Page 56 of Choosing Forever
Bryce’s voice is ice-cold. “Yeah, I’d hope so.”
“We’ll talk later, Darren.”
I nod, the ball in my throat too big for me to speak.
The downward twitch of Delaney’s lips draws my attention. I zero in on her frown, hating that it’s there because of me. I’d take any other expression after this long of being away from her besides that one.
Dropping my stare, I step around Sasha and leave.
The last thing I want to do is make things more awkward, and with the ache behind my ribs, I know there isn’t any point in me sticking around. If I do, I’ll wind up saying something I shouldn’t. There won’t be any hope of getting so much as a moment of time with Delaney to try and convince her to give me another shot if I make a fool of myself. She’s seen me do that too many times in the past already.
I move quickly through the crowds and pop out on the opposite side of the street. The water squishes between the soles of my feet and my slip-on sandals as I keep my pace steady and slip through the gap between the station and Beautifully Bold. Suddenly, it’s quiet, nobody wandering this way.
My inhale is deep, but nowhere near as soothing as I hoped.
With my back to the street, the only tell that I’m not alone anymore is the slight scuffing of feet on pavement. I tense, sensing who it is before she speaks.
“Are you okay?”
I drop my head and laugh, letting the rough noise of disbelief carry through the silence. “I figured if anyone would follow me, it would be Bryce.”
“She tried to. I . . . I figured she could cover for you with Caleb instead.”
“You didn’t want to talk to him? Eliza’s with him. I’m sure she’d love to talk with you.”
“It didn’t really have anything to do with Caleb.”
“Oh.”
Swiping a hand over my mouth, I risk turning around. Glittering green eyes nearly knock me to my knees, especially this close up. The gold flecks are there, bright and demanding. Like they’re jealous of the green to the point they’re trying to outshine it.
Delaney fidgets with a loose string on the sleeve of her purple sweater, her lips rolling before she says, “I never meant to cause any issues between you and Sasha. Daisy was supposed to be Abbie’s teacher this year, and I was only told the week before school started that she’d be in my class. But I promise you that I’m not treating her any differently than her classmates because of our history. She’s taken care of.”
“I know,” I reassure her quickly, not liking that she’s second-guessing that. “I had no doubt. Abbie likes you.”
She nods once, glancing away in what looks like an attempt to hide a wince. “Okay. Good.”
“I’m sorry that I called you Elle again.”
Her brow jolts upward. “That’s a first.”
“A first what?”
“You’ve never apologized for that before. It’s weird.”
“I mean, I can continue using it, then,” I offer loosely.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Fair enough.”
“I’m not going to apologize for dunking you,” she says, her stubbornness peeking through.
I fight off a smile. “I would hope not. I deserved it.”
“You deserve quite a few dunks.”
“I’ll have Caleb close off my line and give you unlimited shots.”
