“Ava!”
“All right! I can’t believe you’re still a prude even after sex with a beast like Jeremy. He looks like he likes it rough.”
You have no idea.
“Can we change the subject, please?”
“Okay, okay.” She leans over and wraps me in a hug. “I’m so happy for you and how you’re finally moving on from Jonah.”
I automatically stiffen at the mention of his name, and I hate that. I hate that he affects me even long after he got out of my life.
“What are you talking about?” I speak in a tone so awkward, it vibrates through my chest cavity. “I was over Jonah a long time ago.”
“Bollocks.” She pulls back and strokes my hair. “You haven’t been the same since you broke up with him. It’s like a piece of you has been missing or something. You weren’t always so gloomy and distant before him and you stopped wearing dresses and dolling up after he got out of your life. It’s like he sucked out your energy and left you with nothing. I did ask Bran and Creigh if we should find the arsehole and kick him in the balls for hurting you, but Creigh said you probably wouldn’t like that. I still scratched his car and ruined clothes for daring to hurt you.”
My lips part as I listen to her. This is the first time I’ve heard their perspective about that clusterfuck. Ava wouldn’t stop asking why I broke up with him, and I told her we weren’t compatible.
That’s the only excuse I could come up with at the time.
I thought they’d let it go, but apparently, that’s not the case.
“Point is.” Ava smiles. “I’m glad you’re regaining your old self, even if slowly. And while I’m not sure if Jeremy is good enough for you, if he makes you smile while looking at his texts, then it’s a start. I’ll totally kick him in the nuts if he hurts you. He might kill me, but I will have died for a good cause.”
“You’re saying that as if Eli would let him put a finger on you.”
“Shhh. Not He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.” She squints, then her eyes widen. “Oh, fuck.”
“What?”
“Remember the tidbit about how things are slowly coming back to me?”
“Yeah?”
“I think He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named was at the club.” She physically shivers.
“RIP. I love you.”
“Cecy!” She glares but then touches her hair, pretending everything is perfect. “But whatever, it doesn’t matter.”
Uh-huh.
“Point is, I’m so happy and excited for you. Jeremy better treat you right.” She hugs me again, and I wrap my arms around her.
Maybe it’s time I finally choose to be happy.
* * *
Later that night,I drive to the cottage.
Jeremy and I didn’t really talk about whether or not our arrangement will remain the same, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t.
Not only is this place ours, but it also hides us from the world so that it’s only the two of us.
And maybe I like that a little.
Okay,a lot.
Ava stepped out of her room and waggled her brows at me when I attempted to sneak out.