Page 24 of Wild About You
“Not a lot to say. She still hates me.”
“You got some set of balls on you. I told you she was going to be pissed that you tricked her into watching you play.”
“I didn’t want to trick her,” I say, but I’m not sure that’s one hundred percent true. In my defense, I knew if I told her I had a game and couldn’t meet until late, she would have blown me off. And as brutal as it was, I needed to talk to her, to tell her I miss her, and yeah, fill her in on things with Everly. It gives me a little peace to know that Piper is there at school with her.
“Did you say what you needed to say?” Ash asks.
“I guess.” I sit back and sink into the couch cushion. “I thought I’d feel better.”
“And you don’t?”
“Not even a little bit. She told me we will never be more than acquaintances. She’s seeing someone. All but told me to fuck right the hell off.”
“Sorry, man.”
I close my eyes and picture her face. “That can’t be it for us. I refuse to accept it.”
“Then don’t. The idiot she’s dating won’t last.”
My eyes fly open. “You know him?”
He gives me a sheepish smile. “I, uh, might have scoped her out online.”
I shake my head. “Stop creeping on my girl.”
“I’m not creeping. I just had to see for myself.”
“And?”
“You’re right. She’s hot. Likewaytoo hot for you.”
Laughter builds in my chest and a little of the tension from the night fades.
“You never looked her up in all these years?”
“No, never.” I deleted my account years ago after the first time she posted a smiling picture on her page with another guy. I knew I’d never survive following her and watching her move on. And for the most part it worked, I survived. I just haven’t exactly moved on. Now, I don’t have any accounts that aren’t managed by someone else.
I let out a breath that puffs out my cheeks. “What do I do now?”
“I don’t know,” Ash says. “I guess the same thing you’ve been doing…wait for your moment.”
8
HOLD ON TO YOUR PANTIES, LADIES.
PIPER
Friday afternoon comesand I haven’t looked forward to a weekend so much in ages.
“Congrats on surviving another week,” Ainsley, or Mrs. Aaron as she’s known to the students, says as I pack up. Today she stayed after school with me and Everly to finish the theater backdrops. With all three of us, we managed to get it done in a week. A very long week.
“Thanks for all your help.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” She rubs her pregnant belly. “See you next week if you’re brave enough to come back.”
I smile. I’m exhausted but this week turned out to be pretty amazing. I didn’t feel like I wanted to puke once today while I stood in front of the class. “I’ll be here.”
The wind and bitter cold take my breath away as I walk outside. I pull my coat tighter around me and hurry down the sidewalk. I pause when I see Everly sitting on the bench near the parking lot.
