Page 65 of In Your Wildest Dreams
“Everyone should be nice to you,” I say, still thinking about our conversation inside.
“Well, that’s not life. Is everyone nice to you?”
“No, but everyone that matters is.”
“It’s over. Gabe and I are so over.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? For what?”
“That he was a dick to you. That I didn’t hit him that night outside of Wild’s bar.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know, but you should have people that look out for you too. Like Everly and Grace.”
The wind blows her hair into her face so I can’t see her lips. I reach forward and capture the long, blonde strands. The pads of my fingers drag along her smooth skin as I tuck it behind her ear. “I want to be one of those people for you.”
“Why? You don’t even really know me.”
“I guess not, but that’s not how it feels when I’m around you.”
She glances down at my mouth and then angles away from me, staring into the fire. “Why weren’t you into Grace?”
“Grace?” I’m thrown by the change in topic, but I guess I’m not totally surprised she knows about the brief time period in which I considered what it might be like to date Everly’s best friend.
“Yeah. I know that she liked you last summer.”
I nod and roll my bottom lip behind my teeth.
“She’s smart and beautiful and really nice. I could see you two together.”
“Grace is great.”
“But?” she asks, laughing at my obvious attempt to divert.
“But nothing. I just didn’t feel that way about her.” I could tell her the same lie I told myself, that I thought Grace was too young and that we were at different places in our lives. Those things are true, but I know now it isn’t the whole story. Maybe it’s part of it, but we didn’t have the same spark I feel when I’m with Bridget.
She looks at me, unblinking, like what I’ve said doesn’t make any sense.
“You want me to be into Grace?”
The reaction is quick and gone before I can get too excited, but it’s there. The flicker of jealousy. “She’s with Lane now.”
“It wouldn’t change anything if she wasn’t.” And because I don’t want to walk away from here tonight with Bridget having any doubts on how I’m feeling, I add, “I like you. I know that I don’t know everything there is about you, but it’s still true.”
“We can’t. Gabe—”
“Isn’t here.”
“Everly is my friend.”
“She’s mine too.” I shift so more of my leg is resting against hers under the blanket.
“I know. Which is why us getting involved is complicated.”
I remember what Jack said earlier. “It’s only as complicated as we make it.”
