Page 85 of A Major Puck Up

“And I promise I won’t push Lake on you. I know?—”

I squeeze his arm, stopping him again. “You were right about that. And honestly, if she’s willing to help…”

The smile that splits his face is so big it hurts to look at. “I’ll let you handle talking to her. But I can’t imagine she’d say no.”

He’s right. Lake is one of the kindest people I know. I’m not sure why I didn’t give her the benefit of the doubt before. Feeling lost and jealous made it hard to think straight for a long, long time.

“Lake mentioned that Gavin is coming over,” I hedge, going for nonchalant, even as my stomach twists itself into knots.

“Yeah, he and Vivi are staying for the weekend. I hope that’s okay. I could put you in Daniel’s room if you want. That way they don’t keep you up all night.”

I have to fight back a shudder at my dad’s insinuation. Gross. Would Gavin really fuck a girl while he’s visiting my dad?

What am I thinking? The man fucked me while he was visiting my dad, so it’s probably not the right question to be asking myself.

That’s highly unlikely anyway, because the minute he sees me here, he’ll probably book it out of this place. God, could this be more awkward?

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I wander back to the foyer with my dad on my heels, ready to take my suitcases upstairs and take some time to collect myself. “I think I’m going to shower. It was a long flight.”

“Of course, baby girl. Let me help you carry up your luggage.”

The moment my dad shuts the door to my room and I’m alone, I fall back against the bed and squeeze my eyes shut. In the quietest scream known to man, I release my aggravation, my disappointment, my devastation. How the fuck did I let this happen? Truly. How?

And what’s so great about this Vivi?

I pull out my phone. Do I have the balls to google Gavin? My heart rate picks up just thinking about it. I stopped following the Bolts and actively avoided asking my brother about anything team related the day Gavin left me standing alone in his bedroom.

Right about now, talking to Daniel would be the smart thing to do. As far as twins go, he’s a pretty good one, and I know he would help if I told him everything.

But god, how do I even broach the subject? And if Gavin is in love with this Vivi, would it even do me any good?

If there’s no chance for us, then the last thing I want is for my father to find out about our relationship. What would be the point? A lot of people would be hurt for no reason. No. I’m done being selfish. I’ll show Gavin that I’ve changed. I’m going to shower, get dressed, go downstairs, and smile. I’ll be the best damn ex in the history of exes. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll realize what a mistake it was to move on so quickly.

Or maybe I’ll stay up here and kill a little time by googling ways to make an ex wish he’d never said goodbye …

At the sound of the doorbell, my spine goes rigid and my heart flips over. With a deep breath, I force my body to relax, and then I finish applying my lipstick.

For a few seconds, I don’t move away from the mirror. I take this moment to let myself live in denial and pretend that this Vivi chick doesn’t exist. That Gavin is still mine to have.

Closing my eyes, I let the memories of the time when he was still mine play out and soak up the love and the pain that come with each one. I visualize his smile. His loud, carefree laugh. The way his brown eyes would turn almost molten when I’d walk into the room. How he’d track me with his gaze. How being near him was never enough. We had to find a way to touch. Even if we shouldn’t. Whether it was out with our brothers, his hand on my knee beneath the table, or in my father’s hot tub.

With a hand pressed against the ache in my chest, I zero in on the bed where he held me so many months ago. The longer I look, the more acute the pain gets, and the bigger the Gavin-shaped hole inside me grows.

I’ve been frozen for months. Stuck in a cycle on repeat.

But that ended today when I got on the plane. When I decided to take my life back.

Fuck this insane situation. I won’t let him move on from us. I’ll remind him of who I was to him. I’ll put in the damn work.

I’m not going anywhere. This Vivi better be ready, because I’m taking back my man.

With a deep exhale, I open the door and trudge down the stairs.

“Oh my gosh. She’s so perfect,” Lake coos, her voice carrying from the kitchen.

Oh my god. I truly was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but is she high? Who talks about another woman, in front of that woman, no less, like she’s a fucking child?

“She really is perfect, Gavin,” my dad says. “Couldn’t be happier for you. Can I hold her?”

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