Page 62 of Her Football Star Ex

Except, even logic was really confusing sometimes. Because as she spoke, logic was telling me that maybe my actions were proving that deep down I really did want to get back with my ex.

“He sounds like he’s been doing everything right,” she said. “He cut off all contact with Victoria immediately after he sobered up that night. He went to therapy. He’s given you space and respected every boundary and request you’ve ever given him. He made the divorce as clean and easy as he could, giving you everything you wanted out of it. Plus, he’s a great dad to Jaxon. Yes, he got drunk and made a huge mistake one night, and you are completely just in having your reservations. But I know you. And I just think that deep down, you do want your family to be put back together.”

I wiped at my eye, a sudden wave of emotion coming over me as my best friend said all the things I hadn’t wanted to admit to myself.

“I know you’re scared of getting hurt again,” she said gently, like she could tell her words were making me emotional. “But sometimes, people do change and are worth giving a second chance.”

I wiped at my eye again. “Are you trying to make me ruin my makeup before I have to see him at the wedding rehearsal?”

“No.” She gave me an understanding smile. “I’m just returning the favor you gave me in December. You helped give me the courage to put myself out there with Justin, and I’ve never been so happy before. I just want you to be happy again.”

But did I dare try again?

Could I really get over the betrayal enough that it wouldn’t catch me off guard again? Or would I continue to be triggered whenever we got close?

I didn’t know.

Plus, wasn’t I getting way ahead of myself?

First off, I wasn’t even sure I really wanted to try to be with him again. I hadn’t ever consciously thought about it until just now.

And secondly, I didn’t even know if Vincent would be interested in rekindling our romance, either.

Sure, Derek had told Kira that Vincent wasn’t over me. And Janet had said he wasn’t ready to move on yet. But Vincent had never once brought it up to me. The only actual hint I’d ever had from him happened when we were kissing in his bathroom.

But while he had gotten lost in the kiss just as much as I had, it didn’t mean he wanted to get back with me. He’d said so himself that his night with Victoria had been purely physical and he’d never had emotions tied up with her.

Who was to say that hadn’t happened with us that night, too? The physical power that came from a man and a woman being in a small space could have been the real culprit there. Not feelings.

But then, Jaxon had said he’d heard Vincent crying when he’d gone to his room that night.

Ugh. I needed to stop trying to figure this out. I was just running around in circles in my mind.

“Did I say too much?” Ivy asked when I didn’t say anything for a while.

I put the lid back on my lipstick. “No.” I sighed. “You’re fine. I’m just thinking.”

Overthinking.

“And what are you thinking?”

“I don’t know.” I lifted a shoulder. “Just if it’s even a good idea. I have no idea where Vincent stands on testing the waters with each other.”

In fact, if anything, things had become more awkward between us since that night I’d stayed at his place—the drop-offs and pick-ups briefer than usual. Like he was avoiding me.

“Well, I don’t want to rush you,” she said. “It’s definitely okay to take your time.”

Especially since I wasn’t trying to find a date to tomorrow’s wedding anymore.

“Did you ever hear back from that Tyler guy?” she asked. “You haven’t talked about him recently.”

“No.” My shoulders slumped. “I’m pretty sure he ghosted me.”

Which was so weird. I’d thought we’d really connected that night. I would have talked to him for hours if he hadn’t had to go to bed early.

“Maybe he’s married and his wife found out,” she said. “You did say he had his face hidden in all of his photos.”

A sick feeling swirled in my stomach at the thought that he could have been slimy like that.

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