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I see the sideways communication she throws at Ryan. Before I can say anything else, he’s scooped up Ava from where we’ve been playing on the floor and airplaned her out of the room.
It’s awfully quiet with only me, Claire, and a nursing baby Clark. Deprived of my entertainment, I’m reduced to drawing patterns in Mom’s plush carpet and contemplating the merits of background music until Claire breaks the silence.
“You went on a trip to Moab. WithNoah Jennings.”
“It’s not what you think. I was actually there with Alec—”
“Hot Alec? Volleyball Alec?” Clark startles at Claire’s sharp tone, giving me some time to gather myself. The look she gives me when he’s soothed is hurt and confused. I haven’t been terribly communicative lately.
“We were dating.”
“You and Alec?”
I nod.
“Were?Past tense?”
“Were,” I say.
“And why was Noah there?”
Embellishing the carpet drawings, I dive in. Before I know it, I’ve spilled everything, from tutoring and Mexico to YCS and running and Jamie’s crush and Moab. Even the weird, wonderful, conflicting things I feel from him—like the understanding he gifted me over the campfire and the almost-kiss and the angry look that ended our latest charged interaction.
More than I told Ivy.
The telling takes long enough that Clark is contentedly sleeping on Claire’s shoulder when I finish. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
She waves off my concern. “Water under the bridge. I’m glad we’re talking now.” Clark fusses a bit, so she bounces him with reassuring pats on his back. “Do you think... ?”
“I don’t know,” I say, slumping against the couch. “Mostly, I think there’s too much history between us. I just need to get over it.”
Chapter 66
Game On
Ryan: Dude. I have classifiedinfo.
Noah:You don’t even know Ivy.
Chapter 67
Reboot
I hate dating.
It’s exhausting.
I’m socially exhausted.
Not for the first time, I contemplate how peaceful a life alone could be. I’ve always wanted a family, but honestly, at this point, I’m not sure it’s worth the effort of trying to find one.
It was such a relief to tell Claire everything last night. I’ve missed her.
I haven’t missed her tenacity. I thought Ivy was bad.
Thanks to small children who must be put to bed, she waited overnight to start lobbying me for another chance at setting me up. I held strong until she pulled out her big gun: I didn’t give it a fair shot the only other time she tried, so I owe her another attempt. And the guy she has in mind will only be in town today.
Ah, the arm-twisting power of guilt.
