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Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I slowly recounted everything that had happened, most of which I’d only found out earlier in the day. Quietly, they listened, not interrupting me, even though I could tell they were itching to ask questions.
“I need to get my boxes out of the apartment,” I muttered when I finished. “At least everything is already packed up.”
“If you really don’t want to live with Jenner, or at the farm with your parents, you can stay here,” Aspen offered.
“She’s not living here alone!” Jackson growled.
“Why not?” his boyfriend countered. “The security is good, and she doesn’t really have another option. Unless she wants to come back to Arkansas with us.”
They had a three-bedroom apartment off campus. Something our parents had found for them over the summer before their sophomore year. Everyone knew that Aspen lived with them, but no one ever asked where he slept since there were four of them, but only three beds.
“Yes,” Bryant and LJ rushed to agree. “Come back with us, Doe.”
“Yeah, sis. Bryant and I will get a set of bunk beds, and you can take my room,” LJ enticed. “The four of us will be back together. Where we belong.”
I was already shaking my head. “You guys are going into the draft in July. I don’t want to be stuck in Arkansas all by myself. I want space from Mom and Dad, but not that much.”
“Which is why you should stay here,” Aspen said with a decisive nod. “I’ll use one of the trucks at the dealership, and we’ll go to West Bridge to grab your things.”
“I-I don’t want to go,” I said, drawing my arms around myself. The day’s events had exhausted me, and all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and fall asleep.
“You don’t need to,” my friend said as he got to his feet. “Are all your boxes labeled?”
“Mostly,” I confirmed. “There were a few things that we put in the same boxes. Like kitchen and living room supplies. But my toiletries are in their own box. So are my books. And there are two big suitcases full of my clothes, as well as one smaller one. I’m not really worried about anything but my clothes and bathroom supplies.”
“Don’t worry, sweet pea. We’ll get everything you need.” Aspen bent to kiss the top of my head. “Come on, you three. We need to get this taken care of tonight since we have an early morning flight tomorrow.”
One by one, they stood, kissed my brow, and followed Aspen. As the door shut behind them, my phone rang. Frowning, I pulled it out of the pocket of my skirt. Seeing it was my mom, I sent it to voice mail. But as soon as it stopped ringing, it began again. This time from Dad. I did the same with him, not wanting to speak to either of my parents.
Pixie’s name popped up on my screen next, followed by Vi, then Piper. I almost answered my cousin’s call, but everything felt too raw. Instead, I texted her.
Me: I’m safe. Just need a little time to figure out what to do next.
Piper: Everyone is freaking out. Jenner is a mess, and your parents are beside themselves. I’ve never seen Aunt Marissa so upset. I told her she only has herself to blame, but my dad told me to keep my mouth shut. Did you really break up with Jenner?
My head was pounding from all the crying and the chaos my life had suddenly turned into, but I still replied.
Me: Yes. We’re over.
Piper: Tell me where you are. I won’t tell anyone, but I don’t like that you’re alone.
Biting my lip, I contemplated sending her the address, but in the end, I just turned off my phone. On shaking legs, I got to my feet and stumbled through the apartment. There were two bedrooms, the master, and a guest. I chose the latter. Not bothering to turn on a light, I crawled into bed and closed my eyes. Sleep took me while the tears still spilled down my cheeks.
Chapter 5
Jenner
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I dropped down onto the couch in the living room. Beside me, the cushion shifted, and I glanced over at Pixie.
“You haven’t said anything since you came back inside after talking to Doe,” she said, staring at me with wide, sad eyes. “I thought this was going to be a great day, but instead, everyone was crying. And not the happy tears I was imagining.”
“I fucked up.”
Her brows pulled together, the baby-fine hair she’d been able to style into—ironically—a pixie cut, shifting on her forehead. “How?”
Inhaling slowly, I leaned my head back against the couch and glared up at the ceiling. “She thinks I went behind her back and made decisions that we should have made together. In her mind, I excluded her from important things, and she assumes that will be how the rest of our life together will be.”
She slapped me across the chest. It was a light tap, but the intent was there, causing me to snap my head up and frown at my sister. “You idiot. Of course she would think that. Fucking hell, Jenn. I thought you asked her about the job and the house. Wait… That is what she’s upset over, right? You didn’t go and do anything else without telling her, did you?”
