Page 137 of A Little Complicated

It’s a good question. I was wondering the same thing long before Tatum brought it up.

Nibbling on the little patch of skin between my thumb and thumbnail, I admit, “I’m scared of what his answer will be. If it’s for a stupid reason, I have to face the fact that even if I’m in love with Maverick Buchanan, he’ll never feel the same way, and I’m wasting my time with a guy who doesn’t want the same things I do.”

“And what if it’s a good reason?” Dylan prods carefully.

“Then it’s even worse,” I admit. “Because…if we couldn’t be together when things were easy, when his brother wasn’t my ex-boyfriend and all we had to worry about was our families accepting our relationship, who’s to say we can be together now?” I thread my fingers through my hair and push it away from my face. “Things are so much messier, you guys. I’m honestly not sure how we can come back from it all. And that’s…terrifying.”

“We get it,” Dylan murmurs. “You have every right to be scared.”

“Thanks,” I sigh and attempt to shake off my morose thoughts. “But one relationship fix at a time, right? Once I smooth things over with Archer, I’ll be able to figure out what to do with Mav. Or at least, that’s the plan. Do you guys want to come with me to a game night next weekend?”

“Uh, duh.” Finley bumps her shoulder against mine. “I already told you I’m dying to attend one of those things. The question is, should I bring popcorn when I get front-row seats to your first interactions with the bone brothers?”

“Donotcall them the bone brothers,” I warn.

“Come on, it's kind of fitting,” she returns with a smirk.

“Doesn’t make it any funnier,” I argue. “And technically, Archer and I didn’t bone.”

Finley’s eyes pop, and she shares a look with Dylan. “Seriously? You guys were together for like…a couple months, right?”

“I told him I wasn’t ready,” I admit when my phone buzzes in my lap.

“Who is it?” Dylan asks.

A message from Reeves shines back at me from the screen.

“It’s Reeves.”

“Who’s Reeves?” Dylan asks.

“He’s one of the roommates,” I tell her.

“Oo, is he cute? He has to be cute,” Finley answers for herself. “All cute guys hang out together. It’s like a rule or something.”

Ignoring her, I open Reeves’ text.

Reeves

Hi.

Me

Hi.

Reeves

I heard I’m throwing another Game Night next weekend.

And, yes, I’ll do it for you.

Me

Who said it’s for me?

Reeves

Silly, Ophelia. You think I don’t see the drama you’ve created?

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