Page 30 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“We do not need to diagnose his problem.” I clamber off the couch. She’s oblivious and trying to help and I feel like the worst kind of friend.

“I just know that Theo was doing everything he could to avoid emotional attachment when we met,” Indy says. “It crept up on him, just like it crept up on me. But once we were in the thick of it—”

“It’s not the same,” I say, taking my bowl to the kitchen. I can’t have this conversation. I need a minute.

Dove jumps in my spot, hovering closer to the screen as EJ’s voice comes through the speaker. “Hey, sis. Any more of Mom’s mac left?”

He must have popped over to check on Indy while on his lunch break.

“Yeah. I think if you scrape the sides of the dish there’s probably enough for your lunch,” Indy’s voice is full of affection.

“Who are you talking to?” he asks, and it’s followed with a rather loud thump from my living room.

Dove is on the floor behind the coffee table when I come back. Hiding?

“America. We’re having girls’ night. Her friend Dove is hanging out with us too,” Indy says, completely oblivious about everything that happened in Positano.

He grumbles something indecipherable. “Say hi to America for me.”

“You heard him?” she asks.

“Hey EJ,” I say back, but he’s disappeared from frame.

“I need to get my bags,” Dove climbs to her feet and sprints across the living room. “Uber should be here in a few minutes.”

“It was great chatting with you,” Indy tells her. “Catch up soon?”

“Yeah. Uh-huh. Sure.” Dove vanishes into her bedroom. When she comes out, she has her little suitcase and coat. “Debrief when I get back, yeah?”

“Yes.” She and EJ couldn’t get enough of each other. Now they’re… whatever the hell that was. What the hell happened when we left Positano? I want to know.

“This guy…” Indy says as Dove leaves.

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Tell me about that tattoo on your wrist. That’s new, isn’t it?”

“This one?” She lifts her arm to show me the circle. “It’s an ouroboros. Snake eating its tail. Circle of life. It felt more fitting than an eternity symbol. But I might get one of those too.”

“I like it. Did Theo ink it?”

“Yes.” She smiles, lighting up from the inside out.

She’s still sad about Gray, but she loves Theo. He’s her whole world. I love that for her. She did the right thing for her even when it hurt like hell.

I want to be that brave. I want to feel that happy. I just don’t think it’s in the cards for me.

“You look sad,” Indy says. “I worry about you. Is school going okay? Is there anything I can do? Maybe I should come visit.”

“No. You’re still in the honeymoon phase with Theo and you’re barely recovered. Can you even drive yet?”

“I don’t need to drive to come see you,” she argues.

“I’m okay.” I cross my heart. “Just tired. I worked an all day shift at Beans. I’ll be better tomorrow, I promise. Plus, I have so much schoolwork to do. If you came out here, you’d be stuck hanging out on your own while I study.”

I can’t seem to bring myself to admit that I failed. One day soon I will have to quit school and tell my parents—and Indy—but not today.

“At least… let's make girls' night a more regular occurrence. So I can feel like I’m in your life. I’d like to get to know Dove better. I want to hear more about this mysterioushenext time though.”

“I’ll tell you all about how I kicked him to the curb.” I laugh.

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