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“Your mom?” he asks, and I glance up to realize that he can read my phone with ease.
I’m going to have to be way more careful. “Yeah. She wants me to come to dinner.”
“You haven’t talked to her yet?”
“I…” will avoid it for as long as I can. No, that’s not true. As much as I hate conflict this isn’t one of those things that I can put off indefinitely. I see that now. I just want a moment to sort out my thoughts first. “Not yet. I’m going to. It’s just… hard.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Rogue asks.
He’s so sweet. Ready to back me up. Completely trusting. He has no idea what he’s suggesting, and I hate that I’m not worth his trust. But I can’t tell him the truth. Not yet. Not until I know I can keep Adira’s secrets exactly as they should be…buried.
“Ivy.”
I whip around to find Ben and his date heading our way.
Rogue’s hand settles on the small of my back. “Still friends with this guy?”
“Yes,” I agree, locking down my dark thoughts. “He’s a good friend.”
“Figured. And the girl?”
“I… don’t know. I think he met her on campus. We haven’t really had a chance to talk.” About Ben and his new friend, or me and Rogue, or even the idea that I’m not going to be finishing up the year at Cal State.
“Got it,” he says before they get to us.
“You were amazing,” Ben says. “And you look great. The bruising has settled down.”
“Oh my God, look at you two,” the girl at his side gushes. She giggles as she hangs onto his arm. “You have matching bruises.”
“Funny story.” Rogue smiles. “Ben has a great right hook.”
“Did you hit her?” The girl turns to him, all big blue eyes.
“No.” I shake my head. I should rectify this before Ben looks like a jerk. “I actually ran into a wall. It was incredibly embarrassing. I just wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Seriously?”
“Unfortunately,” I say.
Rogue leans in and presses his lips to my ear. “Even bruised you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Awww.” Ben’s friend clasps her hands in front of her chest. “That’s so sweet.”
“This is Dizzy,” Ben says.
“Dizzy Sunshine,” she corrects. “And yes, Dizzy is my real name. And I do live up to the klutzy vibe that comes with it.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dizzy.” Rogue offers his hand to shake.
She strokes a darker section of her pink hair that hangs over her shoulder and twists her hips before she curls her fingers around his hand like she wants to hold onto it forever. “You’re Rogue Maddox, aren’t you?”
Ben tries to pretend he’s not irritated by her demeanor.
“I am.”
“That is…so cool. Like just so, so cool. I love your movies. I used to have posters of you hanging in my be—”
“And this is my friend Ivy.” Ben stumbles to get the words out in a rush. “His girlfriend.”
