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I nodded, considering the idea again as a way of getting past the chaos. “I could…”
“You shouldn’t,” a voice said from above me.
“Why?” I snapped, looking up at Tyson.
He curled his lip in disgust. “Don’t play stupid, Jackson. It’s obvious that you love her.”
“Whoa,” I stopped him, shaking my head. “Where the hell did you get that idea? I mean, was the sex good? Yeah. But it’s sex. Sex is almost always good.”
“Don’t downplay her,” Tyson growled, his aggression somewhat surprising me. He was Maeve’s husband, which meant he would more than likely take up for Lena if she was around. Or maybe if she wasn’t.
I didn’t see Maeve anywhere.
“She’s sleeping in the bedroom,” Tyson snapped, answering my question. “This has nothing to do with my wife. It’s really apparent that you have strong feelings for Lena. You’ve never cared about any of your girlfriends. You never stopped partying. Lena changed a lot of things for you. I was starting to think you might settle down.”
I swallowed the emotions welling up in my throat. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t give a shit. It was just embarrassing.” Now I was talking out of my ass.
“Right, okay. Well, if you actually care about her, you should tell her how you feel—and that you miss her.”
“I tried to call her,” I blurted out before stopping myself.
Aaron raised a brow. “You do love her then?”
“No,” I said, exasperated. “I never said that, but we are…friends. I don’t like the way things ended between us, and I don’t want things to be the way they are.”
“You’re more than friends.” Tyson frowned.
I shook my head. “Nah, we’re not. And you know what?” My eyes bounced between the two of them. “I’m not fucking dealing with this from you two. Whatever stupid emotions got wrapped up in her just goes to show that women are nothing but heartbreak.”
“You’re going to regret not chasing after her,” Tyson scoffed, backing away and disappearing down the aisle.
“I don’t know why he has to be so stupid about this,” I spat, irritation still burning in my chest as I clunked my phone down on the table.
Aaron studied me for a few long beats. “He’s always been like that—and in his defense, you have changed since meeting Lena. Maybe it’s partially forced from the PR team, but…there’s no denying that it’s more than friends between the two of you.”
“Well…” I leaned forward, holding Aaron’s gaze. “You know what? It might have caused me to have some feelings, but it’s over. She doesn’t return my calls or texts. I need to move on. Women are problems, and the way she’s acting is the proof.”
“Maybe she’s just having a hard time with it too,” Aaron suggested.
I laughed. “No. But I think maybe it’s time for me to find myself again.” I folded my arms across my chest, the material of my sweatshirt soft against my skin. Lena had hurt me—friend or not.
And it’s time for me to forget she ever existed.
Fuck the media, the PR team, and everyone else.
It’s time to get back to being me.
39
LENA
August 28 th.
I stared at the date on the calendar. I should’ve started my master’s program by now, but instead I was sitting behind the desk at the school, having accepted a full-time position. It was enough to keep my house without any roommates, and that in and of itself was a win, albeit small. My eyes shifted to the clock.
Mom will be here anytime.
We hadn’t really talked all that much in a month, but she’d asked to come and help me decorate the classroom—and I’d accepted. Besides, I needed to talk to her. I needed to fix the bump in the road…
