Spiked by Love (Bellevue Bullies 6)
“Yeah, there was no way in hell you really liked that damn string-and-cans shit he always wanted to play with. It didn’t even work!”
For the first time in days, I really smile. “It did too! That’s how we talked at night!”
Posey doesn’t agree. “No, you did it because then it was only you two.” She’s not wrong. “The same with when we’d play Barbies. Even I’d get bored and want to do something else, but still, y’all would play for hours. Even now, Ally, it’s always just you two. No matter the distance, no matter what, you guys love being together. While I’m pissed you didn’t confide in me, I’m not surprised by your feelings.”
“Well, he was.”
“He was not,” she says, shaking her head. “He feels the same, and again, I’m not surprised he never loved Jasmine. She wasn’t you.”
I wipe away a stray tear and wiggle my nose before explaining what happened the night I want to forget but is seared in my heart. She cocks her head to the side as if she doesn’t understand.
Join the club, sister.
“He said Thanks?”
“Yeah.”
She blinks. “He gave you that ring, but he still said Thanks?”
“Yeah, you can keep saying it, but it’s still just Thanks.”
“What a dumbass. God, how can he be so damn smart but so dumb at the same time?”
I wipe away another tear before reaching for the crumble I made before I started the muffins. I sniffle as I top the muffins. “I don’t know.”
“You know he loves you, Ally.”
I shake my head. “I don’t, actually,” I say, meeting her gaze. “He’s done this with every other girl—”
“But you’re not them,” she insists, her eyes burning into mine. “Seriously. Don’t get in your head and ruin this. That’s what you’re doing, huh?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I’ve proved to myself I can live without him.”
She narrows her eyes. “Seriously?”
“I don’t know, Posey. I have to be smart here. What if he doesn’t love me? What if he isn’t capable?”
“Then I’ll take him out, and you can use Wes as a rebound fuck. And boom! That ruins his day because he was wicked jealous when Wes was interested in you.”
“He was?”
“So jealous, which was why I always thought something was going on.”
“I don’t know.”
But she seems so sure of herself. “For real, Ally. I feel y’all are the real deal. I’ve always said you two would complete each other.”
“I thought so too, and we did. Until he wouldn’t get on my level.”
She makes a face. “He’s on the struggle bus, and I love that you’re giving each other time. Let him miss you, let him realize the queen he has—even though I’m sure he already knows.”
“Who?” We both look back as my mom and Elli come down the hall. I bite my lip as my mom says, “Please don’t say Taco.”
Elli glares at me. “This isn’t something to joke about since we all know what that asshole has done. But I will strangle you, girl!”
Before I can reassure them it’s not—though, I may want to go with it so I don’t have to talk about Asher—there is a knock at the door. Elli goes to answer it, and a gorgeous grin comes over her face as Fallon and the girls enter.
Fuck me.