Relieved, she nods. “But if you need anything, someone to talk to, I’m here. That’s what friends are for.”
Where was she three years ago?
As my eyes fill with tears, I nod before turning to head to the bathroom.
“You don’t have to tell me what happened, but know I’m here for you, Avery, and I’ll listen.”
Looking back at her, I send her a smile. “Oh, I won’t, but thank you.”
Tearing my gaze from her shocked one, I shut the door behind me and close my eyes as I lean against it. A stray tear rolls down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away before dropping my towel. As another tear slides down my face, over my jaw, and onto my breast, I undo my pants and kick them and my panties up against the door. I don’t know why I’m crying, or even why I’m annoyed. I’m not sure if it’s because of all these things I’m feeling for Jace and I don’t know what to do with them, or if it’s because I wish I’d had someone like Mekena all those years ago. Maybe then I wouldn’t have felt like I was completely alone, with no hope left.
When I move to turn the shower on, my reflection catches my attention, and soon, I’m turning to look at my naked body.
I used to love my body.
But I don’t now.
Well, I love almost all my body, except for my thighs.
And not for a girlie stupid reason.
I wish it were cellulite that covered my thighs.
That could be acceptable, even normal, but I don’t have that.
No, I have the scars of all the pain caused by him.
Scars made by me.
“So you don’t know her last name?”
Markus looks at me dubiously as I search Skylar’s friends list for my little nightmate. It has become my mission to find out everything I can about Avery. I know, stalker alert, but it’s like I’m infatuated with her. I have to know everything. I wish I had gotten her number earlier, but I was still recovering from the kiss and the overwhelming feelings that I did nothing but stare at her.
I’m paying for that now.
“Obviously not,” I answer, getting frustrated since Skylar has like a million friends. “I didn’t ask that when I had my tongue down her throat.”
“And you didn’t get her number?”
I shoot him a deadpan look. “No, man.”
“Wow, your game is nonexistent.”
“Fuck off,” I yell, throwing the nearest thing I can grab at him. To his dismay, it’s the Xbox controller.
“Ow! Asshole.”
“Shut up, then,” I say simply, still scrolling through Skylar’s friends. “Jesus, she has a billion friends, I swear.”
“Who, Skylar?” he asks, trying to see my phone.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think she’s friends with Skylar. She’s roommates with her sister. Missy? Michelle?”
Dropping my phone to my lap, I think for a second. It was the cute chick with them last night, not that I remember much about her since I was zeroed in on Avery. What was her name? “Madison?”
“No. Mary?”