“It’s something I have to work on without you, Eden. You can’t teach me how to trust someone, and you can’t force me to be more open.” She might’ve been right about that. “Also, I’m sorry for asking whether you got laid or not. That was rude.”
“It’s okay.”
“You know…” She blew out a breath, stalling. “I don’t even know why I cared. But the thought of you having been with someone while I was gone was unbearable. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and so I had no other choice but to ask. And I know we’re not actually together, you can do whatever you want, but… I don’t know.”
I don’t knowdescribed it very well.
I, too, had no idea what was happening or what we were doing.
Ever since those stupid kisses, I couldn’t get her out of my head. It had only been two weeks, to be fair, but Ineverhad this problem before.
Even in my previous relationships, I was never obsessing over akissbefore.
This was getting out of control, and I couldn’t even do anything about it because I barely understood what was going on.
“I get it,” I replied, my heart beating faster at my lie. “I wouldn’t really want you sleeping with Austin either. At least not as long as this… deal is still going on.”
Alana immediately pulled her hand away, adjusting her position on my sofa as she cleared her throat. Her expression strained as if she was in physical pain. “Oh, right. I-I wouldn’t have… well…”
She was hiding something, or perhaps the whole Austin topic just made her uncomfortable, though I didn’t know why.
Alana was still interested in Austin, wasn’t she? She would’ve told me if she wasn’t, right? And I mean, there was no reason for her to suddenly no longer want him.
Well, I thought Austin was the worst person to exist—on campus anyway. But as far as I knew, Alana thought the complete opposite, so her change of heart was impossible.
“It’s okay,” I said, offering her a soft smile. “We don’t have to talk about it. Honestly, I’d rather we never,evertalk about Austin.”
She looked almost relieved as I said it. “Thank you.”
28
EDEN
“You look great, Ally-Bear,” I repeated for the third time. “Please, get out of the car.”
Alana shook her head, sliding further down on the seat when the front door of my parents’ house opened. “You said it was only family, not extended family as well!”
“They are family. Not blood-related, but family.” I looked at Luan, the husband of one of my father’s best friends, and smiled at him in a greeting way as he came out of the house. “Besides, it’s my parents’ wedding anniversary. Of course, everyone is going to be there for the party. I told you that.”
Apparently, their wedding anniversary was their favorite day of the year. I’d like to think the day I was born was their favorite, but whatever. They probably just didn’t want to admit I was their favorite kid.
Would’ve been unfair anyway.
But it was obvious. I mean, neither of my siblings was as awesome as me. All of them would beg to differ… then call me some mean names.
“I didn’t think everyone meanteveryone,” she said, almost shrieking.
I heard Luan chuckle as he was about to pass by my car. Part of me was sure he would walk right up to us, but instead, he made his way over to his house. He probably forgot something, or Grey did. It was very fortunate that they all lived on the same street next to each other.
“You made me overdress!” She covered her face with her black purse. “I don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb.”
“You’re not overdressed,” I assured her. “It’s a huge, elegant party.”
It really wasn’t huge, but elegant nonetheless. My parents loved to go all in.
Her eyes poked out from behind the purse. “My parents never celebrated their anniversary.”
A sigh drew from my lungs. “Well, I wish my parents didn’t either, but they do. It’s twenty-two years now… so a celebration is very much necessary.” I couldn’t remember an anniversary they didn’t celebrate as if it was their actual wedding, but she didn’t need to know that.
