Page 55 of Wild Hearts

“Ouch.” I wince.

She waves me off. “You know what I mean. We barely know each other. So, how goes it with your sister’s friend, anyway?”

“Change of subject,” I say, with a shake of my head. “Tell me something about you. Any guys broken your heart lately?”

She laughs again. “Oh God, you really don’t know me at all, do you Brady?” I look over at her in confusion. “I’m gay.”

“Oh, shit,” I say. “I’m so sorry.” I let out a groan at my stupidity. “I mean, I’m not sorry that you’re gay. That’s cool. I mean, whatever you’re into. It doesn’t... I don’t...” Realisation dawns on me. “Oh my God, I kissed you last year. I am so sorry–”

Felicity’s doubling over in laughter at this point. “Brady, shut up!”

I lean on my crutches. “God, I feel like such an idiot,” I admit. “How did I not know that?”

“It’s not something I go around telling everyone,” Felicity giggles, trying to catch her breath.

“I’m glad you find my ignorance so amusing.” I shoot her a withering look. “No wonder it was so easy to talk to you about Wren.”

Felicity’s smile drops. “Wren Murphy?”

My brow crinkles. “Yeah. You know her?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve never actually met her, but I know the name.” She bites her lip. “She’s best friends with my cousin, Airlie.”

“And?” I prompt, sensing she’s not telling me everything.

A handful of emotions flash over her face before she shakes her head. “It’s nothing. Like I said, I don’t know her. Airlie just mentioned her best friend moved here from Newcastle to go to uni. I had no idea who she was when you were talking about ‘Rookie’ last year. I just assumed she was a local girl, being your sister’s friend and all.” She glances down at her feet. “Listen, I gotta go, I’ll be late for class. I’ll catch you later.”

Felicity couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I stand there, my brain still trying to catch up. I have a feeling that Felicity knows more about Wren than she’s letting on and now I have even more questions. I’m torn between going to class or finding Wren and demanding answers, but I know she’s not going to open up to me, so I make my way to class, arriving five minutes late.

I spend the next forty-five minutes trying to come up with anything that could explain Wren’s behaviour or Felicity’s reaction, but I draw a blank. I don’t understand what could have happened. I hurt Wren when I gave her the ultimatum, but if she’d answered my calls or texts, she’d have known I regretted my words as soon as they left my mouth. As much as I screwed up, I don’t think I’m the reason behind the darkness in her eyes.

Has something happened to her parents? She hasn’t really spoken about them since she returned, which is unusual because, as their only daughter. I wonder if they split up? If that’s the case, it must’ve been pretty bad for her to look so haunted. Maybe it has something to do with that guy she went to her formal with. My stomach churns. She should’ve gone with me.

Jordan’s waiting for me when I get out of class, leaning up against the building and chatting to a couple of girls. He grins when he spots me hobbling down the steps.

“Where’d you end up Saturday night?” he asks.

“I’m surprised you noticed between all the booze and that pretty little brunette,” I say dryly.

Jordan shrugs. “Nothing wrong with a bit of fun,” he quips, but he’s not as peppy as he usually is after a good hook up, so maybe she gave him the boot after I left.

“Isn’t all the partying getting old?” I ask with a sigh.

Jordan blinks at me. “You’re going to lecturemeon getting wasted? Pretty sure the beer and weed wouldn’t have mixed well with those painkillers you’re on, man.” He nudges me. It’s impossible for Jordan Rossi to hold a grudge against anyone, especially me. “You gonna tell me where you ran off to? It wasn’t a secret rendezvous with a certain blonde, was it?”

I groan. I’m trying not to think about Wren right now. I shake my head. “Harley had a run in with Conrad.”

Jordan snickers. “No shit! Well, I guess we all saw that coming.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“What? It’s true. We all knew Harley shacking up with Principal Fraser’s only daughter was going to end in disaster. No pussy is worth that much drama.”

I shake my head. “He really likes Ellie.”

“Hethinkshe really likes Ellie. Come on, man. She’s only seventeen. The principal’s daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks; it’s not like they’re going to last. It’s not some romance movie, it’s real life.”

I press my lips together. I’ve got enough going on in my own love life without getting into it with Jordan about someone else’s. I readjust my bag over my shoulder.

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