The waiter walks back over, breaking the moment. “Hi ladies, may I grab your drink order?”
“I say we all do mimosas, you ladies agree?” Bellamy asks.
Murmurs of agreement come from all of us, and she walks off, as we settle in and look at the menu. After a few minutes, the waitress returns with our drinks and takes our orders.
“So, Bells, I haven’t seen you in so long. I need to know all the details. How’s training going? Have you met anyone cute? What’s been going on?”
“Slow down, killer.” She laughs, making me smile at her. “Training is good, just getting ready for my next competition in a couple months. And no, there’s no one special, just me and my boring self, you know me. Now enough deflecting, I’m not letting you off the hook. I need to know all about you and you-know-who.”
“You mean her and Jake?”
Shocked by Lainey’s sudden question, I turn to look toward her. “What?”
“You know, you and Jake,” she deadpans like it’s the most obvious thing. “Like, how are things between you two after you broke up, left, and then showed back up.”
“You knew?!” I practically shout, drawing attention from the tables around us.
“Obviously, it wasn’t that hard to put the pieces together. When you were here, he was always checking you out when he thought no one was looking. He looked at you like he was obsessed with you, like he loved you, and therewas no one else for him. Plus, after you left for L.A., he was so depressed and shaken up. He was never the same after.”
“I didn’t realize it was that obvious.”
“I mean, it wasn’t so much that you both were obvious, more so that I looked up to you a lot growing up. So when I saw you happy and smiling a lot more those last couple years, I wanted to know why. I also saw the two of you sneaking in and out in the middle of the night a couple of times.”
My cheeks start to heat up with a blush. I hadn’t realized she noticed us sneaking in and out. And I’m left both speechless and in awe of my sister. I always thought the only person who knew about Jake and I was Bellamy, but after all these years and knowing that I hurt him, she still looks up to me and is proud of the person I became. It’s also one less person I lied to.
“I’m sorry I never told you the truth.”
“Don’t be. I was kind of upset you didn’t tell anyone, but I also knew that you must’ve had a reason, and after our heart-to-heart, I know you did what you thought was best. You’re here now, though, and you’re trying. That’s what matters.”
I smile gratefully at her, a weight lifting from my shoulders at her words.
“I still need more details from you. Don’t hold out on me.” Bellamy is practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.
I can’t help but let out a small laugh at her reaction, which sets the rest of the girls off and we’re all laughing together.
“Okay, okay.”
I take a sip of my drink to calm myself before I tell them everything. I fill them in on our encounter at Entourage,how tense and uncomfortable things became between us. How we finally got to talk again during his physical and we both learned the truth about everything. It feels good to share things with them, and seeing their faces as I talk reassures me that I have people in my corner who I can confide in.
No more running.
No more hiding.
I have my people here, and I’m fighting for myself and for him.
“Wait, so he brought you to his hotel room, and you guys didn’t fuck? Boo, I'm disappointed.” I roll my eyes at Bellamy’s pointed stare.
“Bells, I’m giving him space right now. I have to earn his trust and forgiveness, and jumping into bed is not going to solve anything.”
“I know, you’re right, but sex is always the best part. Trust me.”
“Oh, I know how you feel about sex. You’ve practically told me about every partner you’ve had since you lost your virginity at fifteen.”
“Damn, you go girl.” Emilia raises her hand and high-fives Bellamy across the table.
The waiter comes back and drops off our food, which we all happily dive into.
“I’m not ready to tie myself down just yet. Plus, who said guys were the only ones who were allowed to have fun?”
