickly over their love of video games.
“Kai,” Ivy said seriously. “Let us crash at your place for the weekend. I’ll bring my console, it’ll be like the old days of LAN parties and Game Fuel.” She turned to Sammie. “You come, too, and get some dedicated reading time in. It’ll be fun!”
Sammie took a generous sip from her witbier, the crisp flavor refreshing after a long day spent in the heat. “I’m going down to the house this weekend,” she said. Ivy clearly didn’t know, and after the seed Kai had planted in Sammie’s mind, she really didn’t want her friend to find out from someone else. “With Kieran.”
Both her friends stared at her for a too-long moment. Apparently Atticus hadn’t told Kai yet. Unusual, since Sammiehad learned very quickly that Atticus was as bad at keeping secrets from Kai as he was with her.
“This feels like information that was pertinent before now,” Kai said slowly. Ivy laughed, but it was a small sound, and rang false in Sammie’s ears. A tiny knot began to form in her chest.
“He’s just helping out with some repairs,” she said quickly, hiding behind another gulp of her beer. Kai glanced between her and Ivy, who was suddenly very interested in something on her phone. Another raised brow, and Sammie answered with a small shake of her head.
She still hadn’t told Ivy what she’d learned about Kieran. About the fact that it washisaccount that Ivy had found, about her conversation with him at the diner. About what they were planning to do together.
Sammie had been doing her bestnotto think about it. Not any more than she had to. She’d already made the lists Kieran had asked for. Now, all she could do was wait for Wednesday to roll around, and dwelling on what that day would bring did nothing but make her more nervous than she already was.
“It’s good that he can help you.” Ivy finally looked up from her phone, meeting Sammie gaze with a smile. “I’d offer, but I know fuck all about home repairs.” She rose from their little table, excusing herself to go to the restroom.
“I’m going to make videos with Kieran.” The words spilled from Sammie the moment Ivy was out of earshot. Kai’s eyes went round and his mouth fell open, only for him to pull his phone back out.
“I need to unsubscribe,” he mumbled, tapping furiously on his screen. “Oh my god.” He looked back up at her. “Oh my god. Have you told Attie?”
Sammie shook her head. “No, I’m telling you so you can tell him and I don’t have to.” She could feel heat licking up her neck,searing her cheeks. She kept an eye on the bathroom, wanting to end this part of their conversation before Ivy rejoined them.
“That’s a big deal, Sammie.” Kai stare turned cautious, his eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
Sammie had neveractuallytalked to Kai about her feelings for Kieran, but by now he knew enough about her history, considering Atticus never knew when to shut the fuck up.
“The money’s good.” Sammie kept her voice low. “And…” And what? It was strange, trying to find the words, trying to say what she was feeling in a way someone else could understand. “And I think this could be good for me. In a lot of ways.” A chance to express herself in a new way, unguarded but still unknown. Never mind what remained of her teenage crush on Kieran. Sammie really did want to do this for herself, it just so happened that the person she was doing it with was someone she also happened to have a thing for.
Kai watched her, searching her face for something. Whatever he saw there must have been enough to assuage his worries, because he nodded slowly. “I’ll tell Attie for you. He won’t let you live this one down. You know that, right?”
Sammie blew out a long breath through her nose. “Yep. Thinking about blocking his number for the next seven to ten business days.”
“He’ll just show up at your door to say it all to your face.”
Kai was right. Whatever roasting she was about to get from her twin, it was a sure thing, as unavoidable as the sun rising in the east.
“Did I miss anything good?” Ivy plopped back into her seat, startling Sammie.
“Just telling him more about the repairs that need to happen,” Sammie said quickly. Kai schooled his features, the shock over what Sammie had confided disappearing in an instant.
“Well, I may not know how most tools work, but if you need more help, let me know.”
Ivy’s words were sincere, and the gentle way she was looking at Sammie squeezed a fist around her lungs. Ivy was good. Kind. She was fun and silly. She had proven herself to be someone who cared, who would always be there when Sammie needed her.
And yet, Sammie couldn’t bring herself to tell Ivy about Kieran. Because what if she hurt her? Sammie hated herself just the smallest bit for it.
