Oh shit.
"Yeah, you said I could invite him when I asked,” Ellie says in a worried tone. “He still talks to Rowan. You said it wasn’t a big deal, remember?"
"I did. Didn't I?" Hailey’s still looking at Zack.
Her ex.
Zack is the only guy Hailey has dated. She thought he was the end all be all. After high school, they attended the same college to stay together, but two years after graduation, Zack broke up with her.
She's been turned off by relationships ever since, and hasn’t seen him in four years.
"Hailey?" Zack says, walking toward us.
His dirty blond hair moves when he walks, blowing in the wind like some model. His once tall, lanky body is now bulky and chiseled.
Zack rubs his hand on his jaw, over his stubble. I look atHailey, who's not moving a muscle. She's just staring at him as he comes closer to us.
Addie shakes her arm and whispers, "Hailey, snap out of it."
Hailey pushes a strand of her icy blonde hair behind her ear. Her tattoos look pristine like always. Her cheekbones shimmer under the sunlight. I'm surprised Zack recognized her considering she looks nothing like she did in high school.
She was very... preppy.
"Zack," Hailey says, surprised.
Zack smiles, his too white teeth showing off. He splays his arms out in greeting. "How've you been?"
Hailey keeps her facial expression neutral and bland. No excitement. No disgust. Nothing. It's like she’s disassociating.
"I can't believe I'm running into you,” Zack says, looming over us. “I just got into town last night."
"O-oh?" Hailey says.
The girls and I look at her. Hailey never stutters. She never gets tripped up. I look at her and then Zack, not knowing what to do. Addie and Ellie do the same. We stand there while the two of them face off.
"You look"—he gestures his hand up and down at her—"you look incredible, Hails."
Oof, the nickname he used to call her. My sister just stares. Her glossy lip’s part, and her full lashes flutter.
Zack crosses his arms, his biceps flexing in his white T-Shirt. "Would you want to grab a drink later? Catch up?"
I raise my brows at the question, curious what Hailey is going to say.
"Uh," Hailey utters.
He waits for her to say something. We wait for her to say something. Anything.
"Uh," she says again.
I watch her closely and see her looking over Zack's shoulder.
The guys are walking toward us. Rowan, August, James, and Beau. They're laughing and joking around. Rowan is carrying his tux in a black bag. Hailey looks between Zack and the guys.
"Beau," Hailey shouts in a bubbly tone. "Baby, are you finally done getting fitted for your tux?"
My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline.
What did she just say?
