Page 10 of Can't Get Over You
“Okay, fine. If he blows me off, you can come over tomorrow and feed me tubs of cookies and cream ice cream, okay? But tonight…” The smile died. There was no point in faking it with someone who knew her as well as Willa.“I just want to be alone.” It was how she handled things. She needed time to process. By herself.
That’s how I’m built.
Willa’s date stepped off the bus and joined them. “He’s not coming.” He held out his phone. “Look.”
Finlay’s stomach twisted into a knot as she processed the image on the screen.
It was a Splashagram photo of five boys huddled together in a dark space. They were laughing hysterically.
It took a moment to find Jude because he was in the back. But she’d know those eyes and that mouth anywhere.
He shaved.
Why would he do that if he never planned on coming?
It didn’t make sense.
“What is it?” Willa asked.
Finlay heard their voices like she had cotton stuffed in her ears. Because it finally broke through, how delusional she’d been to cling so tightly to the idea that Jude would go to something as lame as a prom.
She’d actually thought he’d rent atuxedo. She’d pictured him in a flower shop, deciding whichcorsage to get.
Even as her heart ripped in half, she burned with shame.
“Hey, I’m not going, okay?” Willa said to her date. “I’m really sorry?—”
“No.” Finlay stepped away from her friend. “I’m fine.”
“Fee, if you’re not going, I’m not going.” Her date looked confused and unsure, so Willa said, “Give me a second.” He hesitated but, with a nod, returned to the bus.
“You’re not blowing off your date.” She loved her friend too much to ruin one of the most important high school events. Besides, Finlay really didn’t want company.
“Come on.” Willa nudged her. “Chicks before dicks.”
Finlay stood her ground. “You spent two hundred dollars on that dress and a hundred getting your hair done. You’re going.”
“Ovaries before brovaries.”
“What does that even mean?” It was all Finlay could do to keep it together, but she’d save her breakdown for when she got home. For now, she gave a playful push. “Just go.”
“Sluts before nuts. You’re coming with me, and we’re going to dance and have fun. Please, Fee?”
She honestly couldn’t think of anything worse than being the third wheel with a group of people who weren’t even her friends.
Oh wait.
Yes, she could.
It was being played by the boy she loved with all her heart.
Chapter One
TWELVE YEARS LATER
The Mermaid’s Shanty was hoppin’tonight. They’d had to call in all their servers to keep up with orders.
Merry fuckin’ Christmas.
