“That’s enough.” Penn cuts Alec off before he can finish that particular sentence.
“What I meant is, Cat will not be there.” Alec doesn’t even attempt to hide his smile this time. “So, it’s settled. You’ll come?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head, pretty certain Penn only said I was welcome to come because he’s trying to be nice, not because he actually wants me there. In fact, I think he most definitely does not want me there.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Alec cuts in.
“Fine. I’ll come. But only if I can bring Jos.” I smile, expecting him to start backpedaling at any moment.
Then again, he doesn’t know I know that he and Jos hooked up. Though he should most definitely assume, considering we’ve been best friends for years.
“Awesome. The more the merrier.” He turns back to Penn before I have a chance to back out. “Don’t forget about the deposit. If you don’t pay it today, they won’t hold the back room for us.”
“I’ll take care of it as soon as we’re done here,” Penn says begrudgingly.
“Awesome.” Alec’s smile stretches from ear to ear. “I’ll see you two party animals tomorrow.” With that, he turns and practically skips away.
“I’m not going to go,” I say the second he’s out of earshot. “I wouldn’t impose on you like that.”
“You should come. It’s not an imposition. There’s going to be a ton of people there anyway.”
“Still, it doesn’t feel right.” I shake my head.
“Come, LV.” I don’t miss the way he uses my initials, something he hasn’t done since I returned home. It feels strange hearing him call me that after all these years.
“You’re sure?” I study his hard features, trying to get even an inkling as to what’s going on in that beautiful head of his, but he’s as stone-faced as ever.
“I am.”
“Okay.” I nod softly.
I’m still not entirely convinced he actually wants me to go, but the thought that maybe he does fills my chest with this weird flutter I find impossible to ignore.
I can’t deny that my heart quickens every time Penn walks into a room. That every fiber in my body tightens at the sight of him. That one look makes my skin feel like I’ve just stepped into an inferno.
Seven years and he still has a hold over me that I’m not sure I’ll ever understand.
I thought I left him behind seven years ago.
Now, I’m starting to wonder if I ever actually let him go or if I had just convinced myself I had because it was the only way to keep myself from running back home, back to him.
I can’t deny that I still love him. I think I’ll love him until the day I die. But I would be foolish to think there could ever be anything between us again.
The damage can’t be undone.
But that doesn’t mean that we can’t salvage some of what we once had.
Like he said, we were friends once. Maybe one day, we can be again.
At least, I hope we can.
“HOW DO I LOOK?” JOSIEslows to a stop just shy of the front door to Rockets, fidgeting with the tight-fitting tube dress that fits her body like a second skin.
“Like you even have to ask.” I shake my head, giving my beautiful friend a once-over.
As per usual, she looks fantastic. Then again, she looks amazing in pajamas with her hair tied up in a messy bun, so it’s not really hard for her to pull it off. But tonight, she really does look incredible. Her brown hair pulled back on the sides and left in loose waves down her back. Smoky eyes, red lips, and just enough blush to make her look flushed, you’d be hard-pressed to find a living person as gorgeous as Josie Edwards when she goes full glam.
It’s enough to make anyone standing next to her feel like an ugly duckling. Not that I feel ugly, per se. I don’t. I just don’t feel like I look like a runway model like my best friend, either.
