“Yeah. How do you know who Casey Hill is?”
“Fletcher, she started dating Tate’s first-ever boyfriend, not even a week after they broke up. Did you ever think that maybe she doesn’t want to hang out with someone who dated her ex right after they broke up?”
“Okay, first of all, Tate has always told me that she and Lucas weren’t really vibing and that he was better suited for Casey. Second of all, why do you even know that?”
“Chase and I might’ve graduatedyearsbefore you guys were in high school, but who do you think Tate talked to about going on her first date with this guy?”
“So, you know why they broke up then?”
She walks into my room, sitting in my desk chair.
“Sure. Probably about the same amount of information that you know.”
“So, you know that the breakup didn’t bother her. Honestly, it was refreshing because everything went back to normal between our group.”
“You felt like the group got weird?” Her eyebrows knit together.
“I guess.” I shrug. “It started when I started dating Ester, but I think I was just so wrapped up in being in a relationship, I lost myself. And then she started dating Lucas, and it felt like we hardly saw each other or the group. After we were both single, things went back to normal.”
“Why do you think things were weird when you were in relationships?”
“We were both consumed by them. We forgot what was really important, our friendships, you know? Tate, Brinley, and the guys will always be there. Girlfriends… maybe… maybe not.”
“And you think things between you and Tate will be okay if you go out with Casey tonight?”
I wet my lips, leaning against a wall.
“Why wouldn’t they be? We’re adults now; I don’t think we’d let relationships consume our whole lives anymore.”
“If I tell you something, will you promise me you never bring it up to Tate?”
I push off the wall and take a few hesitant steps toward Stella.
“What’s going on?”
“Tate wasn’t upset that you were spending all of your time with Ester in high school,” she begins. “Well, I guess she was, but not for the reason you think.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Tate was jealous because you were dating somebody who wasn’t her. Not because you became consumed by that relationship. She only started dating Lucas because she needed to move on from you. That’s why they broke up so close to when you and Ester broke up. He realized she was never really interested in him like that.”
I scratch the top of my head.
“I appreciate you telling me this, Stels, I do. But even if Tate did have feelings for me then, she doesn’t now. I would know if she did. Hell, Brinley would know if she did, and Brinley becomes the ultimate matchmaker when it comes to our friend group.”
“Okay.” She pats her legs and then stands up. “I just wanted you to know.”
“Thanks, really, but we’ve both been in a relationship since Ester and Lucas, and since we kissed, and those ones were fine. They didn’t create a distance between us, you know why, because we were no longer stupid kids trying to navigate a romantic relationship for the first time.”
“Okay,” she repeats. “You’re right. I don’t know how things are now. Have a good time tonight.”
“Thanks.”
I watch Stella leave my room and grab a jacket from my bag.
The guys always told me that Tate had feelings for me in high school; I just assumed they were teasing me because they knew I kind of had feelings for her.
It feels weird to know that she actually admitted to Stella that the reason things were awkward between her and Ester was becauseshewanted to be the one I was dating.
