Page 39 of Sure, Pal

Why hadn’t he told me?

???

After dinner, Ava caught my arm and whispered, “Come hang out and chat?”

My stomach clenched. Did Ava already know about Evan and me? I gave her a tight smile and said, “Sure.” I should tell Ava tonight, but it seemed like such a small thing after Evan’s bombshell about his dad.

The boys gave Ava and me both quick platonic hugs, and Evan whispered to me, “We’ll talk soon, okay?” before releasing me.

I nodded and squeezed his hand before he walked away. I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through right now.

“Okay, Si, Romcoms, wine, and chocolate ice cream tonight,” Ava announced.

Fuck. Romcoms were the very last thing I wanted right now. Besides that, Ava didn’t even eat real chocolate ice cream. It was some weird, expensive low-calorie vegan shit. “I…”

“Come on.” She looped her arm through mine. “We’re doing this. I need you right now. I’m so rattled over Evan’s sad news!” Tears welled up in her big blue eyes.

She needed me? How had Ava managed to make this about her?

Ava released my arm, wiped her tears, and headed for her car. “I’ll pick up ice cream. You bring wine.” God, she was small for a bulldozer.

I rolled my eyes and headed for my car. I didn’t want to hang out with Ava tonight, but I’d been avoiding her for weeks already, and I needed her in a good mood when I told her I was seeing Evan.

I drove to the grocery store and had a bottle of wine in hand when Ava called. “Hey,” I answered.

“Are you on your way over yet?” Ava sighed into the phone. “I have the ice cream.”

“Yep. I’m getting ready to check out now.” I walked through the aisles until I reached the check-out stand.

“K, I might be talking crazy, but Evan looks good. Seeing him rekindled some old passion for me. Ugh, and my baby looked so heartbroken! I should be over at his place right now, making him feel better!” #AvaMillsOfficial laughed. “Oh my God, what do you think he would do if I showed up at his place? Is that romantic or crazy?”

“Don’t.” My voice sounded too sharp. I bit my lip. There was no way I could sit in her living room and listen to her talk about Evan like he was hers. I couldn’t bear to hear her talk about his pain like she felt it, too. Shallow, bossy, self-centered Ava had never in her life felt anything as raw as Evan’s pain.

I cleared my throat. “I’m drained, Aves. I don’t think I’m coming.”

“Um. Duh. Just sleep on my couch then. I’ll see you in like twenty minutes.”

Fucking bulldozer. “No, Ava.”

I could feel her shock through the phone. “Seriously? Sienna, I just found out that Evan’s dad is terminally ill! The love of my goddamn life is going to lose his father, and you can’t show up for me? When the hell did you become so selfish?”

“Ava…” I sighed into the phone. “I’ll see you later, k?” I hung up the phone, paid for the wine, and called Evan.

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