Page 73 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
Me: It won’t be a problem. Dinner is at five-thirty but you can come sooner if you want. We’ll be there most of the day.
Spencer: Sounds good.
Spencer: Thanks for the invite. I appreciate it.
I turn my phone face down and shove it to the other end of the counter. I hope I haven’t made a mistake inviting him, but deep down I know it was the right thing to do. For him, at least. For me? I’m not so sure.
Even though I’m outside, in the backyard, I instinctively know when Spencer’s arrived. It’s like the entire atmosphere shifts when he’s nearby.
I stiffen, and Jameson, who’s laughing at something Jasper said, notices.
“What’s wrong, babe?” he asks, fingers grazing my shoulder.
“Nothing. Just bumped my knee on the table.”
He gives me a funny look, probably because he didn’t hear it and because I’m a total liar.
“Spencer!” Willa cries when she spots my ex in the doorway to the backyard.
My parents’ house is right on the beach, the ocean waves crashing softly against the shore. Spencer’s eyes go straight to the ocean before sliding to Willa a moment before she slams into him with a hug.
“I haven’t seen you in so long.” She lets him go and looks him over carefully. “Have you put on muscle?”
“It’s for a role,” he answers, eyes sliding to mine.
Once upon a time, I was incredibly jealous of my sister because I thought Spencer had a crush on her. It was a shock torealize he only had eyes for me—and I don’t want to admit it to myself, but the same is true now.
“Do you want a refill?”
“Huh?” I swing my gaze to Jameson.
He grins, clearly amused. “Do you want a refill?” he asks again, pointing to my nearly empty cup of strawberry lemonade.
“Oh.” I stare at my cup for a second. “Yeah. A refill would be nice.”
He grabs up my cup along with his and heads for the house, saying hello to Spencer as he goes. While I was distracted by the question, Monroe has made her way over to her dad and latched onto his leg.
“Are you okay?”
The question comes from Jasper.
“Yeah,” I blurt out, perhaps too quickly and too breathless.
“Are you sure?” He leans toward me. “You’ve been off all day.”
How do I explain to my sister’s fiancé that Ilovemy boyfriend, but suddenly I’m seeing Spencer more often and it has me questioning everything—wondering if I royally fucked up years ago by letting him go.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
Tired is becoming my go-to excuse lately.
He arches a brow. “I feel like you’re lying to me.”
“I have nothing to lie about.” I hope my voice doesn’t sound as shaky as I feel.
“Well.” He taps his fingers against the table. “All I’m saying is, if you need an unbiased third-party to listen, I’m always here.”
“Thanks.” I soften, my shoulders sagging a bit. “I appreciate it.”
