“What? Who the fuck was harassing her?”
She shakes her head. “It’s handled. Leave it alone. I get the feeling Cecilia doesn’t like you fighting her battles for her.”
The corners of my mouth twitch. “She told you about that, huh?”
“We’re friends,” she reminds me.
“Alright, I’ll back off,” I tell her, taking a physical step back. “You can be her friend.” For now. But if Adriana fucks up, we’re going to have words again. I’m not going to stand by and let anyone hurt my girl. Not again, and not on my watch.
“I’m so glad to hear I have your approval,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“I’m trying here, A. You and I have a lot of history, and it’s not all good.”
She huffs out a breath. “I’m not that person anymore, Gabe. Let it go already. We’ve both grown up. I’m not the same girl who screwed her friend’s boyfriend. And you’re not the same boy who was always stuck in his twin’s shadow.”
Her bringing Carlos up cuts fast and deep, and I wince. It’d hurt less if she punched me in the gut.
“Don’t bring up my brother.” My voice is a growl. Carlos has been gone for years now, but hearing people talk about him, having him brought up in casual conversation, it hurts the same every time. It never fucking lessens.
“Fine. But don’t you think it’s time for all of us to move on?”
I let the comment about my brother go. She didn’t say it to get a rise out of me. She’s just being matter-of-fact. But I’m not the one who gets to make that call. Who gets to decide when it’s time to let this shit go.
“Have you talked to Allie?” I ask her. “Since everything that’s happened?”
She snorts. “Are you kidding? Alejandra doesn’t want to hear from me. She’s happy. Has a steady guy, right? They’re engaged, or getting engaged, last I heard.” She shakes her head. “The best thing I can do for Allie is leave her alone to live her life. In no universe does she want to hear from me.”
She’s wrong. When Adriana went behind Allie’s back and fucked Ryker, it destroyed her. She was already dealing with the loss of her mom and having to go to a new school. Being forced to move to a new town. Having to live with a bio-dad she’d never even met.
She was losing so much. Being forced to accept so many changes all at once.
And what Adriana did was the straw that broke the camel's back. Allie needed her best friend more than ever before with everything she was going through. And Adriana’s betrayal was like a double-edged sword taking the boy Allie thought she loved out of her life, right along with her best friend.
“I disagree,” I tell her. I could be wrong about this. But I don’t think I am. Allie would welcome her back if she believed Adriana wanted a relationship with her again. If she was genuine about repairing their friendship. Allie’s big on second chances, and while she isn’t quick to forgive, she almost always comes around. “But I’ll make you deal.” An idea forms quickly in my mind.
Her eyes narrow. “I’m listening.”
“You patch shit up with Allie, and all is forgiven. I won’t bring up our past and I won’t hold it against you. Clean slate.” As far as I’m concerned, this is a win win.
She considers me for a moment. I can see the gears whirling in her head as she weighs the pros and cons of my offer. Despite how frigid she can be, I think there’s a part of Adriana that misses being a part of our group. It might be a teeny tiny one. But it’s there.
Her lips purse as I wait, making sure to keep my expression schooled so she can’t see how badly I want this. If Adriana fixes shit with Allie, she’ll have more of an incentive to be a real friend to Cecilia and it’ll make it easier to keep an eye on her, especially if the rest of the guys are on board. Adriana might also decide to come kick it, maybe bring Cecilia with her.
My lips twitch as I fight back my smile. Yeah, I can work with this. It’s no real hardship to be around Adriana if Cecilia comes as a part of that package. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.
Scrutinizing her features—the minute changes to her facial expression as she considers my offer—I’m able to see the moment she decides to reject my offer.
A flicker of regret flashes across her gaze and disappointment washes over me.
I really thought she’d go for it.
Maybe she really didn’t give a shit about us after all.
“Pass. I don’t need your forgiveness. I'm getting along just fine. And if Cecilia and I remain friends for the long haul, it’s you who will have to accept me. Not the other way around.” She shrugs. “Either way, I’ll be fine.”
I grit my teeth.Fine.She’ll be fine? I’m giving her a chance here. Why does she have to be so difficult?
I need to sweeten the deal. Adriana might not care if she has my forgiveness, but there is someone else’s she’s wanted for years now and she’s never hidden that.
