Page 135 of Trick Knot Treat

“The next morning, I made an excuse not to see her again and thought that was that. But she won’t go away. She shows up at my work, messages and calls me, emails me, follows me when I’m at the shops.”

“I’m sorry,” I say and mean it. “Do you want to come back for a couple of days?”

“No. I don’t. She should go away, leave me the hell alone. I want to stay here. Sulk. Eat chocolate ice cream and feel sorry for myself in my ugly tracksuit pants and fluffy bunny slippers.”

“I love those slippers.”

She gets up and goes to get the ice cream. “You may as well stay and eat some ice cream before you head back.”

“For sure.” Except I’m staying, and we both know it. It might only be for a day, but I can fix things with my pack, I won’t risk Holly’s life.

She hands me a spoon.

We sit side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and eat out of the carton.

“So, what’s she like?” Holly whispers.

“She? Khione is amazing. She’s an artist, but strong like you. Not as cynical, she’s much more optimistic, like me. She’s smart, funny, and kind.”

“Why are you here, then?”

“Because she says she’s leaving, and I couldn’t…I didn’t want to hear her tell me that I wasn’t enough.” I stop trying to sort through my thought process. The words that were so truthful before sound flat, hollow, and empty. “I didn’t want to see her leave me. I wanted to be gone before she could break me.”

“Dumbass.”

I agree with her. Completely.

“I have to go back and grovel,” I confess. “I have to find her.”

She laughs, though it’s wet and slightly mournful. “You have to grovel like you've never groveled before, son.”

I scowl at her. “My parents have organized a date for Jace.”

“So, break it up. You are incredibly smart and capable of causing all sorts of disasters. As if anyone is going to make Jace happy but you.”

I take another spoonful and eat it thoughtfully.

“I am diabolical,” I admit. I reach for my phone, but it’s dead. Oh, well, I’ll text him soon. Let him know to wait, that I’m coming back. One more hour won’t hurt.

“You are.”

“And Zaire, if I can convince Khione to stay, he will. He’s completely devoted to her. But there’s something about him, and he kisses like he was put on this planet to kiss me.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Felix, though, he’s not who he appears to be. He’s anxious and tense. Everything we see is a front to hide the warm, creative, thoughtful person inside.”

I hum, and for a few minutes, all we do is eat.

“I miss you,” I say at last.

“If you start crying, I’m going to punch you in your man parts to make sure they are still there.” Holly leans away from me, waving the spoon like it's a weapon.

I choke out a laugh. “You know how to ruin a moment.”

“What moment? We’re not having a moment. You miss me. Of course, you do. I miss you, too. We don’t need to discuss our feelings.”

“Want me to braid your hair?”