I run a hand through my hair.
“Things will resolve between us eventually. Fletcher has never been one to want to be in a long-distance relationship, and he basically started one that way. It’s only a matter of time before he realizes this isn’t for him, and I have my best friend back.”
“Or,” Brinley leans forward like the diner is full, and she wants to make sure no one else hears what she has to say, “Fletcher and Casey survive the distance for the next fourish months, and then she comes down here for the whole summer, and their relationship is so strong that they make it through senior year becausehe knows once he’s playing pro, he’ll have to deal with the distance if she doesn’t travel with him 24/7.”
She takes a breath.
“And then they fall madly in love and get married and start a family, and you slowly get pushed further and further out of his life because she doesn’t like you. Then, suddenly, you’re left to wonder what would’ve happened if you had just talked to him. If you had just been honest with him.”
My mouth opens slightly, my face twisting in disgust.
“Seriously, Brin?”
“I’m just being honest. Or maybe his relationship with Casey doesn’t last, but then he realizes Becca is perfect for him. Suddenly, they’re engaged by graduation and pop out kids every year.”
“You’re really not helping the situation, Brin.” Ember leans into her, but her eyes don’t leave me.
“I’ll talk to him.” I swallow. “I promise. Soon.”
Brinley lets out a slow sigh, reaching for my forearm and squeezing softly.
“I’m not trying to be, I don’t know, I just, I don’t want you to have any regrets. I love you, both of you, and I don’t want to think about what would happen if you guys grow apart.”
“We’d obviously pick you if that were to happen.” Ember grins. “But it’d be kind of hard to ignore Fletcher when he lives with my boyfriend.”
“Oh, we’d definitely pick you over Fletcher,” Brin adds. “I could pretty easily convince the guys to pick you as well.”
“Itwon’t come to that.”
The words leave my mouth, but I don’t know if I fully believe them myself.
We’ve dated other people. We’ve gotten into fights. But nothing like this.
This is different.
And I don’t know if it’s something we come back from.
twenty-nine
Tate
February
Ididn’t think Valentine’s Day this year could get any worse. Yet, I woke up to find that my apartment complex announced the water would be off in our building for at least the next twenty-four hours.
I guess there was a major pipe leak or something similar overnight, and while the building works on fixing it, we don’t have water.
Which completely ruined my plans of sitting in a bubble bath, watching romance movies, and eating a pizza.
I’m just lucky that Jere told me I could come over and hang out at their place because he was pretty sure it would be empty for the evening.
I didn’t ask any questions because, truthfully, I didn’t want to know what Fletcher was going to be up to today. I knew Zeke was going to be with his mom for his birthday because that’s the only reason their house wouldn’t be filled with a ton of people for a party.
Jere always spends Valentine’s Day with his mom and sisters; typically, it’s just in the morning to make the party, but I think he’s sleeping back at home tonight.
Declan and Ember are enjoying their first Valentine’s together, and Brooks is with Liv... as always.
I know where everyone is tonight, who they’re with, aside from one person—
