He laughs. “So what did Dustin say?”
I grimace and rub at the back of my neck. “Haven’t told him.”
For a minute, he just stares at me, a rare look of seriousness on his face. “He’s going to freak out when he finds out.”
“I know,” I breathe.
“Just tell him before this gets messy and you drag all of us into it.”
“I will,” I say with more confidence than I feel. “When the time is right.”
“Dude,” he grumbles. “The time was right when you fucked her the first time because I’m going to assume there was a second time.”
Guilt clings to the lining of my stomach. “We’re in deep shit, aren’t we?”
He nods. “Yes, and you’re taking Ivy and me with you for knowing.”
I sigh and crack my neck. “Just give me time to figure out how to tell him. I will, I promise. We can’t sneak around forever, nor do we want to remain a secret.”
“Okay,” he grumbles.
“Okay? That’s it? Nothing snarky?”
“No snarky here today. I have my own issues.”
I glance at him as I stand. He follows me to the weights. As I lay down on my bench press, he goes behind me to spot me. “Girl issues?”
His top lip curls. “Something like that.”
“Is this that one girl?”
He nods. “She wants more.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“I’ve never had a relationship before,” he admits. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin with one.”
“But you like her?”
He shrugs, but I can tell it’s a bigger deal than what he’s letting on. “Yeah, I suppose.”
“Man, just do it. You like her; she likes you. Take the next step. Don’t make this complicated like Avery and my relationship.”
“What if it ends badly?” he asks after a moment.
“Aw,” I coo. “Is Jacob worried about his heart?”
He rubs at his chest. “Yeah, I mean, I’ve never…this is new to me. I don’t want any organs hurting.”
I laugh and sit up. “Welcome to relationships. Shit hurts sometimes, but most of the time, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he grumbles.
As I stand up, I glance at the time. Talking about relationships only makes me want to see her more, and if I hurry, I can get there on time.
I start to walk away. “Hey! Where are you going?” Jacob asks.
I turn and walk backward. “It’s raining.”
