Page 3 of All the Missing Pieces

An itch spread over me, my skin feeling too tight for my body. Because Jared was right. I had avoided it. Hadn’t wanted to hurt him or see the betrayal in his eyes. And my avoidance of that had only caused more pain.

A hand landed on my shoulder, and I jumped, whirling.

Lana, the girlfriend of one of Jared’s roommates, looked back at me with kind eyes. “You okay?”

Her gaze tracked down my cheeks, and it was only then I realized I was crying. I quickly wiped at my face. “I’m an asshole.”

Lana’s dark eyes hardened. “Don’t talk about my friend like that.”

I wanted to smile but couldn’t quite get my mouth to obey. Instead the truth tumbled out. “I hurt him.”

“Oh, babe.” She pulled me into a hug. “He just couldn’t see there was no way this was going to work.”

I sniffed as she released me. “But you saw.”

Lana gave me a gentle smile, the dark skin around her eyes crinkling with the action. “Two different worlds. And it wasn’t like he was offering to meet you in the middle. I love Jared, but it’s his way or the highway. He’s never once thought about going against his dad’s wishes.”

Something about Lana’s words eased the worst of the guilt. Because she was right. There was no asking whatIwanted. There was only asking me to join him in whathewanted. “It was never going to work.”

Lana gave my arm a squeeze. “I don’t think either of you really wanted it to.”

“It wasn’t that light-your-soul-on-fire love. It was comfortable love,” I admitted.

“You deserve that burn-everything-to-the-ground love.” She sent me a sympathetic look. “But that doesn’t mean saying goodbye to this love is any easier. So what’s it going to be? Get shit-faced and dance to forget everything? Go home and stuff our faces with ice cream while cursing his name?”

My lips twitched at that. “I think the latter. But I need to find Avery.”

Lana looked over her shoulder. “I saw her with the lax girls earlier. Let me just tell Connor I’m going with you two.”

“You don’t have to?—”

Lana sent me a look that had me snapping my mouth closed. “Don’t say stupid things. Of course I’m coming with you.”

A fresh wave of tears hit my eyes but for an entirely different reason. “I’m so damned lucky to have you.”

She grinned. “Damn straight. Now come on.”

Lana hooked her arm through mine, leading us through the crowd. We paused for her to tell Connor she was heading out. He sent me a concerned look that had him heading for the path himself, but in search of his friend. That was good. Jared would have someone to talk it out with. And he deserved that.

I scanned the crowd, looking for that familiar head of blond hair, but I didn’t see Avery anywhere. She wouldn’t have bailed without telling me, even if she’d wanted to.

“I don’t see her. Do you?” Lana asked.

I shook my head. “There’s Carly.”

We hurried over to Avery’s teammate.

“Hey,” I called over the music. “Have you seen Avs?”

“She’s here. Went to get a drink a little while ago, maybe fifteen minutes?”

I frowned as I looked toward the makeshift bar. It was covered with liquor, soda, and bottles of water, but there was no Avery in sight.

“Maybe she went to get a jacket from the car? It’s getting cold,” Lana suggested.

“Maybe,” I echoed. We shared the slightly beat-up sedan, and she had her own key.

“Come on,” Lana said. “Let’s go check.”

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