Page 93 of Dangerous Play

Ivy nodded, dabbing at her tears. “I know, but it did. It’s none of our faults, it’s just bad timing. But maybe if the timing is better next time…”

“Yeah… next time,” I echoed her words, and I just hoped this wasn’t one of those right person, wrong time situations. Because I couldn’t lose her forever.

Not when she was walking away with all the pieces of my heart.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

IVY

Heartbreak sucked.

But going through heartbreak twice in a short time and over the same guy was plain cruel.

I cried through my birthday no matter how I tried to convince all my friends that those were happy tears.

And yes, I was a hypocrite for calling the Titan girls my friends, but they really were. This time around, I didn’t push them away. I allowed them to be by my side every step of the way, and we went through the ups and downs of my breakup together.

It was different than with Ander because there was no anger in me. There was no one to blame but the circumstances.

I knew it was the right decision, even if deep down inside me I wished Max would have turned around and said I was his number one and soccer didn’t matter.

But he worked his whole life for this World Cup; I couldn’t just expect him to throw it away for what? A girl he was fakedating for four months and real dating for less than a month? It was ridiculous.

We both knew it was the right call, but it still hurt like hell.

Especially when I opened the small package Max sent me for my birthday a couple of weeks later, when I thought I was strong enough to handle whatever was inside. But my poor heart crumbled even more when I unwrapped the small candle that read

Ivy’s freshly baked cookies. Opening the lid, I took a deep breath, inhaling the mix of scents that transported me back to the one and only time I made cookies for Max. The light, lingering scent of cinnamon, the hotness of the oven hinted in the background, and the overpowering smell of sugar cookies and melted chocolate were unmistakable.

And the note tucked inside read

I searched high and low for the perfect scent, but it didn’t exist. So, I made one for you. I hope this is what you had in mind.

The fact that he remembered something we discussed in passing on our very first day of dating when we were setting ground rules was equal amounts heart-breaking as it was heartwarming.

And I couldn’t handle lighting or even thinking about that stupid candle without crying.

“I need some distraction.” I dragged myself out of my thoughts and glanced at Nova, who was decorating some cupcakes with very little talent. We were in her apartment that she shared with Brooklyn, and it was amazing. I shouldn’t have been surprised considering her dad was the soccer team’s coach,but I was jealous of all the natural light coming in and the open concept of the kitchen and living room.

“You can help with the icing,” she offered, pointing at the various colors.

“What is this for again?” I asked with a low chuckle as I picked up the pink one.

“Ask Rosie. She’s organizing something for Derek because he finally lost the crutches,” she said, her brows wiggling. “I low-key think she has a thing for him.”

Rosie gasped in the background. “That’s not true. I’m being a good friend. I did the same organization for Ivy’s birthday!”

I hummed as I decorated cupcakes with pink. “Why pink?”

“Oh, that’s the color I had left over from your birthday.” Nova shrugged. “Doubt Dex cares.”

Rosie and I let out a low laugh, but my heart immediately started beating quicker, and I glanced around. “Is Max coming?”

“Just moved into Training Camp,” Nova informed me. “He left this morning. He’s going to be gone for the next three weeks, and then they have one more friendly game before they announce the final roster in May.”

I hummed, thinking he will be gone almost all March and then he will return to finish this semester before the World Cup.

“How’s your marathon training?” Rosie changed the topic, and I flashed her a thankful smile.

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