Page 50 of Unbroken

He nudged my shoulder, and I sighed. “It happened on Valentine’s Day,” I said.

“Oof, that’s rough.” He winced, and I gave him an unimpressed look. “Sorry, please continue.”

“I went to visit her at the hospital because we couldn’t hang out that night. But when I got there, she already had a vase of flowers from her ex. She said that he’d contacted her the week before, and she realized she wasn’t over him. That it wasn’t fair to either of us if she still had feelings for someone else.”

Her exact words had actually been,“If webothstill have feelings for someone else.”But I didn’t share that part with James. He’d never shut up if I did.

Although I knew who she was talking about, the comment surprised me. And when I’d tried to argue, she’d shut me down. Then she’d gone back to work without another word.

“Wow, I’m sorry. And things were going well…”

“Yeah, things were going well,” I confirmed.

Josh returned and slid a fresh beer across the table, which I immediately scooped up and tipped to my mouth.

“What are we talking about?” he asked.

And as Luke and Reed joined us, James said, “Piper and Devon broke up.”

Simultaneously, they all stopped and glanced at me, then at one another.

“I didn’t realize you two were actuallytogether,” Josh said.

I scoffed, and Reed shot me an incredulous look. “You don’t really tell us much, Dev. Can’t blame us for not knowing.”

He was right, and standing there with all my friends staring at me, I felt the pressure. Unlike the rest of them, I wasn’t an open book, and I didn’t wear my feelings on my face for the entire world to see.

It didn’t feel necessary to tell everyone every thought that crossed my mind. But I could see their point—if I was going to open up, it should be to them.

“We’d decided not to date other people in December. But it didn’t work out,” I said with a shrug. “It happens.”

“You don’t seem too upset,” Luke quipped.

I looked over at him but noticed the look on James’s face. Like he knew something more and was trying to keep his mouth shut. He did know something more, or at least he thought I did. He’d had it in his head for as long as I can remember that I had unrequited, hidden feelings for Blakely.

“Shit happens,” I said, ignoring James. “I’m…if it was meant to be, it would’ve worked out. Piper seemed pretty steadfast in her decision, so there’s no reason to dwell on it.”

“Sure, sure,” Reed murmured. “Anyway, how’s the daddy-to-be feeling?”

Standing directly next to me, I felt Luke tense. I glanced over at him and saw the muscle in his jaw jump.

“You and Hazel are so excited. Why are you making that face?” Josh asked his brother.

Luke was quiet for several seconds, and we all patiently waited for him to get his thoughts together. The very loud, ruckus sounds of the arcade echoed around us while he stared down at his water.

“We are excited. Iamexcited, but growing up with our father…it makes me even more anxious.”

We simultaneously nodded, and the seriousness of the topic weighed heavy on all of us.

“You’ll never be like dad,” Josh said with the utmost conviction.

I hadn’t met their father, yet I immediately agreed without an ounce of hesitation. Josh and Luke’s father had been an abusive bastard. And it had been that abuse that killed their mother when they were only teenagers.

“I had the same fear,” Josh continued. “When Sam told me she was pregnant with Zach, I spiraled—which you were all there for,” he said with a shallow laugh. “And yeah, I’ve fucked up several times, and I’ll mess up in the future, but I’llneverbe like Dad. Neither will you. The fact that you’re scared, concerned, and anxious…that shows how much you care.”

“I know, I know,” Luke said with a deep sigh. “You’re right.”

“And look at how amazing Zach is turning out,” Reed added. “If Josh can do it, you sure as hell can.”

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