And that reaffirmed my resolve. Drew needed his best friend tonight, not another problem. Ava would understand why we had to wait.
I hoped.
I nodded toward the stairs. “I’m gonna grab a shower since I was at the gym when you called me, and then we can order some food.” I headed for the stairs, then stopped. “Drew? For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing today. Telling her the truth, I mean. I think most guys would’ve made excuses, but you didn’t. You owned it. The old you wouldn’t have done that. You would’ve lashed out.”
Then I headed upstairs to the bathroom. I needed to shower—I still reeked of the gym—but more than that, I needed to call Ava.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey! My class just ended, so I’m heading up right now. Want to meet up early?”
The hope in her voice made my chest ache.
“We can’t tell him tonight.”
Silence filled the line for so long I wondered if the call had dropped. “Ava?”
“Why not?”
I sat on the edge of the bathtub and pinched the bridgeof my nose. I filled her in on the bet and Harper leaving Drew.
“Oh my God. Is he okay?”
“He’s a wreck, Aves. Like, completely fucking destroyed. Rory was screaming when I got here, and he couldn’t even calm her down. I’ve never seen him like this.”
She was quiet for a moment, processing. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. “So we’re not going to tell him.” She said it like she understood, but I still felt like I had to explain.
“No. I’m sorry.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “We can’t do it now. Not when he’s already falling apart. It would?—”
“I know.” She cut me off. “I get it.”
“I’m sorry.” I’d already said it, but I felt like I need to say it again.
“Don’t be. He’s your best friend. He needs you.”
“I promise we’ll tell him. Just not when his world’s already falling apart, okay?”
She was quiet again before finally saying, “Okay.”
“I should go,” I said reluctantly. “I need to shower and then check on him. Make sure Rory’s still asleep.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and sat there for a moment, staring at the phone in my hand, thankful that she understood because I had no doubt that if she ever left me, I’d be as much of a wreck as my best friend downstairs.
THIRTY-ONE
“We can’t tell him tonight.”
One sentence was all it took to feel the hope I’d been nurturing shatter like glass.
He’d explained and it made sense, but a part of me also wondered if he was using it as an excuse.
No one had ever made me a priority before. Why should Liam be any different?
He’s not ready. He’s never going to be ready. You were foolish to think otherwise.
I sat there in my bedroom hating the hollow feeling that was far too familiar. I loved my brother, I really did, and my heart hurt for the pain he was going through, but at the same time, I was so fuckingtiredof always coming second to him.
