Page 45 of Curveball

Me: Ewwww

Weston: I'm out.

Weston James left the conversation.

Ava James added Weston James to the conversation.

Ava: Okay, so I guess we’re just going to gloss over the fact that Walker was making out with Farrah. Cool. Cool.

Me: Yup.

Addison: How the tables have turned!!

Weston: Why am I back in this group chat?

I rolled my eyes and placed my phone onto the kitchen counter. Weston’s comment from earlier replayed in my head. Just ask her about Ryan.

I should. I knew that.

But disappointment was already brewing. What if she did want to be with him? What if our kiss had been nothing more than a heat-of-the-moment mistake, fueled by alcohol and bad timing?

We’d been here before.

I scrubbed a hand through my hair, frustration tightening my chest. Why did I always end up here with Farrah?

On the sidelines. Waiting. Hoping she’d finally pick me.

My phone vibrated on the counter. I sighed, already bracing for more bullshit from my siblings. But when I grabbed my phone, it wasn't them. It was a text from Farrah. I hadn't seen her name light up my screen in a long time, and I felt pathetic at how quickly my mood shifted.

Wildflower: Hey. I wanted to repay you for the barn day you gave Hadley. Would you want to come over for dinner tomorrow night?

I’d been half-expecting a message saying the other night was a mistake, not an invitation to her house. But was it just friendly? Nothing more? I was already too far into my head, so I called Cohen. I needed someone to tell me what I couldn’t see.

I pulled up FaceTime and clicked on Cohen’s name, propping my phone against a bottle of olive oil on the counter as I sautéed some vegetables. After a few rings, his face filled my screen.

"What's up, James?" His dark brown hair was wet, making it look almost black.

"You just get out of the shower or something?"

"Or something." He smirked, and I saw a flash of auburn hair move behind him.

"I can call you later if I'm interrupting something," I chuckled. This guy was always with a girl.

He shook his head. "Nah, she's just leaving." I heard what sounded like a mumbled goodbye as he disappeared from the screen for a moment. He quickly appeared again, "Sorry about that. What's going on? How's rehab going?"

"Going well, I should be able to start throwing in a few weeks."

"Badass. Happy to hear that, man. So then why does your face look all sad puppy?" He waved his hand at my face on the screen.

I sighed. "I need some advice."

Cohen smirked. "Farrah problems?"

I nodded.

"That didn't take long. What happened?"

I spent the next five minutes rehashing everything that had gone down over the last few days and debating whether I should go to her house.