“Becca?”
I follow her gaze and land on two people hanging outside in the backyard. It takes a minute to realize that one of the people is Tate, and she seems awfully cozy with whomever she’s talking to.
I feel the same heat in my stomach that I did the night I saw her talking to the MSU player at the bar, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s jealousy. I’ve never been jealous of Tate talking to other people, not in the way I was that night and not in the way I feel now.
I assumed I was angry that the guy was taking advantage of a very intoxicated Tate, but I have no excuse for this feeling now.
And I have no right to feel this way. I’m hanging out with someone, Tate has every right to hang out with any guy she wants at any time, but—
“Another girl for Isaiah’s list.”
“Huh?” I turn toward Becca, who seems just as annoyed with what’s going on outside as I am.
“That’s Isaiah Walker.”
Once she says his name, it’s as if I’m seeing his face for the first time. I’ve heard of him in passing a few times. I mean, he’s one of our football players; of course, I know who he is. But this is the first time I’ve seen him since Becca shared very little about their relationship.
All I know is he broke her heart, and now he’s standing outside with Tate.
My Tate.
Telling her who knows what.
“That’s Tate.” That is all I can say, and I feel Becca’s eyes on me.
“Your Tate?”
I nod.
“You should go break that up. The last thing you want is Tate getting close to Isaiah. Trust me.”
I sigh.
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?”
“Becca, if I go out there right now and tell Tate he’s a bad guy, it will damage an already fractured relationship.”
“I thought she was your best friend?”
“She is, but between me ditching her at that party, Casey, and the MSU player, our relationship hasn’t been what it used to be.”
“She’ll appreciate it in the long run, trust me.”
“Becca, if I go out there right now, she’ll tell me I’m jealous and that I have no right to be because of Casey and—”
“But aren’t you?”
“I just don’t want to see her get hurt.”
I scratch the back of my head and then stand up straighter.
“Come on, we should head back that way.” I point over to where we were just moments ago. “The last thing we need is for them to catch us staring.”
Becca steps around me, but my eyes don’t leave Tate. They study her for another minute until she throws her head back in laughter, reaching out an arm to touch Isaiah’s forearm, and that’s when I realize I’ve overstayed my welcome.
If I deserve to be happy, so does she.
