Page 26 of Reconciling With the Rival

“She hasn't been sleeping a lot lately,” he says, a somber expression on his face. Or, well, that’s just his face. “Amelia hasn't been calling her like she usually does.”

That’s not what I was expecting him to say, but it tracks. “She didn't join us Wednesday either. She told us she had a late meeting and wasn't able to get out of it, but she didn’t even let us know until days later.”

Oliver only rolls his eyes. “I bet.”

He’s only saying what I’m thinking. Ever since Amelia went back to England, she has been worse at answering our messages.I understand the time difference is a bitch and a half, but no matter what, we always promised that book club would still be the one night a week we made time for one another.

Amelia hasn't been very good at doing that lately, and I’m not impressed.

“Paige misses her. A lot.”

“We all do,” I tell him, lying to myself. I wasn't happy with Amelia and how she left. She’s still one of my best friends, but some of the decisions she made this past year have made me think differently of her. For one, she broke up with Henry at the airport right before she boarded her flight—literally ripped his heart out in front of all of us and then left.

How fucking cracked do you have to be to do that? I’ll never forget the look on his face when he turned around to face us after Ames walked away. If heartbroken had a picture in the dictionary, his face would be on the page.

She’s pulling away from us. It started slow. At first, she just stopped answering our messages. Now, she doesn't answer our calls and is missing book club.

And according to what Oliver said, she’s even cutting Paige off. Those two were as close as you could get in college. Amelia promised her before she left that they would still do morning debriefs like they did in their apartment, but now, she stopped doing those too.

I would text her and ask if she wants to talk, but I don’t bother. Why should I continue to reach out only to get nothing in return? Amelia tends to be like this, but she always comes back to us after a week or two.

It has been almost a month since she was here, and we haven't heard a thing from her.

Another few knocks at my door, and I hear Grant and Hads come in.

“We’re not late, are we?” Hads asks.

“No, you’re not,” I say as she comes into view. She smirks before I grab a dish from her hands.

“Banana bread, courtesy of Grant’s mom’s recipe.”

I wrap her in a hug, her long skirt flowing since Alissa and I opened the sliding doors to our balcony. It’s a really nice day out, and the warm Virginia air is setting the vibe perfectly.

“Where’s Grant?” Paige asks as she hugs Hads.

“Probably tip-toeing over here so as to not wrinkle his Sunday linens,” she jokes, but as Grant comes into view, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

In his fully white and linen outfit, he’s shuffling over to us. “Sorry, no hugs. I amnotruining this outfit if we’re taking pictures.”

“What the hell are you wearing?” Oliver asks him.

Grant looks Oliver up and down before meeting my eyes. “Dammit, Ells,” Grant says as he fishes twenty dollars out of his pocket and hands it to me. “You won, congrats.”

“Did you guys bet on something again?” Paige asks, probably already knowing we did.

“Yes, and I won fair and square.” I smirk as I head over to the counter, wanting a mimosa. “So, who wants a drink?”

As I look atmy friends around the table, I soak up the moment. As laughs are traded and smiles are given, I hope this isn't as good as it will ever get. We’ve all come so far from that small classroom on campus, and I wish time would slow the fuck down for a second. I know we have more time, but as the oldest in the group—besides Alissa—I worry one day, I’m going to look back and wish we were back in college.

Everyone always talks about how college is the best time of your life, but I think life starts after you leave. Sure, college is great, and it brought me the friends I’ll have forever, but I’ve never been more excited to experience life with my family still around me.

“So wait, you’re telling me they want you to run some sort of hockey camp? You?” Alissa asks Grant, as confused as to how hockey works as I am.

“Yes! It’s a summer camp the school I work for is running. I’m excited. We’ve had a bunch of sign-ups so far, and I’m looking forward to teaching young kids to skate and play.”

“Good for you, Grant.” Paige smiles at him as they fist bump. “Alissa, you know he won a championship, don't you?”

“Oh, really?” Alissa says as she sips her mimosa.

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