Page 13 of Fall Hard

“It’s okay.” She smiled at me. “So anyway, what’s your plan?”

“With what?”

“I mean, there’s not really anything you can or should do about your parents. But you do have two issues you can do something about.”

“Oh?”

“Radclyffe.”

I wrinkled my nose but nodded for her to go on.

“And Jamie.”

I sighed. “There’s nothing to be done about Jamie. She’s happy and I’m happy she’s happy.”

“Do you actually believe your own bullshit?” Bryn laughed at the surprised look on my face. “You’re miserable. Actual, genuine misery.”

“Every decision I make just seems to make things worse—especially when it comes to romance.”

“I don’t know, the redhead fromLusciouswas pretty hot.”

“She was, wasn’t she,” I mused. “But even that was a dumb move, I don’t know what I thought going out and getting screwed would help.”

“Well,” Bryn said slowly, “you never actually did the screwing.”

I could feel myself blushing as I pulled on an errant thread in my PJ bottoms. “Are you trying to get in my pants right now?”

Her bark of laughter was slightly offensive and I frowned.

“I’m sorry, but no. Let’s not forget that you haven’t showered in a day and a halfandyou’re in love with someone else. If I made a play for you, Olivia,” she leaned in close, her blue eyes dancing with amusement as one side of her mouth quirked up, “I’d be playing for keeps.”

“Good to know,” I said, strangely breathless. “You’re obviously more clear headed than me about all of this. Maybe I should just let you be in charge of my life for a bit. Like a super hands-on life coach.”

Bryn laughed. “Sure.”

Except… That would be kind of amazing actually, to not have to worry about a million things or wonder if I was making the right choice. To have someone I trusted just… do my thinking for me. And I did trust Bryn, surprisingly. I didn’t always trust easy, but there were some people you came across in life that just instantly matched your vibe, like their energy complemented your own, and it kind of felt like that being around her.

“No, really.”

She stopped laughing. “What?”

“I want you to help me get over Jamie, and work out what to do about my course. And, I suppose just generally figure my crap out.”

“Liv, you don’t need me for that, you’re perfectly capable—”

“I’m not,” I said quietly. “It feels like everyday things fall apart a little more. Please, Bryn?”

She watched me with a tight expression on her face, her mouth hard and her jaw clenched. “If we do this, we do it my way.”

“Whatever you want,” I said earnestly. “But I draw the line at breaking the law.”

“I can work with that,” she said, a slow grin spreading across her face.

God help us both. What the hell had I just suggested?

CHAPTERFOUR

“About last night…”

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