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Steam billowed off the water, rising up around us like a mist.
“What do you think they’re doing?” Ashleigh flicked her eyes to the cabin.
Lily smiled, grabbing her cocktail off the ledge and taking a slurp. “Goofing around like guys do.”
“Today was a good day,” I added. We’d watched the guys make fools of themselves on the slopes and then we’d rented toboggans.
Between graduating high school, working at the diner full-time, and spending time with Xander, I didn’t get to see my girlfriends all that much nowadays, so it was nice to get away with them.
“Yeah.” Ashleigh let out a small breath, and tipped her head back, closing her eyes. I cast Lily a concerned look.
“Ezra,” Lily mouthed.
Oh.
As far as I was aware, Ezra was more estranged from the Bennets than ever. Sofia and Aaron took it in stride, but Ashleigh had dug in her heels where he was concerned. A couple of weeks ago, Lily told me she heard them arguing, but Ashleigh wouldn’t tell her what happened.
She wouldn’t talk about him at all.
But maybe being away from Rixon was the perfect opportunity for her to open up.
“Hey, Leigh,” I said, and she lifted her head.
“Yeah?”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“No, why?”
“Come on, babe, this is us. And you seem… quiet.”
She exhaled a long breath, hesitating. Lily looked ready to interject, but I shook my head.
Finally, Ashleigh said, “Wanting someone who doesn’t want you back sucks.” Tears pricked her eyes.
“Oh, babe.” I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Ezra?”
“Yeah. I mean, it’s stupid. We’ve never even… it’s not like he’s ever given me a sign, you know? But it’s like no matter how much I try to forget about him, the more I think about him.”
“Does he know how you feel?” Lily asked.
“I haven’t told him, not in so many words. But I’ve tried to be there for him, you guys know that. But I can’t keep fighting for him if he doesn’t want me to.”
“I don’t think it’s about you, Leigh. I think Ezra has his own stuff to work out.”
He wasn’t going to graduate. He’d failed too many classes. Mya and Asher were trying to talk him into doing the year again, but apparently, that had gone down like a lead balloon.
Ezra didn’t care.
And I could see how much it was hurting Ashleigh to know he’d given up.
“Yeah, it still sucks though.” She swiped a tear away.
“Aww, babe, you’ll find someone. Besides, come fall you’ll be at college, living your best life.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“I can’t believe we only have a few more months together,” Lily said.
