“Jackson’s telling us stories about his summer,” Eli answers, slapping his hand against his thigh. “Come here.”
She plops down on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in to give him a kiss. I watch them unabashedly, wondering what that would be like. To be with someone permanently. To have a steady girl in my life, one I could count on, one who would always be there for me, no matter what. Would I get bored of the same old pussy every night?
Probably.
I think of Ellie. How easy she is to talk to. How she accepts me no matter what. I can’t lie—I’ve been tempted to try something with her. See if there is any magic between us. I bet there would be. But she’d eventually have expectations and I don’t think I could meet them. I’m not the commitment type.
This is why it’s best I don’t try anything with her at all. No matter how much I want to.
“Where’s Ellie?” I ask Ava once she’s done kissing on my friend. The words leave me without thought, and I realize my mistake when Ava glares at me.
“Inside. Like you fucking care though,” she tosses at me.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down, princess. Don’t be hostile to my friend,” Eli says, running his hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
“Don’t tell me to calm down, Eli. He’s the one who had his tongue down another girl’s throat when we walked into his dressing room.” Ava points at me.
“He didn’t know we were coming.” This is from Caleb, who sends me a bro nod.
I nod at him in return. “And may I correct your assessment? She had her tongue down my throat, not the other way around.”
“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to, it doesn’t make a damn difference,” Ava says, rising to her feet. “You fucked up, Rivers. That girl has been pining away for you all summer. Living for your texts at night. Dying for you to come home. First night she gets to see you, and she witnesses you with someone else.”
“We’re just friends,” I start, but Ava bursts out laughing.
“Please,” she says, shaking her head. “That’s what you think. That’s not what she wants.”
“I can’t control her,” I say morosely, hating how shitty Ava’s making me feel. I don’t need this right now.
I do
n’t want it.
“Then tell her how you really feel. End her misery once and for all. You’re just stringing her along. Using her.”
“I’m not using her.”
“This is getting way too heavy.” Caleb rises to his feet, stretching his arms above his head. “I’m gonna go find Baylee.”
“Another girl who’s getting strung along,” Ava says as Caleb starts to walk away. “Stop messing with her head, Caleb! I mean it!”
“Girl, you need to calm down,” Eli says when Caleb’s gone. “You’re pissing off all my friends.”
“Funny how you used to hate Caleb, back when he flirted with me,” she reminds him.
“Ava. Babe. You’re on fire tonight.” Eli shakes his head. “Why you starting so much drama?”
This is turning heated. The rest of us look at each other, silently communicating as we rise to our feet.
And get the hell out of there.
“Why are they fighting?” I ask Tony once we’re a safe distance away. As in, in my kitchen.
“Things are tense between them. She’s leaving soon,” Tony explains.
I knew this, but forgot. “Where is she going again?”
“San Diego State.”