“If you promise to come with me.”
“To the game?” She laughs. “That’s a hard pass.”
“If I’m risking it all, it’s only fair that you do too.”
I know it’s far from fair. Our situations aren’t even comparable.
“You can’t even compare our situations.” She stands up, grabbing another fry. It’s like she took the words right out of my head. “Cam and I dated; we have a past. We’re trying to get you and Declan to have a future.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I groan, and Maia gets back to work as the bell above the diner door rings, and Brinley rushes in.
“Hey,” she says, flopping into the booth previously occupied by Maia. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“You know exactly where to find me at all times,” I respond.
“I know, but I feel like I’ve been looking all over for you.” As if Maia expected her, she sets down a strawberry milkshake and then joins her in the booth.
“What’s up?” I wonder.
“Guys suck,” she replies, grabbing a fry and dipping it into her shake. Maia and I share a quick look before directing our attention back to her.
“What’s up now?” Maia asks.
“Jaxon makes out with a random girl in front of me at a party,” she begins. “Then, takes her to his room, has sex with her, and expects everything between us to be okay.”
“Did I miss something?” Maia mumbles. “You aren’t together… wait, were you together?”
“It doesn’t matter that we aren’t together,” she argues. “He knows I like him. Everyone knows I like him, and he treats me like absolute garbage.”
“He treats you like a little sister,” I add.
“And I hate it.” She sighs. “I’m not even that young; you guys are a year older than me.”
“I don’t think him treating you like a little sister has anything to do with age.” I take another sip of my milkshake. “Do you really think any of the guys would try something with you? Declan would kill them.”
“Just like Cam would kill Declan if he tried anything else with Ember,” Maia says.
Brinley drops the fry on the way to her mouth and stares me down. I let out a long breath, closing my eyes, and dropping my head to my hands.
“Anythingelse?” she questions, and I can practically see her jaw on the floor under the table.
“Did I say anything else?” Maia asks, nervous laughter in her voice. “I meant to say anything, end sentence.”
“Something happened between you guys?”
“It was nothing. It’s in the past. We haven’t even talked about it, and I don’t think either of us plans to.”
“It wasn’t nothing,” Maia interrupts. “You almost kissed.” As if she hadn’t already dug a deep enough hole.
“When was this?” Brin asks.
“The night after the first game.”
“At the party?” She leans forward.
“Yeah,” I finally look up from my hands, “why?”
“He asked about you that night.” She smiles.
