“This can’t happen again. Because it’s forbidden... Right?”
“Right,” I agree, though it’s a lie.
A half-hearted smile finds those still-swollen lips as she leans back into the couch.
We sit in silence for a few more moments, something simmering underneath. Despite her insistence that this can’t happen again, I wish it would. I want it to.
But if I truly care about her, I have to listen to her. Because deep down, I know exactly what comes from getting too wrapped up in someone. Feelings are fickle.Not everything works out just because you hope it will. This isn’t some fictional story spilled out onto a page with an unrealistic ending. This is real life. Those kinds of endings don’t exist. At least not in my world. For that reason alone, Avery and I are destined to be buddies. That’s what’s best for us both.
Avery squeezes my hand pulling me out of my thoughts. “Plus, it’s been nice having you as a friend.”
Friend.
I wish I could protest, but she’s right. It’s been nice. Unexpected, but nice.I squeeze her hand back, dropping my guard for one moment more. “I never realized how much I needed a friend.”
Her eyes go gooey. Every brown fleck in her hazel gaze melty like a fresh pan of chocolate chip cookies. She’s sweet. And I have to resist the urge to devour her. Her molten gaze almost makes me rethink my words, but then my phone vibrates. The pulses rattle against the hard coffee table, yanking me back to reality.
Avery and I are roommates. Friends. Nothing more.
Scooting away, I lean over and check my screen. It’s a text from Ramiel. Even without opening it, I know why he’s messaging me. I left trivia without any notice, and finally, he noticed.
And then a call rolls in before the buzzy-rings fall into unanswered silence. The name on the screen knocks the air out of me.
It’s Maggie.
“Okay, Mr. Popular,” Avery teases.
I offer her a sheepish smileas I weigh my options. Stay here with her and make more questionable choices… or leave. Answer the phone. Text Rami that I had to go home for whatever reason. Call Maggie back to see if maybe she’s willing to… Willing to what? Make amends? All roads lead to me leaving Avery here. Alone.
I hesitate, but ultimately, I do what’s best for the both of us, and bolt toward my room.
“Maggie?” I choke out as I close my bedroom door behind me. Adrenaline and a staircase-sprint have me sounding like I’ve forgotten how to breathe.
“Ty? You doin’ okay over there?”
“Yeah. Just ran up the stairs.”
“Why?” I can hear her munching on something at the other end of the line.
“I don’t know. I just did.”
Silence falls over the call, and I wonder if now is the time to apologize for the way I reacted when we last spoke, but I don’t get the chance.
“Dude. Mom is driving me insane. Did you know she asked me to be her maid of honor?” The way Maggie dives into the story, like we’re totally okay, is equal parts comforting and disheartening.
Despite her call, I can tell she only wants to unload on someone who knows how Mom is. Each detail she adds to the conversation is clipped. She isn’t asking about me, she’s only talking about herself. It’s a complete 180 compared to what’s normal for us. But I listen because, for themoment, it doesn’t matter what venom Maggie spit at me before or that she’s marrying a guy who has dumped her too many times to count. All I care about right now is that my twin—the person who has known every version of me—needs me.Wantssomething to do with me. And even though I can’t bring myself to tell her, I’ve missed her.
I flop onto my bed as Maggie promises to send me the bridesmaid dresses Mom picked out.
“Mom asked you to wear a turtleneck?” I snicker.
“Withfur.I’m going to look like I tumbled out of a snow globe.” Maggie snort-laughs. “Why haven’t we talked her out of a Christmas wedding yet? We should have worked harder on that.”
“It’s too late now. Only a couple months left.”
She sighs, and I hear Anthony asking for her in the background. “Well, I better go.”
I pop up, scooting to the edge of the bed. “Yeah, same.”
