Page 38 of Reconciling With the Rival

“Flirting is like riding a bike: you remember how to do it, but sometimes, you get a little rusty. It’s okay to ease back into it if you need to.”

I stop myself from saying it has been months since I’ve been able to pick someone up; these two don’t need to know that. I don't even know why I’m confiding in them about this.

“Hey, can we keep this between us?”

“We won’t tell her anything,” Oliver says. “Unless she asks me, then I’m not lying. Ella still scares the shit out of me.”

“More than Amelia does?” Grant asks him. Amelia… That name sounds familiar. I bet she’s the fourth member of the book club.

“Did. She’s not around anymore, Grant. She’s officially past tense in my eyes.”

“Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”

Both of their phones buzz on the table, and when they pick them up, they both smile.

Jesus, is that what being in love is like? Any time my phone buzzes, I assume it’s bad news about my dad coming through. I’ve never looked that happy about anything before.

“Sorry, Leo, we have to cut tonight a bit short. The girls might have set Oliver’s apartment on fire.”

“Go,” I say as I finish off my drink. “We’ll catch up another time soon, I’m sure.”

“Nice to see you again, Zimmerman.” Grant smacks my shoulder. “I’ll text our group chat to make plans next time.”

“When did you have time to make a group chat?” Oliver asks him.

“When Leo was at the bar, duh.”

“That sounds good to me. I’m gonna head out too. I have an early morning tomorrow. I’m sure Ella has been up all night planning her next prank.”

“Prank?” Grant asks me.

And as the three of us walk out the door, I wave my hand at them. “That’s a story for next time.”

13

From Bad To Worse

“Guys, this book waseverything to me,” I say as I wave my Kindle around.

“I knew you were going to say that, Ells. It had literally all your favorite things,” Paige tells me, and I can’t even argue because she’s right.

Not only did our book club pick this month have a slightly tortured main male character, but it was also a reverse harem that featured double penetration. “I just really like characters I can fix.”

“Youcouldfix him, Ella. I believe it,” Hads tells me, and I put my hand to my chest.

“Thank you so much.”

“I thought it was really fun!” Paige says, her eyes lighting up as I know what she’s about to say. “My favorite part was when they killed that one guy. He was an asshole.”

“Paige, when is your favorite part of these books we read not the murder?”

She thinks for a second. “You’re right.”

You would think finding a dead body and almost getting killed by a serial killer—correction, two—would deter this girl from liking stuff like this, but it doesn't. I guess therapy really does help in the long run. I’m proud of Paige and Hads. They’ve both seemed to go in the right direction after some bad shit happened in college. I can’t see myself ever going to talk to someone about my problems.

As the oldest daughter, I don't need therapy. I’m way too self-aware with what’s wrong with me; it probably wouldn’t help. So, I deal with it all on my own, and for now, I’m doing an amazing job at it. And yes, I’m aware that’s my toxic trait, and no, I don’t want to talk about it.

“Before we move out of book discussion, I’m going to try calling Ames again,” Paige says as she gets off her couch and heads to a different room.

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