Page 66 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“Everything okay?” Everett asks as he joins us.

He wraps his arms around America and pulls her in. She places a hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder. “Everything is great. Gray and I were just talking about…”

“How late it is.” I glance at my watch. “Really late, actually. I’m getting too old for this party lifestyle. I’m going to head home.”

“Can you take me?” Dove asks, finally coming back from wherever she was squirrelled away. She looks a little glassy eyed and pale. “I’m so ready to go home.”

“Yeah, me too.” America says. “Everett, can you take Dove and me home?”

“I can do that.” He presses his lips to the top of her head, and I hate that he gets to do that. “Call me tomorrow, Grayson. We’ll hit the nets.”

Somehow I muster up some enthusiasm. “Can’t wait.”

He holds her close as they walk away, Dove with them. My teeth ache with how tightly I’m gritting them.

We can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep watching her get closer to him.

Everett glances back over his shoulder, his brows drawing tightly together as they disappear through the exit.

Tomorrow I’ll get him to sign. And then I’ll get out of here. Go wherever All-Star plans on sending me next.

Chapter Twenty-Five

America

The Boar’s Head pub is rowdy with fans and footballers reveling over The Cardinals’ victory. They won their match 5-2 and have been celebrating since the siren sounded. They’ll be playing in the finals in a couple of weeks.

Everett’s teammates are all toasted. Cheeks rosy and eyes glassy. They keep breaking out the team song. It’s loud and punchy, and the later it gets the more slurred the words become. One of his single teammates has his arm around two women in Cardinals jerseys. Both with his number.

A few of them get up and announce they’re moving on to another venue. One with dancing. Another teammate slings an arm around a cutie who glued herself to his side after they chitchatted at the bar earlier. Her friend joins her and the two of them giggle as the three of them head out into the night.

Everett introduced me to all of them as his Lucky Charm, as if I had something to do with his skills. It was him that made those fancy-footed goals that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

All I did was pretend the fact that Gray is still here two weeks after he promised he would be gone isn’t getting to me. That him showing up to drive Dove and me to the game wasn’t awkward as hell. That I don’t get the shakes, like I’m having withdrawals, when he stands too close. Like I am right now with him next to me while we wait for the bartender to finish pouring our drinks.

I won’t regret it when he’s gone. I’ll finally be able to move on properly, like I’ve been trying to do for weeks. I’ll be able to forget about the way it feels to be around him. In time.

Everett will make sure of that. He cares for me, and he treats me well. For the first time dating doesn’t feel like going through the motions. I’m developing real feelings for him. Maybe even falling… slowly.

It’s amazing how the heart has room for more than one love at a time. Is this why Indy can be so incredibly happy with Theo, but still care so much for Gray? Because love isn’t simple. It’s not finite, or transient. Love is complex, infinite, and changeable.

I will never get over Gray, but I think Everett could be the one that I find a future with. Happiness. All the things that I’ve tied up in Gray for so long but need to let go of. Which will be much easier when he isn’t here.

I’m jostled by someone moving forward beside me, and Gray reaches out to steady me. Electricity travels through me at his touch on my bare skin. At his voice in my ear. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” I glare at him and yank my elbow free. “What are you still doing here? I thought you were going to be gone by now.”

“Trust me. I truly am trying to be.” He scoops up his beer. “Do you think I have the time to babysit your boyfriend? Do you think I want to watch you two together every damn day?”

“Don’t say it,” I snap.

“I won’t.” His lips form a pale slash as he angles his whole body to watch Everett with his mates. “But it’s been two weeks of hanging out every day. Bringing him every deal he wants, and then some.”

Two weeks of having to see Gray every day when I just want to move on. When I’m so tied up in knots.

“He should be as happy as a pig in shit. He’s stalling, and I can’t work out why. And I can’t not get his signature, America. My job is the only thing that I have.”

“That was your choice.” My voice turns snarky. I don’t mean to, but it still stings. I wish it didn’t. I wish I didn’t care.

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