Page 80 of Lose You to Find Me

DJ makes a face at the statement we both know to be true, even if he’s bitter about it. “That’s because Aidenneversmiled. It made anyone feel special when they got one.”

“Jealous?” I ask, lips twitching into an amused smirk.

He lifts a shoulder. “Maybe a little. How could I not be when a stud like that chooses a hottie like Ivy over a sexy beast like me?”

I shake my head at his nonsense and fire up the computer, taking the coffee. “Don’t push it,beast. What are you doing here anyway? It’s Sunday. Shouldn’t you be sleeping in or spending time with your girlfriend?”

My friend rounds the counter as if he works here and pulls out the only stool for himself. “I would if Skylar didn’t decide to have a sleepover at Olive’s dorm. Apparently Olive is in some type of boy crisis, which required McDonald’s and eighties chick flicks to resolve. When I called to say goodnight, I heardSixteen Candlesin the background. They’d already watchedThe Breakfast ClubandPretty in Pink.”

I work around him, gathering a few of the things I need to do before opening the store. “Is she okay?”

“Olive? Yeah. That girl is made of steel. O’Conner probably did something dumb.” He’s referring to the newest rookie on Pittsburgh’s national hockey team, the Penguins. “He’s a dude after all. He’s bound to fuck up. We all do.”

Do we though?I’d like to think I did everything I could to make sure I didn’t screw things up, yet here I am.

Brushing it off, I think about his girlfriend’s friend and former Lindon U hockey star. I didn’t even know O’Conner was still doing shit with Olive since he graduated. I heard through the grapevine that they had some sort of casual fling during his last year at Lindon that I assumed ended when he went off to play professionally. Playing for the big league changes people. He’s on ESPN all the time getting coverage on what little ice time he gets.

“Is Sky liking her classes this semester?”

My friend stares at me, amusement coating his face. “You’re really not going to tell me, are you?”

I play dumb as I organize the receipts I have to log and file. “Tell you what?”

“About you and Raine.”

“What about her?” I ask, feigning innocence as I start organizing tasks for the day that have been piling up around here.

Dry humor sparks his eyes when I look up at him. “You suck at playing dumb. I’m telling you, dude. You’re addicted to that girl despite what she’s put you through.”

This time, I shoot him a look. “Quit it. I’m not talking about it with you right now. I don’t want people butting into my business when I’m barely processing it on my own.”

“Does that mean there’s something there to butt into that you’re not telling me?”

I eye him. “Seriously?”

He holds up his palms. “It’s a small town. People talk. Especially when you were seen carrying Raine into the hospital. Most exes don’t go out of their way to do that for each other.”

It’s not surprising that people were gossiping about us again. That nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach is back the more I think about her, which is annoying as hell given the circumstances. “Has Raine said anything to Skylar about health issues?”

The question has him slowly shaking his head, obviously concerned. “No. And even if she did, what makes you think I’d know anything about it?”

My eyes roll at his bullshit. “Let’s be real, bro. You and Sky tell each other everything. If Raine said something to her, she’d tell you.”

“Which means I’d be sworn to secrecy,” he informs me.

Does that mean there’s something going on that I don’t know? Something else that Raine hasn’t told me again? Another half-truth that she thinks will sate my curiosity instead of feeding it? It’s screwed up. “What ever happened to bro code? Just because Raine and I aren’t on great terms doesn’t mean I don’t care. That’s the damn issue. I care way too much. So if you know something…”

DJ swipes his hand across his face. “I’m telling you, Caleb, I don’t know anything. They haven’t even hung out recently, and last I knew, their phone conversations were about school.”

This time, I don’t say anything.

“Are you really that worried?” he presses, voice softer than before.

Pressing my lips together, I shrug limply and lift my eyes back to him. “There’s something going on. I feel it in my gut. But she won’t tell me what it is, like fucking always, so I don’t know what to think.”

This girl used to bring me peace, but ever since we broke up, it’s been nonstop questions because she won’t be honest with me the way I truly need her to be. I thought she could trust me with anything, but I was obviously wrong.

DJ watches me stare at the computer screen, letting me process all the thoughts swirling in my head.

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