Page 49 of Weekends with You

“Have you done this before?” Jan asked, pretending to back out of her way like she was dangerous.

“Not once. It was all the strategy, really. Pick someone’s face, aim, throw.”

“I wouldn’t want to be that person,” Jan said. “And not just because she had to date you.”

“How do you know it wasn’tyourface?”

That shut him up and sent the rest of us into a fit of hysterical laughter. It was good to see Margot making light of the weekend, and I supposed it wouldn’t kill me to do the same. Who would have ever thought Margot could teach me a thing or two about levity?

“All right, Lucy, you’re on,” Finn said, handing off the axe.

“This thing weighs a ton,” I said, struggling to lift it. “How’d you make it look so easy?”

“The strategy,” Margot, Jan, and Finn said at the same time.

“Come on, Lu. You can do it.” Raja smiled at me, flicking a quick glance in Henry’s direction.

“Think about someone who’s really pissed you off lately,” Liv said. “Get really mad, then take a deep breath and toss.”

I stepped up to the line, feeling the smooth wood of the axe handle in my hands. I knew that how I felt about Henry didn’t come close to how Margot felt about Ella, but it fueled the fire all the same.

Perhaps my frustration wasn’t even with Henry at all, butwith myself. I was the one who went back on my word and got involved when I had said I wouldn’t, and let myself develop feelings for someone I could never be with without it ending in heartache and more disappointment. It made me want to pull my hair out.

On the count of three, I raised the axe over my head and threw it as hard as I could. The throw was terrible, and the axe stuck in the wall a foot from the bull’s-eye, but I didn’t care. It was more cathartic than I’d expected, and I felt substantially lighter. My roommates whooped and cheered as I turned back to face them, despite the rubbish throw, and I took a small bow, relishing the burst of adrenaline.

“Note to self,” Finn said. “If there’s ever an intruder in the flat, don’t rely on Lucy to defend anyone.”

“Hey!” I protested. “I threw it hard, though, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, that’s true. So I guess if we ever need to hit someone a meter to the left of the intruder, then we can rely on you,” Henry said.

“Let’s see you do it, then,” I said, retrieving the axe and thrusting it into his hand. I wasn’t sure yet if our banter was friendly.

“Watch and learn.”

With what looked like a gentle flick of his wrist, he launched the axe twice as hard as I had, missing the bull’s-eye by an inch.

“Must you be good at everything?” Liv moaned. “It looked like you didn’t even try.”

“Still not as good as I am,” Margot said. “But not half bad.”

“You were right about the strategy,” he said to Margot, sliding onto a stool beside me.

“Picturing my face, then?” I asked, hoping a joke would conceal my discomfort. Was he mad about the kiss? Did I want him to be?

“Don’t tell me you didn’t do the same,” he said, nudging my knee with his. “You’ve been cold to me since I got home, haven’t ya?”

“I haven’t been cold,” I lied. “We’re good.” My smile probably looked as fake as it felt, but it was the best I could do.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I know.”

“Talk later, then. Maybe you should get a few more tosses in before we do that, though. I think it’ll go better for me if you do.”

I tried to glare at him, but it came off as more of a smirk.Goddamn it.If I wanted to stand my ground, I’d have to keep reminding myself this would crash and burn. I would repeat it like a mantra if I had to.Don’t get involved. It’ll end in heartache. Don’t get involved. Don’t get involved.

The more we threw, the better we got, and the lighter we felt. We were hitting the target somewhat consistently, even me and Liv, and we’d lost count of how many times we’d refreshed the beer pitchers. Margot might have been heartbroken, but she planned one hell of a Valentine’s weekend.

---