Page 47 of Need You to Choose Me

“Your agent is a chickenshit,” Berlin announces loudly, popping another bubble with her gum.

There’s a momentary pause. “Uh…who is that?” Bodhi asks.

“That’s my friend Berlin,” I explain, not bothering to apologize for her. It isn’t like she’s wrong. He is. “She’s been reading all the lovely comments people have left on your picture.”

I can practically feel his twinge from over the phone. “I’m sorry, little Henderson. I wasn’t thinking. It was a good photo and—”

“And I already forgave you,” I cut him off. “I promise I’m not mad, if that’s what you’re calling about. And if you’re going to lecture me, Sebastion already told me not to look online. Once I saw what TMZ had written about you fulfilling my Make-A-Wish, I’d seen enough. They got that information from an “inside source” that I imagine has fake boobs and platinum blond hair.”

Berlin nearly chokes on her gum. “They wrotewhat? That’s horrible! And who is this bitch? I can probably take her. I used to live in the city. I was taught to fight when I was five.”

I laugh. “I appreciate it, but it’s fine. Put your shank away.”

Bodhi butts back in. “Does she really have a shank?”

I say, “No,” the same time Berlin says, “Yes.”

Bodhi pauses for a brief moment. “My agent had that article taken down. If itwasMelanie, I’ll deal with it, but I don’t think it was. I’m still shocked they even posted that bullshit to begin with.”

I’m not.“It’s TMZ” is my only remark of the gossip tabloid.

Before he can respond, Alex’s name pops up on the screen with an incoming text message. And suddenly, I regret changing his contact name in my phone from #43.

“Ooooh. Who’s Alex?” Berlin singsongs from over my shoulder.

“Berlin!” I hiss, holding my phone away.

Bodhi’s throat clears. “I’ll let you go. I just wanted to say I’m taking care of things, and that I’m sorry.”

He disconnects before I can reply, making me feel a tiny bit bad.

“What?” my friend asks innocently when I shoot her a look.

All I do is sigh.

Because I don’t even understand my guilt over Bodhi hearing Alex’s name. I don’t like him like that. But…I could. I guess. Maybe.

Except you miss Alex.

And that means something.

“So…” Berlin nudges my leg with hers once Alex’s name disappears from the screen. “I really want to know who Alex is.”

Skylar is the only one who knows about my on-again off-again tryst with the Pittsburgh player. It was because of her boyfriend that we were introduced to one another. That was long before Berlin entered my life. And retelling that tale, well, it’s the last thing I want to do.

“He’s the past,” I tell her.

Her eyebrows go up. “Doesheknow that?”

Is he calling because he needs another pep talk or is it an apology this time? If it is, would I forgive him? Forgiving him fully means making amends, and that would open my heart to the potential of another heartbreak. I don’t know if my heart can take another crack to it.

“Trust me,” I murmur, staring down at the popcorn I’d been in the mood for moments ago. Now it doesn’t seem appealing. “He made it very clear that he was never going to love me the way that I—”

I stop myself, the words scorching my throat and burning my chest as they settle in.

Berlin takes my hand. “Wow. Forget the agent. That sock full of frozen butter is better thrown at this guy.”

Unable to stop the snort from coming out of me, I squeeze her fingers in appreciation. “Berlin, I don’t think you’d be able to survive jail. But I love you for being willing to risk it.”

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