Page 94 of I Can't Help It

“I’m going up to my room for a little bit,” I say as calmly as I can. “If anyone asks about me, just tell them I got tired.”

Tired of going in circles.

But for a split second, I let myself be delusional. Maybe he’ll stop me from leaving. Maybe he’ll pull me into his arms and kiss me breathless. Maybe he’ll change his mind and talk to Wyatt right away.

Luke doesn’t do anything though, he barely even looks at me, so I step around him and start walking toward the lodge.

Dang, I wish Aunt Kat was here. I could really use one of her hugs.

Once I’m inside the building, I settle for a phone call instead.

“Hey, chickie,” she answers after the first ring, “I was just thinking about you.”

“Oh yeah? Were you thinking about how much you miss me?”

“Always! But I was also thinking about you since I’m going to order myself some pizza.”

I fake a gasp. “How are we related?”

Sure, pizza isn’t as bad as apple cider, but gross.

“Says the girl who loves eating cold chicken nuggets.”

“Only certain ones,” I defend myself as I start climbing up the closest staircase, “and that’s not all the time either!”

“Mmhmm. So, what’s on your mind, babe? Because I know you didn’t call me to discuss food, even if it’s one of our favorite conversational topics.”

I proceed to sigh. “Aunt Kat, there should be a rule that boy trouble doesn’t exist once you’re an adult.”

“That would be nice,” she agrees with a soft chuckle. “Does this mean things aren’t going well with Luke? You’ve hardly mentioned him in your texts.”

“Everything has been way too much for texts.” I glare at Luke’s room as I stalk past it. “Besides, I know you don’t really like texting anyway.”

“Ava Meryl Ashton, stop stalling!”

She knows me too well.

“Okay, okay,” I say, getting closer to my room, “so here’s what happened…”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I’m done giving Aunt Kat my recap, and I’ve probably walked around this room at least ten times. So, yeah, I’m feeling a little bit dizzy now.

Time to sit down.

“I’m sorry this hasn’t played out like you’ve wanted, chickie,” she says after I finish my verbal rampage. “I know that’s frustrating.”

Never mind. Let’s take another lap.

I’m standing up in less than a second, and I start walking again. “I hear a but in your voice.”

“Just because you and Wyatt ended things amicably, doesn’t mean the situation isn’t...delicate. Especially for Luke. He might be worried that Wyatt will be upset about you guys starting a relationship.”

“What if Wyatt isn’t okay with us being together?”

How can Luke be worried about Wyatt getting mad though? I don’t think Wyatt is even capable of getting mad. Well, except when it comes to Trista. Otherwise, he’s the most go with the flow person I’ve ever met. One time, when we were driving somewhere for a date, a car cut in front of us—like a reckless jerk—and Wyatt didn’t yell or honk the horn like a normal person. He laughed it off by saying, “Someone must be running late. Been there too, buddy!”

I mean, does that sound like someone who will get upset over his best friend falling for his ex-girlfriend? Unlikely.

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