AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s not what it looks like.” She shakes her head. “He doesn’t… we’re not…”
“Who’s Troy?” I ask, though it comes out as a growl more than I’d intended.
“Just a guy.”
“Just a guy?”
She chews on her lip. “You really want to talk about this?”
“Yeah, I do,” I answer honestly. I’ve spent too long pining after her to be a fucking rebound. “Is he the reason you’re here? Running away from an ex?”
Beth tosses her phone onto the bed and rubs her hands down her face. “Yes and no. He wasn’t my boyfriend; we were just seeing each other. Things got a little weird, so I came home.”
“Coal’s hasn’t been your home for years,” I scoff.
“I know,” she sighs. “I just needed to get away. I got into an… entanglement of sorts. But it’s over.”
Fuck, how could I be so stupid?
I prop myself up on my elbow, my damp hair falling onto my forehead. “He said he loves you.” To think I wanted to be that guy for her. All this time, she had someone else.
“Trust me, he doesn’t,” Beth laughs. “He’s on my committee, so I’m stuck with him until May. After yesterday, they probably won’t approve my revisions and I’ll be stuck for another six months to finish my masters.” She closes her eyes, shaking her head, and mutters, “So fucking stupid.”
I blow out a long breath, and ask what I’ve been wanting to since she got in town. I keep my voice soft, hoping she’ll open up to me. “What happened?”
“I can’t have you judging me, Ax. It’s… complicated.”
I tilt her chin to look at me. “I promise I won’t judge. I know whatever this is between us is also complicated, but I do care about you.”
Her lip tilts up into a small smirk. “I care about you, too. That’s why I can’t tell you. I can’t have you looking at me like my family does. I’ve grown a little too accustomed to being the token fuck-up child. I can’t have you make the ‘I’m not mad, I’m disappointed’ face.”
“I have a degree in electrical engineering. Do you see me doing anything with it? I work at a lodge and dance for bachelorette parties in my spare time. Let’s just say, my parents are less than pleased. I don’t know what happened with”—I nod to her phone—“thatFuckboy Troyguy. But we can be two fuck-up kids together if you want?”
She huffs a sigh. “Why are you so…nice?You’ve always been such a good friend to me.”
Friend? Nice? I have to say, that’s a first. I usually get ‘fun,’ never ‘nice.’ If she likes this guy, it looks like he’s up for some sort of second chance. I don’t want to stand in the way of it, no matter how much I like her. Mostly, I don’t want to be someone’s second choice. “You should go back home.”
“What? Ax...” She shakes her head. “I—”
“It’s ok. We had fun, right? I’m sure you can patch things up with him.” Fuck, that hurts more than I thought it would.
“It’s not like that,” she insists.
I fling back the comforter and slide out of bed. “Come on. Let’s grab breakfast before your drive.”
“Are you even going to listen to me?” she groans.
“Do I need to call your parents and let them know you’re here?” I snap and her eyes narrow. “Didn’t think so. Breakfast, then home.”
“If you’re not even going to listen to me, I’ll get something on the road.” She puts on one of my hoodies and slips on her jeans. I should stop her, allow her to explain. My pride has other plans.
I leave her in the bedroom to get dressed and make my way to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. If she won’t stay for breakfast, I want to make sure she’s awake for her drive.
As the coffee’s brewing, Beth storms into the kitchen and pokes her finger to my chest. “I came here foryou. If that’s not enough, ifI’m…” She swallows hard. “I’m sorry I came home.”
Before I can unpack the baggage she dumped on me, she grabs her keys and rushes out to her car. I want to chase after her, find out what’s going on in that head of hers, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
The coffee pot beeps, keeping me grounded.
