Page 134 of Jump on Three

I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat would not go away. “It’s…I…I wanted to be normal and make my own decisions.”

Sweet, kind, patient, nice Luciana rolled her eyes. “Pffft. You live with three girls and think it’s normal to make decisions without consulting one another? Who did I come to first when I realized I was crushing on Beckett?”

Bella nodded. “Who did I talk to about he who won’t be named? I sure as shit didn’t get through any of that on my own.”

“They have a point, darling,” Delilah added. “All of you talked me through my issues with Rhys.”

“That’s right.” Luc wagged her finger at me. “You want to be normal, then spill to your girlfriends and let us help you figure this out. I refuse to believe our hive mind can’t find a solution.”

They all had points. It was my MO to close in on myself and internalize everything. In this case, doing so had gotten me here, losing more of Ivan with every second that ticked by.

It wasn’t easy for me to be open. My words came in spurts, but I eventually explained everything about Ivan’s father, the club, Marco, my fears, and most importantly, how much we loved each other. Tears streamed down my cheeks by the time I came to the day Ivan had brought me my scone and wrapped me in his arms.

When I looked up, I wasn’t the only one with wet eyes. Delilah got up from her seat and walked to the window behind me. Bella reached out and patted my leg. Luciana’s mouth was pressed into a tight line as she sniffed and swiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“You should go for the summer,” Bella said. “Try it out.”

Luciana nodded. “Yes. You can’t give up what you have so easily.”

“Nothing about this has been easy,” I replied thickly. “But I—”

“I can go with you.” Delilah approached, her eyes wet and glistening. She crouched beside me, hooking her pinkie with mine. “We can spend the summer in Miami.”

I blinked at her, unsure how to respond. This was happening so fast. Possibilities were being unlocked before me when I’d been sure I’d already known the outcome.

Bella bounced excitedly on the couch. “I’m down for hangin’ in Miami.”

Luciana’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t hang, unfortunately. I have to report to school for summer training. But I could probably swing a visit. I’ve never been.”

I pushed my hair off my forehead and closed my eyes again. They were being helpful and lovely, but they were also overwhelming me.

“I could hate it there,” I whispered.

“But what if you love it?” Delilah replied.

“You weren’t sure you could handle a music festival and you had the time of your life, didn’t you?” Bella asked.

Jump. Just jump.

Jump, Evelyn.

Jump.

“Can this intervention be over?” I unfolded myself from my chair and headed toward my room. “I have a lot to consider now. Thank you for being really good friends to me. I hope I’ve been just as good to you.”

I quietly closed my door, crawled to the corner of my bed, and wrapped myself in my blanket. I did not put my headphones on, though. I couldn’t have any distractions. My brain was at capacity as it was.

Could I keep Ivan?

Was this real?

If I went, and I liked it there, I might stay. I’d still end up without Delilah.

Would going to Miami for the summer only be more of the last few weeks, clinging to each other in total despair, knowing it was ending soon? That I could not endure.

Jump. Just jump.

What if I fell?

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