Page 17 of Wild Hearts

I’d gone to a party at Jordan’s house and tried to drown my pain in a bottle of Captain Morgan. After everyone had left, Jordan disappeared with Felicity’s best friend. I’d stayed in the pool house to keep Felicity company and ended up talking her ear off about how badly I stuffed up with my sister’s friend.

It was killing me knowing that at that moment she was dancing with another guy, kissing another guy, doing God knows what with another guy. I found myself leaning in and kissing Felicity. She politely pushed me away, but it didn’t matter. I’d felt nothing. No spark. Instead, I felt like an absolute arsehole for treating both girls like they were interchangeable.

“I already know most of the story.” Felicity shrugs with a wry grin. “I’m invested now.”

There’s a shriek of laughter behind us, followed by a big splash in the pool and more shouts and more splashes.

“You wanna go somewhere a bit quieter?” Felicity asks.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

She waves her hand in the direction of her friend making out with a guy from my Sport Psychology class. “I’m the designated driver, so I’m not really in the party mood.”

“This is pretty awkward.” I scratch the back of my head.Geez, what the hell is wrong with me?I’m so hung up on Wren that I’m acting like a crazy person. “I pretty much tried to use you to get over her last year. Are you sure you want to listen to me whine about the girl I’m in love with who won’t give my sorry arse a second chance?”

“It’s only awkward if you make it awkward.” Felicity takes my hand and leads me out of the pool house. As I glance over my shoulder, Jordan stops sucking face long enough to shoot me a wink and a thumbs up, causing me to grimace.

I follow Felicity through the side gate that leads to the front of the house. We climb up the front steps to sit on the love seat on the porch. I lean back, letting my arm fall along the back of the seat. Felicity turns sideways, resting her back against the armrest to face me. She draws her right knee up to her chest, creating a perch for her chin as her honey-coloured eyes study me. I take her in – the smattering of freckles across her nose, full pink lips, dark hair cascading over her bare shoulders. She’s really pretty, and if I wasn’t so hung up on Wren, I’d definitely be attracted to her. Closing my eyes, I shake away the thought. Why am I so caught up on someone who clearly isn’t interested? I’m not usually so masochistic.

“You’ve got it bad.” She smirks, obviously teasing.

I scrub my hand over my face, scratching against the dark stubble along my cheeks and chin. “I don’t know what it is about her, but every time she’s near it’s like everything else just fades into the background. It’s crazy. I’ve never felt any of this before and I don’t know what to do. It’s pathetic.”

Felicity shakes her head. “It’s not pathetic. You’re in love.”

I pull a disgusted face at the word ‘love’. It’s associated with nothing but heartbreak. Dad would tell Mum how much he loved her every single day – right up until the day he left. His new girlfriend is fifteen years his junior, only four years older than me, for fuck’s sake. Caught up in the moment, I had murmured those three little words to Wren that night in her bedroom last year before we slept together, and the next time we saw each other it had all turned to shit. Now we’re like strangers.

Loving people just means they’re going to leave.

“I don’t love her,” I mutter, taking a swig of my beer, but the words taste sour in my mouth.

“Uh-huh. If you say so. What’s her deal anyway? Why is she trying to resist your obvious charm?” She clutches her hands together in front of her and flutters her eyelashes.

I roll my eyes, but I’ve been asking myself the same question all day. Wren’s not the same girl who used to sing karaoke in my living room or squeal with laughter as we raced our bikes down Flannigan’s hill, her blonde hair flying behind her like a golden waterfall. There’s something sad and heavy about her now. She’s like a rabbit, jumping and twitching at every sound. I know there’s something going on, and it kills me that she won’t let me be there for her like she was for me. I know I hurt her, but I would give anything just to see her face light up again. It’s killing me to see her so haunted.

“Maybe I just need to try and forget about her.” Saying those words out loud feels like a knife to the gut. I don’t mean it. It’s not possible for me. She’s on my goddamn mind all the freaking time. The girl’s got me under her spell, but I don’t know what else to do. I’m not going to force myself on Wren. If she’s not interested, she’s not interested – it’s as simple as that.

Felicity smiles, reaching over to squeeze my arm. “Don’t write her off just yet,” she says softly. “You clearly like this girl, and that’s worth holding onto in my opinion.”

“Thanks.” My lips stretch into a forced smile.

“No problem.” Her phone beeps and she glances down. Typing a quick response, she looks back up at me. “Look, in the six months that I’ve known you, you’ve been hung up on this girl. Hang in there. I’m sure you two will work things out.”

Jordan’s drunk voice cuts through the warm night air. “There you are, man.” He grins, winking at us. “Hey, Felicity. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Felicity chuckles, leaning over to kiss me on the cheek. “I’m going to grab Jemima. I’ll catch ya ‘round, Brady.”

“Can we keep this to ourselves?” I murmur, not wanting Jordan to overhear.

“Of course.” She nods at Jordan as she walks past him. “Nice party.”

“Don’t leave on my account,” he calls after her. He takes the porch steps two at a time, swaying slightly before flopping down on the seat next to me and leaning back with his eyes closed.

“You alright?” I ask with a nudge to his side.

“Mm,” he mumbles.

Knowing Ivy and the guys will have the party under control, I stand up and hoist my best mate to his feet. He swings his arm around my shoulder.

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