“Don’t bring Evan into this,” she tells me.
Evan. You could say he and I were actually friends before I saw my girl wearing his sweater. I mean, we’re teammates and he’s a good guy. But the moment I watched him introduce Ari like he knew her, I could only think of him as someone I wanted to punch in the face.
“I can’t help it,” I tell her.
She looks back toward the club then at me. “How are you here anyway?” she asks.
Funny story. “Evan said he was coming out here. So me and some of the other guys on the team decided to join him.” I only came here because I wondered if he would be meeting up with you. Apparently, he was. “And here you are exactly where he is.”
“We didn’t make plans to meet up if that’s what you’re implying.”
That was exactly what I was implying. “So y’all just run into each other in a place off the beaten path? How convenient.”
“Almost like it’s meant to be,” she bites back and her words burn.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” I tell her.
“Well, you should’ve let me be, then. I was enjoying myself dancing with my friends.” She sure was. I watched for a few seconds from afar until I couldn’t anymore. I couldn’t stand that Evan was the center of her attention. I wanted her eyes on me instead. Even if they were full of hatred. Anything was better than nothing.
I nod. “I just really wanted to talk to you. I’ve missed you,” I say, half-whispering the final words. I can see the surprise in her eyes. I guess she didn’t expect me to say that. “I’ve missed you every single day since things ended.”
“Didn’t show,” she bites back.
“You didn’t see it. But everyone around me did. I was miserable. Still am. You are the best thing to ever happen to me and I let you slip through my fingers.” She takes a few steps to the right then leans on the wall behind her. I wait for her to say something, anything, but she doesn’t. “I know you’re drunk, so maybe this isn’t the best time to have this conversation with you,” I tell her. I know I chose a time when her defenses were low to get her to let me in. I’m an ass for that but I didn’t want her to shut me out. Not until she heard what I had to say.
“I wish I were drunk right now. Coming out here with you sobered me right up,” she says, sounding disappointed.
“You can always go back inside if you want and go have the time of your life. I just really wanted to talk to you. To see you. To explain. And to tell you that despite it all… I still love you.”
11
Ari Cole
I didn’t lie when I told him I sobered up. Sure, there’s still a buzz going through my body, but that’s all that’s left from the endless shots I took with Mercedes earlier.
“You can always go back inside if you want and go have the time of your life. I just really wanted to talk to you. To see you. To explain. And to tell you that despite it all… I still love you,” he says, his eyes fixed on mine.
I hold my breath and freeze. Thank goodness for the solid wall behind me. I may not be drunk but I don’t know that I could keep myself up without the wall’s help after he utters those words.
“Are you okay?” Evan says, walking out the door and instantly turning to his right.
“She’s fine,” Kayden replies, his words short.
I watch the two of them as they stare at each other. Teammates. That’s what they are. Probably even friends. But at this very moment, they look like enemies. They look ready to tear at each other’s throats.
“I was asking her,” Evan says, not backing down. Interesting. People usually back down when Kayden speaks. I’ve witnessed that my entire life with him.
He had always been larger than life.
Maybe he was right about being a small fish in a big pond.
Maybe people don’t bow down to him anymore.
“Well, you’re hearing from me,” Kayden replies.
I sigh. This is unnecessary and plain old stupid. “You boys done with your pissing contest?” I ask, finding that I’m angry at their exchange. Any other girl would probably swoon over having two very hot guys fighting over her.
But my reality is different.
Evan, I just met. He’s nice and all but he has no reason to try and claim any territory. I don’t belong to him. Maybe he’s just being nice and I’m being harsh but that’s just the truth. I’ve seen him once in my life, that doesn’t give him any rights.
Kayden doesn’t get to claim me now either. That ship has long ago sailed and sunk. The time to want to shout to the world I’m his has passed.
“Sorry,” Evan responds. I see the sincerity in his baby blue eyes. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he adds. It’s a nice sentiment, really.
“I’m fine,” I tell him then decide to go for honesty. “I know when you asked if Kayden and I knew each other, I said we didn’t run in the same circles but eventually we—”
“Meant everything to each other,” Kayden says, interrupting me.
“We were in a relationship,” I finish, ignoring Kayden’s words.
Evan’s eyes widen in realization. “That’s the type?” he asks.
I can’t help but laugh as Kayden stands there next to Evan wondering what we’re talking about. “Exactly,” I reply.
“It’s not so bad,” he tells me.
“Should I go and let the two of you have your secret conversation on your own?” Kayden jumps in and asks. I can hear the frustration and jealousy in the tone of his voice.
Evan takes a few steps back then pats Kayden on the shoulder. “You
