Page 93 of Ripple Effect

I snake a hand around the nape of her neck, pulling her closer, and my voice drops to a husky whisper. “And if I’m really good, maybe I can earn a prize.”

Her cheeks flush, but she plays right along. “What kind of prize?”

“Oh, I think you can come up with a few creative ideas.”

She pulls away, tapping her finger thoughtfully against her chin. “Hmm, nope. Fresh out.”

“Your loss.”

With a teasing eye roll, she pushes me aside and heads straight back for her favorite bench. I join her there, wrap an arm around her shoulders, and we watch together as the ships keep on sailing by, reveling in the endless horizon.

34

DAISY

As we walk upthe path to Hailey’s family home, Elio’s hand envelops mine, his warmth and strength seeping in, providing me with the sense of comfort I need.

It’s been months since I’ve been around these people, and the idea of seeing them all again is making me uneasy. But I wanted to come here tonight to prove something to myself, to give my past one last chance.

Not Logan, of course, but the rest of them.

Maybe when we ended things, I wrote everyone else off too quickly. Filled the gaps and spaces in my life with new places and new friends, with Elio and Bentley, who’ve filled up my cup until it’s overflowing. But that doesn’t mean I can’t hold space for anyone else.

As we step into the backyard, an all-too-familiar sensation grips my insides, twisting and turning them like a cloth wrung dry. I’m engulfed in a sea of memories. Each familiar face serves as a reminder of a past I’ve tried to put behind me, and each unfamiliar one a sign of how much has changed in my absence.

I grip Elio’s hand tighter.

Hailey immediately greets us both, pulling me into a hug that feels a little too tight, and I wonder if she’s trying to make amends for something. Then she turns to Elio and gives him a barely there nod.

“Oh, Daisy!” She shifts her attention back to me and points to a group of people I recognize in the corner. “The Dayton group’s just over there. We’re all so excited you’re here!”

“Really?” I try to keep the shock out of my voice. I haven’t returned any of their texts in months or even bothered to acknowledge their existence elsewhere. “That’s ... nice.”

I glance at Elio nervously, but he just gives me an encouraging smile.

“Come say hi to everyone,” she pleads, bouncing on her heels. “Elio, you can go get a drink while we all catch up.”

She waves a dismissive hand in his direction, and before I have a chance to protest, she takes my wrist, pulling me toward the group. I reluctantly follow, shooting an apologetic glance over my shoulder, feeling like a sheep being herded to the slaughter.

But as we near the group, I can sense the excitement oozing from their pores. They all greet me with open arms, and before I know it, I’m surrounded by people wanting to catch up. Everyone is asking me about my life, about Coastal, about where the hell I’ve been for the last two months.

I don’t know what to say, so I just deflect with a smile, telling them how busy I’ve been, how much I love my new school.

“Yeah, I’m sure you do.” The words, followed by a heavy scoff, come from a girl named Nessa, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “So much that you’ve forgotten about the rest of us. And why show up now? Just to rub your new boyfriend in Logan’s face?”

“Ness,” Hailey scolds, eyes narrowing in reprimand.

“What? It’s true, isn’t it?” Nessa shoots back, her eyes coldly fixed on me. “It’s what everyone was saying before you got here.”

My face flushes with embarrassment and shame. It’s not just anger I see in Nessa’s eyes; there’s something deeper, something more personal between us.

Memories of her laughing at Logan’s jokes—the lingering touches and the stolen glances—they all flood back to me. It always bothered me, but I would brush it off, convincing myself I was just imagining things.

Maybe, during my absence, she and Logan grew closer. Maybe she was the shoulder he cried on, the one who helped mend his broken heart.

Did she hope, even for a moment, that she’d finally have a chance with him now?

The hurt in her eyes suddenly makes sense, as does the sharp edge to her words. And I can’t fault her for wishing I’d never shown up here again.

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