Page 14 of Take Her On

Maya couldn’t stop the tingles spreading across her skin. Was Carly aware of the effect she had on her? Hannah always said she should be honest with Carly and tell her how she felt. “How are you ever gonna know the answer if you never ask?”

She had a point. But once the words were out there, Maya couldn’t take them back. What if it made their whole relationship uncomfortable because Carly didn’t reciprocate her feelings? So much had changed already.

The truth was, she got scared. The idea of being so vulnerable made her shiver. It was safer to stay on this side of her feelings, even if that meant getting unintentionally hurt. She had her methods for working out her frustrations. Casual hook-ups occupied her body when her heart was somewhere else. It didn’t always work, though. Sometimes it made things worse.

Zeek tilted his head at the phone screen, and after a few seconds, Carly pawed it out of his hand.

“Right, that’s enough Tinder talk for one day. We’re supposed to be socialising.”

Thank god.

Carly flipped the phone screen down on the table. Zeek narrowed his eyes but didn’t protest.

Maya let out a breath. She’d hoped spending time with Carly would make her feel better, help them feel closer, but it was only reminding her just how far apart they were.

As she was about to change the subject, Carly nudged her leg. “Hey. Isn’t that the new girl you were talking about?”

Maya followed her gaze and spotted Jamie leaning against the glass of a grabber machine in the corner. The metal claw bobbed through the air as she fiddled with the controls. Red-and-yellow pinstriped trousers hugged her muscular legs, paired with a white T-shirt that showed off her arm tattoos.

“Jamie, you mean?” Maya asked, turning back to the group.

“Is that Leah Calder with her?” Zeek said, between sips of his cider. “Damn, she’s not wasting any time in going for the Millton girls.”

Maya’s gaze moved to Leah, one of the wingers on their team. It was strange to see her blonde hair fanned out behind her and not in the signature thick braid snaked over her shoulder. She felt a sting of betrayal seeing them together, even though she knew that was stupid. Jamie was on their team now; she had to get used to it.

Jamie swept her hand through her head of curls and laughed at something. The mechanical claw barely grazed a plump Yoshi toy and returned to its starting point, singing under flashing lights to try again. Leah pounded against the glass, and Jamie laid a comforting arm around her shoulder.

Maya wanted to roll her eyes. Of course, Jamie would have Leah eating out the palm of her hand already; she always seemed the type to land right on her feet.

Carly laughed. “Hardly surprising that she’s a fast mover, though, is it? She’s like…a super dyke.”

Chills pricked up Maya’s spine, and her gaze snapped to Carly, but she was still laughing too much with Zeek to notice.

“Super dyke?” he said. “That sounds like a cool superhero.”

Carly giggled. “And what’s the superpower?”

“Eating pus—”

“Don’t speak about her like that,” Maya snapped, surprising herself. She was used to staying quiet to blend in with the two of them; it was usually easier that way.

They turned to look at her. Zeek raised a dark eyebrow, and Carly was on the verge of laughter again, her red lips pursed together.

“It’s not funny.” Maya suddenly wished she’d never left the comfort of her bedroom. She took a long swig of her beer to stop her from saying something else.

“We’re only joking, ya know, Maya.” Zeek held his palms up in mock surrender. “Besides, I’m gay, so I’m allowed to say it.”

Carly nodded, still trying her best not to laugh.

“That’s not how it works, Zeek. Don’t be a dick.”

Maybe Hannah was right about other things too—all these two did was gossip about other people. It grated on her, and she didn’t like the feeling.

Do they talk about me when I’m not here as well? Make fun of my indifferent responses to the parade of Tinder profiles? Laugh about my unrequited crush on Carly?

Maybe she needed to face facts: she and Carly just weren’t compatible. They’d outgrown each other.

“I’m heading to the bar.” Maya finished her drink and left without saying anything else.