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I shrugged. “It was killing me, so I looked into it.”
Joe ran his hand over his face. “What did you find out?”
“The guy she hit had a history with mental illness. Apparently, the girlfriend, who Bexley said was at the scene, reported he’d come off his meds a few months prior. She’d broke it off with him earlier that week when they’d been out for dinner because he was so erratic and dangerous. He’d called her that night from the side of the road, and when she got there, he threatened that if she didn’t take him back, he’d walk out in front of the next car that came by. Which is what he did. It wasn’t her fault at all. He literally walked out in front of her car, and she’d had no time to react. In the report, it said the officer told her that, and told her she wouldn’t be charged. They called a friend of hers to come and get her, which I’m assuming was Maya.”
“Wow.”
“Like I say, I feel like an absolute dick for the way I left her.”
“What do you mean?” Joe questioned.
I thought back to how things had gone the night before. To the sex we’d had and how, for the first time in years, I could see a relationship going somewhere. Then how only a few short hours later, I allowed those feelings from my experience to ruin things.
I looked at my best friends. “You let this slip to your sister and I’m going to come for you.”
Liam looked over at Joe, I’m sure, fearing the worst.
“We slept together the night before, and when she shared part of something that was literally—and I mean literally—eating her alive, I bolted. No words, no explanation, no kiss goodbye, nothing. I was and am a complete ass.”
Bexley
I rolled over and smacked the alarm clock, silencing it. I’d just come off my last night shift and was feeling permanently drained. I didn’t want to get up, yet I had to. I rolled onto my back and lay there, staring up at the ceiling.
It had been days since I’d heard from Hudson. I thought he would have messaged me during work, but he hadn’t. I’d at least thought of him and had picked up my phone many times. I’d carefully typed out a message, but instead of hitting send, I deleted them. It wasn’t exactly how Everly and I had talked about the messages going, so I’d not mentioned anything to her when she asked. Besides, he still hadn’t responded to the first one I’d sent when the girls were with me.
I hadn’t heard from Maya either, which I found odd. Well, that was until I was on the bus this morning, coming home from the hospital. Days were getting shorter, so I’d started taking the bus again. She’d texted to see if I wanted to come to her place instead of doing our usual brunch day.
I’d given it some thought and responded with a yes once I’d gotten home. I had to move on. I couldn’t continue to mope around the house, according to Clara, who I’d seen twice already this week.
I kicked the covers off and sat up, reaching for Hudson’s sweater. Yes, I still had it, and yes, I wore it every chance I got. Even I was tiring of myself.
Poppy was picking me up in half an hour, so I quickly showered and dressed and made my way downstairs. I’d exited the elevator just in time to see her pull up.
We arrived at Maya’s just in time for the sushi to arrive, and we all sat in her parents’ dining room stuffing our faces and laughing.
I’d been amazed that Maya hadn’t jumped on me the second I’d walked through the door. Instead, it was just like old times.
“I can’t eat another bite,” Everly said, shoving her plate away.
“Oh god I can,” I muttered, grabbing more rolls and some sashimi from the tray. I had had little of an appetite over the past week, so I was making up for lost food.
“Have mine.”
We all laughed while Poppy and Maya both dug into the tray again as well.
“We told you to go slow on those hand rolls.” Poppy laughed, while Everly reached down and undid the button of her jeans.
“You better save room. We brought double fudge ice cream,” Poppy added.
“Oh, tell me you didn’t.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. We’d tortured her with that flavour, being it was her favourite.
“I’m going to weigh a thousand pounds after tonight,” Everly whined.
“Me too,” I added, “and you know what, I don’t feel bad about it either.” I shoved another piece of the volcano roll into my mouth.
We ate until we could eat no more, then cleaned up the table before making our way into the living room to start the movie. We’d all just sat down when the front door opened. I turned, expecting to see Maya’s parents coming home from their card game. Instead, Joe, Liam, Dax, and Tate walked in followed by Hudson. The instant our eyes met, I turned away and pulled my phone from my pocket, trying to busy myself.
