Page 25 of Wild Hearts

“It’s not that simple.”

“Sure it is. Everyone knows she’s been crushing on you since she started coming to Blue Haven. She was what, eleven?”

“Twelve.”

“My point is, just tell her how you feel and the two of you can kiss and make up and play house in her sick apartment. Sounds pretty straightforward to me.”

“Just stop,” I plead. I’m starting to get a migraine. “It’s not going to happen, and you can’t say anything – to anyone. Especially not Lachy. If Ivy finds out...”

“Ivy’s dating my brother. She can’t really say anything.”

“Jordan...” I narrow my eyes.

“What?” He gives me his best ‘I don’t know what you’re on about’ look.

“Promise me you won’t say anything. Not to Wren. Not to Lachy. Not to Ivy. Not toanyone.”

“I won’t say anything to anyone.” I’m not buying it for a second because of the cheeky grin spreading across his face. “But if nothing’s going on with you and Wren, you may as well join your best mate for a bit of beer pong and a pub crawl.”

I groan. “Whatever.”

He chuckles. “You might also want to figure out how you’re going to hide your feelings from Ivy, because here they come.” He ruffles my hair as he stands up. He dodges my attempt at a shove as he walks off with a nod and a, “Ladies,” to Ivy and Wren.

“What was all that about?” Ivy asks. Wren watches Jordan walk over to a group of girls and start flirting.

“Nothing,” I say, keeping my eyes trained on my sister. “What are you guys up to? Where’s Lachy and Harley?”

“They’re just catching up with some mates. We’re going to get a coffee. You want to join us?”

I glance over at Wren, who catches my eye before dropping her gaze to the ground. It’s killing me that she’s trying to avoid me.

Before I can answer, Ivy’s phone rings and she blanches as she looks down at the screen.Dad.

I grit my teeth, my hands clenching by my side. I haven’t spoken to him since he walked out the door, choosingherover us. I shake my head as Ivy shoots me an apologetic look before stepping away to answer the call.

I pat the seat next to me, and Wren hesitates before sitting down as far away from me as she can.

After sitting in a painfully long, awkward silence, Wren is the one to break it. “So, you’re still not talking to him?”

“Nope.”

Wren’s hand twitches, and I desperately want her to reach over and comfort me. My body tenses, craving the contact. When I realise it’s not happening, my shoulders slump.

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs.

“Rookie, can we–”

I’m about to ask her if we can start over. If we can go back to last summer, to the night we first kissed. To the night of the bonfire. I should have kissed her in front of Ivy, in front of everyone we knew. Then there would have been no hiding, and maybe we’d still be together. I wouldn’t have acted so jealous and given her any stupid ultimatums. She wouldn’t have had any reason to cut me out of her life.

I’m interrupted by my sister and her impeccable timing. I swallow my words and look up at her scowling face.

“What’s up?” I ask, not really wanting to know the answer. If Ivy is pissed, then I’m sure whatever she says will only make me even more so.

Her nostrils flare. She closes her eyes as she grates out the words, “We’ve been summoned. Tonight. He wants us to come there for dinner.”

I pinch my lips together and force myself to take a couple of deep breaths. After the whole scandal broke, Dad was asked to resign from the WSL. He bought a house in Byron Bay, half an hour past Ballina. Typical Jeremy Willis: thinking that whatever he wants, he’s going to get, even after everything he’s put us through.

“No. No way. I’m not going.”

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