Page 63 of Unforgettable

“There’s nothing new to tell,” I said with a grateful smile to Grady, who dutifully refilled my glass. “I haven’t spoken to either of them. They haven’t even texted me. I told you that they both came to see me. I told them I needed space, and they gave it to me.”

“So, at this point, you’ve cut off all contact?”

I shrugged by way of an answer, but Hazel cut her eyes at me from behind her straight brown hair.

“Until I can figure out what the fuck I’m doing, yes. Talking to them just complicates everything.”

“How does it complicate it?”

Whether it was the alcohol or I’d finally hit my breaking point, I wasn’t sure. But I was tired of bottling in the emotions that had been driving me mad for weeks.

I pivoted in my chair and looked Hazel directly in the eyes. “Because when I’m around them, I feel shit I didn’t even know was possible. And that is absolutely terrifying. I am terrified.”

Hazel’s eyes widened with my honesty, but other than that, she didn’t react to my confession. In all of our conversations, it was the most candid I’d been about my feelings. And it was the first time I’d said out loud what I’d been warring with inside.

“Say something, please,” I pleaded, slowly becoming more and more concerned by her silence.

“Why is that so bad, babe?”

My deep breath did little to settle my intense nerves, but I’d already opened the can of worms. There was little I could do to take it all back, and I knew Hazel wouldn’t have it.

“Because it’s both of them, Hazel. I feel the same way about both of them. My feelings are just as intense when I’m around Reed as they are when I’m around Josh. Choosing between the two would be nearly impossible.”

“For now,” she added.

“I’m not so sure my feelings are going to change that much, especially on their short time line.”

She placed a soothing hand on my exposed thigh and squeezed. The comforting gesture kept me from bouncing it in nervousness, something I hadn’t even noticed I was doing.

“I know this is cliché advice, but I really do believe it will all work out the way it’s supposed to. And I know for a fact that both of those boys are fucking crazy for you. I would just talk to them and tell them that you need to extend the time line a little. Maybe change the rules of your agreement and add a few more dates. Or hell,” she said, throwing her hands out, “do away with the agreement altogether and just be casual. Don’t put a time line or a date limit on it.”

My chuckle was rueful. “You really think they’d go for that?”

She nodded emphatically and swigged her drink. “Because you know what they care about more than anything? More than time lines and rules and competition?”

It didn’t take me any time to figure out where she was going, but I still asked, with a lilt of a question in my voice, “Me?”

“Yes, you dumbass. They care aboutyou. Not only as their future partner but as their friend and as a person. So, just talk to them, okay? I promise it won’t be as miserable as you’ve catastrophized.”

“So, you’re telling me that I won’t have to fake my own death or make my apartment a fortress they can’t penetrate?”

She gave me a quizzical look and then sighed. “That’s another obscure movie reference I’m not going to get, isn’t it?”

“HeathersandFear.”

“Okay, I probably could have gotten theHeathersone if I wasn’t on my second margarita. And on that note, I really like this song.”

Hazel downed the rest of her nearly full margarita, and I did the same as quickly as I could before she tugged me off the barstool.

“No more boy talk!” she shouted and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

I threw my head back and laughed at her proclamation. It had been amazing to watch the timid, terrified woman I’d met over a year ago, and who Luke rescued from her own hell, turn into a confident, badass chick and my best friend.

And I decided to push it all away. For one night, I wouldn’t worry about my missing friend, parenting my twenty-one-year-old brother, the start of the school year, or my love triangle.

I grinned at my bestie, who wore the purest smile as she flung her hair back and forth before screaming the lyrics in my face. I did it right back, and we both dissolved into hysterical laughter.

A girls’ night could cure all.

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