I miss her.
So damn bad.
I give her the finger in return and her expression turns cool as she walks away with an extra flounce in her step. Her dress hem flirts with the back of her thighs and I watch her go, hoping to catch a glimpse of an ass cheek.
I couldn’t be so lucky.
“What the fuck, Bennett?” Someone shoves me from behind and I whirl around to see Diego standing there, a defiant expression on his face.
I frown at him. “What’s your problem?”
“I thought you two were broken up.” When my frown deepens, he makes an exasperated noise. “You and Ava.”
“We are.”
“I saw the way you two were just looking at each other.”
“She gave me the finger.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she was saying fuck you. More like she was meaning, fuck me.” He starts to laugh just as Caleb approaches with a giant grin on his face, his hand already up and ready for a high five.
Diego gives him one, the two grinning idiots turning their focus on me while I glare at them.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” I say with a scowl.
“Like what?” Diego’s expression turns innocent. “Don’t like me knocking on your ex? I thought you were pissed at her.”
“I don’t like you talking about Ava in any way,” I say between clenched teeth, my blood running hot.
Diego shakes his head. “You are unbelievable. I was only giving you shit because I could see just how bad you still want her. Why don’t you talk to her after the game? I’m sure they’re going to stick around and watch.”
“Why the hell would they do that? They’re here for Ash and no one else,” I say, hating how bitter I sound.
“A little birdy told me Ava is staying for the entire game. She’s sitting with a bunch of other little birdies.” When I don’t say anything, Diego sighs. “Jocelyn told me Ava is sitting with the rest of the girls and they’re going to watch us play.”
Just like old times.
“I don’t even know what I would say to her if we did talk.” I shake my head. “We’re done.”
“Oh come on, Eli. You’re acting like a damn baby,” Caleb says, taking a step back when I turn my scowling face in his direction. He holds his hands up in front of him. “Whoa. Settle down. I’m not coming for you. I’ve been there for you since all this shit went down.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, annoyed that he’s right. I’d rather focus my anger and hatred on other people, like these two dickwads.
And not myself.
Four
Ava
“We’re having a little get-together after the game,” Hayden tells me, her expression unsure. “And…we want you to come.”
I glance over at Jocelyn and Gracie, who are both nodding enthusiastically, their eyes bright.
“Will Eli be there?” I ask warily. One part of me hopes the answer is yes. The other part hopes it’s a big fat no.
I can’t face him.
I don’t want to talk to him.