Page 74 of The Beta Test

I sigh. “Yeah. Sure.”

He lifts the plastic cover and takes one. “I know saying ‘sorry’ over and over won’t rebuild the trust between us, but I am sorry.”

“I know.”

He nods one last time, then opens the car door and walks out into the night.

And just like that, the era of Braden and Avery is over.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Avery! Finally,” Jenna calls as she lets me in her front door. She takes the plate of cookies from my hands, peels up the plastic covering, and takes a deep inhale. “Oh yeah,” she murmurs, like it’s a prayer. "Take off your coat! We’re in the den!”

Jenna walks deeper into the house while I pause to pull my lightweight jacket off and hang it on the hooks in the entryway. I also toe off my shoes.

“Hey, Rapunzel.”

It’s Jake—of course—one dimple popping with a crooked grin. Heat creeps up my neck. Was Braden right, or is the universe messing with me? Coincidences happen.

I shove the thought away. His bet was absurd.

“Jenna already took the cookies, so you will have to track her down if you want some. They’re espresso flavored.”

“Cookies can wait,” Jake says with a shrug. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

My mind immediately starts whirling, trying to figure out why he wouldn’t think I’d be ok. We’ve seen each other here and there when I’m hanging out with Jenna, but there’s been no discussion of anything heavy since the day he went with me to talk to Mrs. Patel a few weeks ago.

“Why would I not be ok?”

He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, Jenna and I went shopping yesterday for the party, and we saw Braden with his mom….” He trails off like he’s leaving me space to fill in the gaps. I don’t.

“So I thought, you know, that maybe you guys have talked since he’s obviously back? Or maybe I’m assuming things I shouldn’t. I know how stressed you were about all of that and I was worried…”

Something in my chest loosens. Jake was thinking about me and worrying about me, and for some reason that warms my heart. My own boyfriend of several years let his mom break up with me and then waited two whole weeks after he returned home to come over and confess what he’s been up to. Jake’s been a truer friend than Braden has been in a long time.

I tug him into a hug before my brain can overthink it. I step back and stare at him for half a second, confused. Jake’s been steady this year, in a way that makes my chest feel… less tight. Who would’ve thought Jenna’s little brother would be the one who doesn’t leave?

He’s looking at me, amusement and confusion both lining his features. “So are you guys still together or…”

I don’t have to answer his question, but it feels like he deserves to know the answer. He helped me solve the mystery of Braden, and if nothing else, his curiosity is likely genuine. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because he’s interested in dating me, like Braden suggested.

“I actually talked to him right before I came here.”

Jake’s eyebrows lift, but he also still looks concerned.

“But I’m good,” I continue. “I think I got the closure I needed. We’re over though.”

“Over over? For good?”

“I guess? Honestly, I don’t think I can get over what he did. And then on top of that, apparently he’s been home for two weeks and didn’t bother to come talk to me until today. So no—we’re done.”

Jake’s whole face shifts, like he’s been holding his breath and finally lets it out. “That’s good.”

He hooks an arm around me and steers me towards the back of the house where their den is. His elbow presses against my side, sending little sparks through me. “Let’s go play some twister and eat some red vines.”

My head snaps up at the mention of red vines.

“Red vines?”